Raising a bilingual kid. When should we introduce the majority language?
We are a family living in an English speaking country with a 3 year old. My wife and I speak both French and English and we are committed to raise our kid bilingual in both languages. So far our approach has been to expose him only to French since he will eventually pick up English from the outside world :) So his day care is in French, we (and our family) only speaks to him in French and the cartoons he watches are in French… as a result he only understands and speaks French right now. We are happy about this, but are starting to be concerned that he does not understand/speak English, especially when we have playdates with other kids who only speak English, we don't want him to feel that he is different from them.
Our long term plan for us is to follow a strict OPOL approach (my wife will only speak English and I will speak French to him). Should we start the OPOL approach now? Or Should we continue with only French for a few more years? Also we are planning him on sending him to a bilingual school English/French, so I am not concerned about him feeling different at school, my concern is mostly with our friends kids and other family members who don't speak French. I also have the irrational fear that he will not learn English well… which I know is very irrational, since English is the main and only language where we live.
bilingual
New contributor
|
show 1 more comment
We are a family living in an English speaking country with a 3 year old. My wife and I speak both French and English and we are committed to raise our kid bilingual in both languages. So far our approach has been to expose him only to French since he will eventually pick up English from the outside world :) So his day care is in French, we (and our family) only speaks to him in French and the cartoons he watches are in French… as a result he only understands and speaks French right now. We are happy about this, but are starting to be concerned that he does not understand/speak English, especially when we have playdates with other kids who only speak English, we don't want him to feel that he is different from them.
Our long term plan for us is to follow a strict OPOL approach (my wife will only speak English and I will speak French to him). Should we start the OPOL approach now? Or Should we continue with only French for a few more years? Also we are planning him on sending him to a bilingual school English/French, so I am not concerned about him feeling different at school, my concern is mostly with our friends kids and other family members who don't speak French. I also have the irrational fear that he will not learn English well… which I know is very irrational, since English is the main and only language where we live.
bilingual
New contributor
7
"...we don't want him to feel that he is different from them." If he is anything like I was, he will/does feel different, and not necessarily in a good way. It depends on how English-only speaking kids (and maybe others) react to his lack of skill in speaking English.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
1
I was a bilingual raised kid and I don't advise doing it for a too young kid. Seek a phonoaudiologist and pedagogy professional on how to keep your children in touch with french but be aware he will be an English native speaker and needs to be a good one because all his social interaction will be carried in English
– jean
5 hours ago
11
As an observation, you're not actually raising a biligual child - yet.
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
2
@jean Why not? The younger, the more fluent and less accented they will be in both languages. The science is pretty clear. Being an English native speaker does not exclude being a speaker of any other languages.
– Azor Ahai
4 hours ago
1
@AzorAhai no, not excludes but there's are potential problems in diction, I got it, kids of friends got it, that's why I advise speaking with a professional. Kids are quickly to learn but also quickly to forget, it's possible, even with effort form parents, he will completely forget french at adult age, that's why it's important to seek another professional to get advice on how to keep him in touch with the language, in special with written language since to read and to speak are different skills
– jean
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
We are a family living in an English speaking country with a 3 year old. My wife and I speak both French and English and we are committed to raise our kid bilingual in both languages. So far our approach has been to expose him only to French since he will eventually pick up English from the outside world :) So his day care is in French, we (and our family) only speaks to him in French and the cartoons he watches are in French… as a result he only understands and speaks French right now. We are happy about this, but are starting to be concerned that he does not understand/speak English, especially when we have playdates with other kids who only speak English, we don't want him to feel that he is different from them.
Our long term plan for us is to follow a strict OPOL approach (my wife will only speak English and I will speak French to him). Should we start the OPOL approach now? Or Should we continue with only French for a few more years? Also we are planning him on sending him to a bilingual school English/French, so I am not concerned about him feeling different at school, my concern is mostly with our friends kids and other family members who don't speak French. I also have the irrational fear that he will not learn English well… which I know is very irrational, since English is the main and only language where we live.
bilingual
New contributor
We are a family living in an English speaking country with a 3 year old. My wife and I speak both French and English and we are committed to raise our kid bilingual in both languages. So far our approach has been to expose him only to French since he will eventually pick up English from the outside world :) So his day care is in French, we (and our family) only speaks to him in French and the cartoons he watches are in French… as a result he only understands and speaks French right now. We are happy about this, but are starting to be concerned that he does not understand/speak English, especially when we have playdates with other kids who only speak English, we don't want him to feel that he is different from them.
