Korean Job Discussion Forums

[flakfizer]

This issue has been discussed here before, but there's a pretty interesting article about it today's Herlad:

http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110803000480

One snippet:

[Unposter]

The thing to remember is there isn't only one way to do things. A lot depends on the skill level in the language(s) spoken by the parents and the childrens facility with language.

My wife mostly speaks English with my children (she speaks English quite fluently) but sometimes when her mother is around (my mother in law doesn't speak any English) she will speak Korean to her mom and to the kids. My kids usually switch to Korean around my mother in law except when they speak to me. My kids don't have any problems switching.

Sometimes, we ask them to translate things from one language to the other (usually just vocabulary but sometimes more). My kids have not had any problems doing this as well.

So far, I have been very impressed with my kids ability to understand each language distinctly. I have not seen any problems with code switching or any other form of confusion - so far.

I know it is only my own experience but I have been amazed at what my kids seem to undersand about both Korean and English. I am of the opinion that young children are surprisingly capable of learning and understanding language.

My only advise is if you are doing something and it is working, you don't need to change. On the other hand, if problems are arising, make changes.

Interesting topic, though.

[Koreadays]

kids can learn 10 languages if given the chance.
it's like any task in life, if exposed to it enough you pick it up.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Interesting article.

We used the OPOL (one parent, one language) method early on and then mixed it up. We added a third language to the mix for our son whos is of school age.

At a younger age it was English from me, Korean from my wife. Then as our son got older (nearing kindergarten) we switched back and forth.

He speaks each language equally well, switches back and forth effortlessly and has excellent vocab and pronounciation in each language. Basically he has two native languages.

We are doing the same with our daughter but are still on the OPOL (one parent, one language) as she is younger.

Seriously, it is all about being consistent and dedicated. Kids pick it up.

[wombatsincombat]

My husband and I will be moving to Korea with our six and a half month old and I've wondered what we should do in regards to him learning a foreign language. I know young children are little sponges for language, but because my husband and I both speak english and are attempting Korean, I wonder what we can do to encourage him to learn Korean as he learns to speak?

[Unposter]

I was recently reading that in order to raise a child bi-lingually the child needs at least 30% of his day exposed to the language.

You may want to try Korean day care or a housekeeper or nanny who can speak Korean to your child.

You may want to make Korean friends who can also communicate to your child in Korean.

But, my guess is if you do not know Korean, you are going to have quite a difficulty letting your child learn Korean till at least he or she is old enough to go to school.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[wombatsincombat]

I stay at home with my son, so daycare isn't really an option, but I've heard of expat moms hanging out with korean moms and helping eachother out with the language. That might be my best bet.