During the Olympics, we cheered for Team GB and Team Germany. During the Euro2012, we were praying that England and Germany wouldn’t end up playing against each other. Whenever the UK and Germany meet, we make sure that we support both teams in equal measures and that doesn’t only count for sporting events. We do the same for the Eurovision Song Contest, yes I admit to watching it, and any other big international event. People usually understand, because they know that we are a English/German household.
What seems to puzzle people is the fact that Amy is growing up with two languages. Why are you raising your child bilingually is a question that we are often asked. Why don’t you let her learn one language first and teach her the other one once she has mastered her first language? People, especially British people, seem confused by the fact that we are teaching Amy any other language than English. Only a few of them see the benefits that we are seeing: the fact that Amy will be able to speak to both her English and her German family, that growing up with two languages will make it easier for her to pick up a third or a fourth language when she starts school and that she will be able to get a better feeling for the cultural differences of the world.
Amy understands both languages equally well. She can follow instructions and knows exactly what either Ben and I are talking about – no matter, if Ben is speaking English with her or I am speaking German. She just doesn’t speak herself yet and this is where people think that we are doing something wrong. Because other children of her age, Amy is 18 months, can say cat, dog, banana or whatever, they expect Amy to do the same. Fact is though that children reach their developmental milestones at different points and it is thought that children who grow up bilingually might need more time to process the different language set-ups and vocabularies. So for now we are not worrying about Amy’s lack of speech, but embrace the fact that being bilingual will open many doors for Amy once she is ready to unlock them.
Are you raising your child bilingually? Which languages do you speak at home and have you encountered any problems raising your children in two languages? If you aren’t a bilingual household, which language do you wish you had grown up speaking?
– Day 3 –
Thanks so much for your comment, Jayne. I completely agree that some people have a horrific attitude towards language learning. I have taught German at a secondary school a while ago and despite the school being rated "outstanding" by Ofsted, students as young as 11 years where questioning why they had to learn a second language when everyone else in the world was speaking English. I was honestly shocked by that attitude. I was always truly grateful for having the opportunity to learn another language as it opens up so many doors when you are older, but it seems a lot of English people don't see the point.
I completely agree with you on the importance of media, films or music as a tool to open up people to the idea of language learning. I think, if they are experiencing another language or culture as fun, this provides the best possible starting point for language learning. Unfortunately, not many schools have realised this yet, so I think there is still quite a bit of work to be done…
I'm astounded that it's not thought of as normal to raise a bilingual child from the word go. Yes, ok, so it might take them longer in the first place to get the hang of things, but they're going to be so far ahead of hearing different languages, they're going to find it easier in future to pick up new ones.
I have 2 mum friends currently teaching their toddlers bilingually. One welsh (the mum, the dad's a kiwi – interesting mix!), and the other Danish (the dad, the mum's English)
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Thanks for commenting. I am surprised too. To me it seems like the most natural thing to do. In fact, I would find it strange not to give my child the chance to grow up with both the languages we speak.
I think you're doing exactly the right thing. I can't believe anyone wouldn't think it wasn't a good idea. Plenty of kids don't have many words at 18 months even when learning one language and when she does start talking more it will automatically be in both languages as appropriate. We lived in Germany until I was 4 and I wish I could replicate that experience for my boys as having a second language has been so handy for me. Amy will be so grateful when she is older!
Thanks Cat, it's great to get some reassurance. I find it really surprising that some people see it as a bad thing to raise your child bilingually, but I guess they just think that Amy should be speaking by now and she isn't, so they see her being bilingual as the reason for it. x
i live in wales and my 3 children learn through the medium of english and welsh. i brought them up speaking english but mother & toddlers was welsh speaking and so is school. they now speak and write welsh/english and have lessons in senior school in both english and welsh.
kids are like sponges and can learn lots of different languages as long as you introduce them young enough.
I wouldn't think anything of it actually and thought it would be quite normal for her have been brought up with two languages.We have a lot of Polish/ Romanian mums at the breastfeeding group so it's quite normal to hear them speak switch between their native and English language.i think Amy is very lucky to have the chance to learn both at such an early age.
Thanks Aly! I agree with you. I would have loved to have learned two languages from a very young age. I can really only see the positive side of it and you are completely right, it is normal to hear people speak more than just one language. I think some people just have to get used it it.
Do people really ask such a stupid question? I wish I had this huge advantage as a child. You only do her big favours. We bring up our kids as bilingual. Up to 2, Eddie didn't have that many words, but a few months later he is chatting non-stop, and he understand two languages perfectly.
Believe me Galina, they do. It's great to hear that Eddie is doing well with both his languages. I think Amy will be great as soon as she decides to speak. She understands everything and people are surprised that she knows what we are saying no matter which language we are speaking. Our babies are so lucky 🙂