Our long term plan for us is to follow a strict OPOL approach (my wife will only speak English and I will speak French to him). Should we start the OPOL approach now? Or Should we continue with only French for a few more years? Also we are planning him on sending him to a bilingual school English/French, so I am not concerned about him feeling different at school, my concern is mostly with our friends kids and other family members who don't speak French. I also have the irrational fear that he will not learn English well… which I know is very irrational, since English is the main and only language where we live.
bilingual
bilingual
New contributor
New contributor
New contributor
asked 9 hours ago
ArmArm
462
462
New contributor
New contributor
7
"...we don't want him to feel that he is different from them." If he is anything like I was, he will/does feel different, and not necessarily in a good way. It depends on how English-only speaking kids (and maybe others) react to his lack of skill in speaking English.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
1
I was a bilingual raised kid and I don't advise doing it for a too young kid. Seek a phonoaudiologist and pedagogy professional on how to keep your children in touch with french but be aware he will be an English native speaker and needs to be a good one because all his social interaction will be carried in English
– jean
5 hours ago
11
As an observation, you're not actually raising a biligual child - yet.
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
2
@jean Why not? The younger, the more fluent and less accented they will be in both languages. The science is pretty clear. Being an English native speaker does not exclude being a speaker of any other languages.
– Azor Ahai
4 hours ago
1
@AzorAhai no, not excludes but there's are potential problems in diction, I got it, kids of friends got it, that's why I advise speaking with a professional. Kids are quickly to learn but also quickly to forget, it's possible, even with effort form parents, he will completely forget french at adult age, that's why it's important to seek another professional to get advice on how to keep him in touch with the language, in special with written language since to read and to speak are different skills
– jean
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
7
"...we don't want him to feel that he is different from them." If he is anything like I was, he will/does feel different, and not necessarily in a good way. It depends on how English-only speaking kids (and maybe others) react to his lack of skill in speaking English.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
1
I was a bilingual raised kid and I don't advise doing it for a too young kid. Seek a phonoaudiologist and pedagogy professional on how to keep your children in touch with french but be aware he will be an English native speaker and needs to be a good one because all his social interaction will be carried in English
– jean
5 hours ago
11
As an observation, you're not actually raising a biligual child - yet.
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
2
@jean Why not? The younger, the more fluent and less accented they will be in both languages. The science is pretty clear. Being an English native speaker does not exclude being a speaker of any other languages.
– Azor Ahai
4 hours ago
1
@AzorAhai no, not excludes but there's are potential problems in diction, I got it, kids of friends got it, that's why I advise speaking with a professional. Kids are quickly to learn but also quickly to forget, it's possible, even with effort form parents, he will completely forget french at adult age, that's why it's important to seek another professional to get advice on how to keep him in touch with the language, in special with written language since to read and to speak are different skills
– jean
4 hours ago
7
7
"...we don't want him to feel that he is different from them." If he is anything like I was, he will/does feel different, and not necessarily in a good way. It depends on how English-only speaking kids (and maybe others) react to his lack of skill in speaking English.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
"...we don't want him to feel that he is different from them." If he is anything like I was, he will/does feel different, and not necessarily in a good way. It depends on how English-only speaking kids (and maybe others) react to his lack of skill in speaking English.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
1
1
I was a bilingual raised kid and I don't advise doing it for a too young kid. Seek a phonoaudiologist and pedagogy professional on how to keep your children in touch with french but be aware he will be an English native speaker and needs to be a good one because all his social interaction will be carried in English
– jean
5 hours ago
I was a bilingual raised kid and I don't advise doing it for a too young kid. Seek a phonoaudiologist and pedagogy professional on how to keep your children in touch with french but be aware he will be an English native speaker and needs to be a good one because all his social interaction will be carried in English
– jean
5 hours ago
11
11
As an observation, you're not actually raising a biligual child - yet.
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
As an observation, you're not actually raising a biligual child - yet.
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
2
2
@jean Why not? The younger, the more fluent and less accented they will be in both languages. The science is pretty clear. Being an English native speaker does not exclude being a speaker of any other languages.
– Azor Ahai
4 hours ago
@jean Why not? The younger, the more fluent and less accented they will be in both languages. The science is pretty clear. Being an English native speaker does not exclude being a speaker of any other languages.
– Azor Ahai
4 hours ago
1
1
@AzorAhai no, not excludes but there's are potential problems in diction, I got it, kids of friends got it, that's why I advise speaking with a professional. Kids are quickly to learn but also quickly to forget, it's possible, even with effort form parents, he will completely forget french at adult age, that's why it's important to seek another professional to get advice on how to keep him in touch with the language, in special with written language since to read and to speak are different skills
– jean
4 hours ago
@AzorAhai no, not excludes but there's are potential problems in diction, I got it, kids of friends got it, that's why I advise speaking with a professional. Kids are quickly to learn but also quickly to forget, it's possible, even with effort form parents, he will completely forget french at adult age, that's why it's important to seek another professional to get advice on how to keep him in touch with the language, in special with written language since to read and to speak are different skills
– jean
4 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
You probably need to get started on English exposure soon. At some point he wants to play with other kids and unless you live in a French speaking enclave, that will happen in English. I suggest moving either daycare, or cartoons, or some TV/audio-books to English. I wouldn't worry too much about overloading your child: young kids have a remarkable ability to learn and absorb languages.
Provided he integrates normally into the local society, English will become the dominant language over time. I don't think the OTOL approach is particularly useful: we always spoke strictly non-English at home with the kids: It's best to maximize native speaker immersion in the non-local language and leverage any opportunity you can find.
Bi-lingual schools are a double edged sword. You really need to assess the school, their capabilities and their approach to bi-lingual education. We have seen example where it worked well (a good one was: alternate instruction language every month) and others were counterproductive (taught by non-native speakers).
We found that the trickiest part to get right are the formal parts of reading and writing: spelling, genders, grammar, etc. So any formal schooling in these area would be helpful provided they can be done well and approbriatley.
6
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
add a comment |
If you want a child to be truly bilingual, you have to start with both languages at the very beginning.
The important thing is the separation of languages. This can be accomplished in multiple ways. The two most common are:
OPOL - "one parent one language" - instead of the parent, any person with significant presence in the child's life works as well, such as a babysitter.
mL@H - "minority language at home" - when at home, speak to the child in the minority language, when outside, use majority language
Some people use odd and even days, etc.
Even with a very strict adherence to whatever language separation technique you use, most bilingual (and multilingual) children go through a phase where they mix languages.
This is usually just a phase, and insisting on your language separation technique helps getting over it.
New contributor
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
add a comment |
I think you are in danger of already having left this too late. Children learn language by making sense of what they hear before they start to speak at all. To be truly bilingual, and "accent-free", they need to hear both languages from a very early age. If your child has been isolated from native English, he may well become a very fluent English speaker, but with an obvious French accent.
As an anecdote, one of my work colleagues in the UK was French and very fluent in English but with a strong French accent, and so was his wife. They had both worked in many different countries world wide, and their plan for starting a bilingual family was to work in the UK until the children were around school age.
The parents spoke French at home but they allowed the children "full access" to spoken English from birth. By the time the children were four or five they had completely natural English accents, could communicate in both languages, and clearly understood that there were two separate languages. Amusingly, it was obvious from what they said themselves that they didn't understand why their parents wouldn't speak English to them when they were perfectly well able to do so!
Having "programmed" their ears and brain in both native English and native French, the second stage of the plan was to move back to France, and start their formal education in a "naturally monolingual" French environment. Formal study of English could come later, but the important foundation of hearing and speaking native English was already in place.
New contributor
1
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "228"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Arm is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fparenting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f36103%2fraising-a-bilingual-kid-when-should-we-introduce-the-majority-language%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You probably need to get started on English exposure soon. At some point he wants to play with other kids and unless you live in a French speaking enclave, that will happen in English. I suggest moving either daycare, or cartoons, or some TV/audio-books to English. I wouldn't worry too much about overloading your child: young kids have a remarkable ability to learn and absorb languages.
Provided he integrates normally into the local society, English will become the dominant language over time. I don't think the OTOL approach is particularly useful: we always spoke strictly non-English at home with the kids: It's best to maximize native speaker immersion in the non-local language and leverage any opportunity you can find.
Bi-lingual schools are a double edged sword. You really need to assess the school, their capabilities and their approach to bi-lingual education. We have seen example where it worked well (a good one was: alternate instruction language every month) and others were counterproductive (taught by non-native speakers).
We found that the trickiest part to get right are the formal parts of reading and writing: spelling, genders, grammar, etc. So any formal schooling in these area would be helpful provided they can be done well and approbriatley.
6
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
add a comment |
You probably need to get started on English exposure soon. At some point he wants to play with other kids and unless you live in a French speaking enclave, that will happen in English. I suggest moving either daycare, or cartoons, or some TV/audio-books to English. I wouldn't worry too much about overloading your child: young kids have a remarkable ability to learn and absorb languages.
Provided he integrates normally into the local society, English will become the dominant language over time. I don't think the OTOL approach is particularly useful: we always spoke strictly non-English at home with the kids: It's best to maximize native speaker immersion in the non-local language and leverage any opportunity you can find.
Bi-lingual schools are a double edged sword. You really need to assess the school, their capabilities and their approach to bi-lingual education. We have seen example where it worked well (a good one was: alternate instruction language every month) and others were counterproductive (taught by non-native speakers).
We found that the trickiest part to get right are the formal parts of reading and writing: spelling, genders, grammar, etc. So any formal schooling in these area would be helpful provided they can be done well and approbriatley.
6
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
add a comment |
You probably need to get started on English exposure soon. At some point he wants to play with other kids and unless you live in a French speaking enclave, that will happen in English. I suggest moving either daycare, or cartoons, or some TV/audio-books to English. I wouldn't worry too much about overloading your child: young kids have a remarkable ability to learn and absorb languages.
Provided he integrates normally into the local society, English will become the dominant language over time. I don't think the OTOL approach is particularly useful: we always spoke strictly non-English at home with the kids: It's best to maximize native speaker immersion in the non-local language and leverage any opportunity you can find.
Bi-lingual schools are a double edged sword. You really need to assess the school, their capabilities and their approach to bi-lingual education. We have seen example where it worked well (a good one was: alternate instruction language every month) and others were counterproductive (taught by non-native speakers).
We found that the trickiest part to get right are the formal parts of reading and writing: spelling, genders, grammar, etc. So any formal schooling in these area would be helpful provided they can be done well and approbriatley.
You probably need to get started on English exposure soon. At some point he wants to play with other kids and unless you live in a French speaking enclave, that will happen in English. I suggest moving either daycare, or cartoons, or some TV/audio-books to English. I wouldn't worry too much about overloading your child: young kids have a remarkable ability to learn and absorb languages.
Provided he integrates normally into the local society, English will become the dominant language over time. I don't think the OTOL approach is particularly useful: we always spoke strictly non-English at home with the kids: It's best to maximize native speaker immersion in the non-local language and leverage any opportunity you can find.
Bi-lingual schools are a double edged sword. You really need to assess the school, their capabilities and their approach to bi-lingual education. We have seen example where it worked well (a good one was: alternate instruction language every month) and others were counterproductive (taught by non-native speakers).
We found that the trickiest part to get right are the formal parts of reading and writing: spelling, genders, grammar, etc. So any formal schooling in these area would be helpful provided they can be done well and approbriatley.
answered 8 hours ago
HilmarHilmar
3,8821016
3,8821016
6
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
add a comment |
6
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
6
6
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
I cannot agree more. In my own and my very extended family, we spoke only French. My first day of kindergarten (English only), the only two English words I learned/understood the meaning of were "bathroom" and "Mrs. Hart" (my teacher.) It was so traumatic that I remember much of it to this day. For years I had to endure the (innocent) laughter of my classmates when confused over a new English word.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
@anongoodnurse This is likely to depend on many different things though (though age and surroundings is probably big). I was dropped in an English only school and surroundings at 10 years of age with only my parents speaking my native language for the next year and a half and I knew roughly 20 English words (worse yet my parents were certainly not fluent) yet I thoroughly enjoyed the next year and half. An important thing was that while noone else spoke my language there were other kids around that also couldn't speak English too well.
– DRF
3 hours ago
add a comment |
If you want a child to be truly bilingual, you have to start with both languages at the very beginning.
The important thing is the separation of languages. This can be accomplished in multiple ways. The two most common are:
OPOL - "one parent one language" - instead of the parent, any person with significant presence in the child's life works as well, such as a babysitter.
mL@H - "minority language at home" - when at home, speak to the child in the minority language, when outside, use majority language
Some people use odd and even days, etc.
Even with a very strict adherence to whatever language separation technique you use, most bilingual (and multilingual) children go through a phase where they mix languages.
This is usually just a phase, and insisting on your language separation technique helps getting over it.
New contributor
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
add a comment |
If you want a child to be truly bilingual, you have to start with both languages at the very beginning.
The important thing is the separation of languages. This can be accomplished in multiple ways. The two most common are:
OPOL - "one parent one language" - instead of the parent, any person with significant presence in the child's life works as well, such as a babysitter.
mL@H - "minority language at home" - when at home, speak to the child in the minority language, when outside, use majority language
Some people use odd and even days, etc.
Even with a very strict adherence to whatever language separation technique you use, most bilingual (and multilingual) children go through a phase where they mix languages.
This is usually just a phase, and insisting on your language separation technique helps getting over it.
New contributor
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
add a comment |
If you want a child to be truly bilingual, you have to start with both languages at the very beginning.
The important thing is the separation of languages. This can be accomplished in multiple ways. The two most common are:
OPOL - "one parent one language" - instead of the parent, any person with significant presence in the child's life works as well, such as a babysitter.
mL@H - "minority language at home" - when at home, speak to the child in the minority language, when outside, use majority language
Some people use odd and even days, etc.
Even with a very strict adherence to whatever language separation technique you use, most bilingual (and multilingual) children go through a phase where they mix languages.
This is usually just a phase, and insisting on your language separation technique helps getting over it.
New contributor
If you want a child to be truly bilingual, you have to start with both languages at the very beginning.
The important thing is the separation of languages. This can be accomplished in multiple ways. The two most common are:
OPOL - "one parent one language" - instead of the parent, any person with significant presence in the child's life works as well, such as a babysitter.
mL@H - "minority language at home" - when at home, speak to the child in the minority language, when outside, use majority language
Some people use odd and even days, etc.
Even with a very strict adherence to whatever language separation technique you use, most bilingual (and multilingual) children go through a phase where they mix languages.
This is usually just a phase, and insisting on your language separation technique helps getting over it.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 6 hours ago
Granny AchingGranny Aching
1912
1912
New contributor
New contributor
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
add a comment |
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
I like the shorthand here. My single-ethnicity parents used a mostly mL@H approach (along with reading and writing practice), and I am fluent enough to be able to use OPOL with my multi-ethnic son!
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
What evidence or research do you have that separation is important? I've never heard of such a thing. And if it were true, then how would people learn to code switch?
– curiousdannii
44 mins ago
add a comment |
I think you are in danger of already having left this too late. Children learn language by making sense of what they hear before they start to speak at all. To be truly bilingual, and "accent-free", they need to hear both languages from a very early age. If your child has been isolated from native English, he may well become a very fluent English speaker, but with an obvious French accent.
As an anecdote, one of my work colleagues in the UK was French and very fluent in English but with a strong French accent, and so was his wife. They had both worked in many different countries world wide, and their plan for starting a bilingual family was to work in the UK until the children were around school age.
The parents spoke French at home but they allowed the children "full access" to spoken English from birth. By the time the children were four or five they had completely natural English accents, could communicate in both languages, and clearly understood that there were two separate languages. Amusingly, it was obvious from what they said themselves that they didn't understand why their parents wouldn't speak English to them when they were perfectly well able to do so!
Having "programmed" their ears and brain in both native English and native French, the second stage of the plan was to move back to France, and start their formal education in a "naturally monolingual" French environment. Formal study of English could come later, but the important foundation of hearing and speaking native English was already in place.
New contributor
1
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I think you are in danger of already having left this too late. Children learn language by making sense of what they hear before they start to speak at all. To be truly bilingual, and "accent-free", they need to hear both languages from a very early age. If your child has been isolated from native English, he may well become a very fluent English speaker, but with an obvious French accent.
As an anecdote, one of my work colleagues in the UK was French and very fluent in English but with a strong French accent, and so was his wife. They had both worked in many different countries world wide, and their plan for starting a bilingual family was to work in the UK until the children were around school age.
The parents spoke French at home but they allowed the children "full access" to spoken English from birth. By the time the children were four or five they had completely natural English accents, could communicate in both languages, and clearly understood that there were two separate languages. Amusingly, it was obvious from what they said themselves that they didn't understand why their parents wouldn't speak English to them when they were perfectly well able to do so!
Having "programmed" their ears and brain in both native English and native French, the second stage of the plan was to move back to France, and start their formal education in a "naturally monolingual" French environment. Formal study of English could come later, but the important foundation of hearing and speaking native English was already in place.
New contributor
1
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I think you are in danger of already having left this too late. Children learn language by making sense of what they hear before they start to speak at all. To be truly bilingual, and "accent-free", they need to hear both languages from a very early age. If your child has been isolated from native English, he may well become a very fluent English speaker, but with an obvious French accent.
As an anecdote, one of my work colleagues in the UK was French and very fluent in English but with a strong French accent, and so was his wife. They had both worked in many different countries world wide, and their plan for starting a bilingual family was to work in the UK until the children were around school age.
The parents spoke French at home but they allowed the children "full access" to spoken English from birth. By the time the children were four or five they had completely natural English accents, could communicate in both languages, and clearly understood that there were two separate languages. Amusingly, it was obvious from what they said themselves that they didn't understand why their parents wouldn't speak English to them when they were perfectly well able to do so!
Having "programmed" their ears and brain in both native English and native French, the second stage of the plan was to move back to France, and start their formal education in a "naturally monolingual" French environment. Formal study of English could come later, but the important foundation of hearing and speaking native English was already in place.
New contributor
I think you are in danger of already having left this too late. Children learn language by making sense of what they hear before they start to speak at all. To be truly bilingual, and "accent-free", they need to hear both languages from a very early age. If your child has been isolated from native English, he may well become a very fluent English speaker, but with an obvious French accent.
As an anecdote, one of my work colleagues in the UK was French and very fluent in English but with a strong French accent, and so was his wife. They had both worked in many different countries world wide, and their plan for starting a bilingual family was to work in the UK until the children were around school age.
The parents spoke French at home but they allowed the children "full access" to spoken English from birth. By the time the children were four or five they had completely natural English accents, could communicate in both languages, and clearly understood that there were two separate languages. Amusingly, it was obvious from what they said themselves that they didn't understand why their parents wouldn't speak English to them when they were perfectly well able to do so!
Having "programmed" their ears and brain in both native English and native French, the second stage of the plan was to move back to France, and start their formal education in a "naturally monolingual" French environment. Formal study of English could come later, but the important foundation of hearing and speaking native English was already in place.
New contributor
New contributor
answered 2 hours ago
alephzeroalephzero
1111
1111
New contributor
New contributor
1
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
1
1
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
While I agree with underlying idea, suggesting that "accent-free" language acquisition requires such a young exposure is incorrect. I know numerous people that have naturally acquired native proficiency (particularly accent-wise) far beyond the age of 3. My wife wasn't immersed in native English till 19 and not exposed to English at all till school age. She is completely accent-free to the extent that people wrongly assume she is American.
– aidan.plenert.macdonald
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Arm is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Arm is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Arm is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Arm is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Parenting Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fparenting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f36103%2fraising-a-bilingual-kid-when-should-we-introduce-the-majority-language%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
7
"...we don't want him to feel that he is different from them." If he is anything like I was, he will/does feel different, and not necessarily in a good way. It depends on how English-only speaking kids (and maybe others) react to his lack of skill in speaking English.
– anongoodnurse♦
7 hours ago
1
I was a bilingual raised kid and I don't advise doing it for a too young kid. Seek a phonoaudiologist and pedagogy professional on how to keep your children in touch with french but be aware he will be an English native speaker and needs to be a good one because all his social interaction will be carried in English
– jean
5 hours ago
11
As an observation, you're not actually raising a biligual child - yet.
– Tanaya
4 hours ago
2
@jean Why not? The younger, the more fluent and less accented they will be in both languages. The science is pretty clear. Being an English native speaker does not exclude being a speaker of any other languages.
– Azor Ahai
4 hours ago
1
@AzorAhai no, not excludes but there's are potential problems in diction, I got it, kids of friends got it, that's why I advise speaking with a professional. Kids are quickly to learn but also quickly to forget, it's possible, even with effort form parents, he will completely forget french at adult age, that's why it's important to seek another professional to get advice on how to keep him in touch with the language, in special with written language since to read and to speak are different skills
– jean
4 hours ago