First baby. Two cultures. Language? - Page 2

agreeksmom · Mar 7th, 2010, 19:25 PM

my husbands greek and french so my child will learn greek.
also he will be going to a french school becuase in canada if you know french and english you have a better chance of getting a job so its a bonus for him

tickledpink3 · Mar 7th, 2010, 19:46 PM

I wish I had the option. But I think it's wonderful when a child/ren can grow up in a home with two languages.

aliss · Mar 7th, 2010, 22:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyL0Ve

Hi ladies,
we are expecting our firts baby, and I am wondering in what language to speak to it...we live in the States and English is the primer language, I was born in Bulgaria but have lived in the states for long time now and only speak Bulgarian with my parents. Should I talk to the baby in Bulgarian or English? My parents speak English but they talk to eachother in Bulgarian and me and DH in English. What would be best for the baby?

I'm not Bulgarian but Hungarian, my parents never taught it to me 'cause they thought it was "useless" but I'm so glad to see you will pass it along! I *really* regret it!

I'm also an ESL teacher. You can speak to the baby in Bulgarian, as long as your DH speaks English in the house, the baby will be fine. English will still be the primary language since the child will learn it from school, TV, friends, etc. Try and work on some Bulgarian writing.

The general trick for children is that the better their English is, the better their L2 (second language) will be.

My OH is French and we are going to live in a French province in a few months. My son's first language will be French, but I will teach him English. That being said, his French will come first.

Blah11 · Mar 8th, 2010, 01:12 AM

Why don't you talk to the baby in Bulgarian and your OH in English, or vice versa? My friend is Filopeno and does this with her LO and it works quite well it seems.

suri mum · Mar 8th, 2010, 05:49 AM

Yes, just echoing the others. The best way is for you both to use your first languages with the baby, although it sounds like you are totally bilingual and English could as easily be your first language. I would say that you should speak exclusively in Bulgarian and your hubby speak in English. As English is your common language, and since you live in the States, English will probably become the dominant language, but the language spoken by and with you will become second nature also. You may at some point see a brief period where the two languages get confused, but kids are amazing at figuring it out and that is usually a very short stage they go through, so don't be deterred. A second language is a great asset, and makes learning other languages down the road so much easier.

Bingo · Mar 8th, 2010, 06:07 AM

Myself and the OH are solely English speaking but I think you should definitely teach your baby both languages from the outset.

I would love to be bilingual.

cupcake · Mar 8th, 2010, 06:11 AM

we speak english at home but live in Israel where LO speaks and hears Hebrew at daycare and French ( because that is where the babysitter is from)
The result is that he is bilingual in Hebrew and English and understands some French. His words are in both languages and I actually do speak to him in Hebrew too.

BabyL0Ve · Mar 8th, 2010, 14:42 PM

What about when I am with DH...I think in front of him I need to speak in English so he understands us... and when he's at work we practice Bulgarian..

mummypeanut · Mar 8th, 2010, 15:42 PM

HIya,

I studied linguistics at university and just wanted to say there is a lot of research to suggest that children who are brought up bilingual find it easier to learn third or fourth languages later on in life.

I plan on teaching my child both of the languages I speak while it is young enough to pick it up naturally without teaching. A child will only learn a language fluently before the age of 5 so its important to aim to introduce langugae before that age.

My husband is also bilingual and I would love him to speak his first language to the baby but I doubt he will - I'm working on him

His family speak to him in his langugae but he always replies in english. It drives me nuts!!! It would be a shame for the LO not to be able to communicate with his cousins and grandfather in their first language.

Anyway, go for it - as long as both you and your partner imput in both languages he will pick them both up without a problem

xx

gina8177 · Mar 8th, 2010, 17:19 PM

My dad strongly discouraged my mom from speaking to us in greek when we were kids, as a result I hardly know any greek. I think it is a great opportunity to communicate with your child in both languages.

Mar 7th, 2010, 19:25 PM	#11
agreeksmom Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: canada Posts: 1,186	my husbands greek and french so my child will learn greek. also he will be going to a french school becuase in canada if you know french and english you have a better chance of getting a job so its a bonus for him

Status: Offline

Mar 7th, 2010, 19:46 PM	#12
tickledpink3 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,127	I wish I had the option. But I think it's wonderful when a child/ren can grow up in a home with two languages.

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 01:12 AM	#14
Blah11 Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 32,875	Why don't you talk to the baby in Bulgarian and your OH in English, or vice versa? My friend is Filopeno and does this with her LO and it works quite well it seems.

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 05:49 AM	#15
suri mum Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 63	Yes, just echoing the others. The best way is for you both to use your first languages with the baby, although it sounds like you are totally bilingual and English could as easily be your first language. I would say that you should speak exclusively in Bulgarian and your hubby speak in English. As English is your common language, and since you live in the States, English will probably become the dominant language, but the language spoken by and with you will become second nature also. You may at some point see a brief period where the two languages get confused, but kids are amazing at figuring it out and that is usually a very short stage they go through, so don't be deterred. A second language is a great asset, and makes learning other languages down the road so much easier.

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 06:07 AM	#16
Bingo Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,667	Myself and the OH are solely English speaking but I think you should definitely teach your baby both languages from the outset. I would love to be bilingual.

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 06:11 AM	#17
cupcake Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: middle east Posts: 4,375	we speak english at home but live in Israel where LO speaks and hears Hebrew at daycare and French ( because that is where the babysitter is from) The result is that he is bilingual in Hebrew and English and understands some French. His words are in both languages and I actually do speak to him in Hebrew too.

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 14:42 PM	#18
BabyL0Ve Pregnant (Expecting) Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Paradise Posts: 540	What about when I am with DH...I think in front of him I need to speak in English so he understands us... and when he's at work we practice Bulgarian..

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 15:42 PM	#19
mummypeanut Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,106	HIya, I studied linguistics at university and just wanted to say there is a lot of research to suggest that children who are brought up bilingual find it easier to learn third or fourth languages later on in life. I plan on teaching my child both of the languages I speak while it is young enough to pick it up naturally without teaching. A child will only learn a language fluently before the age of 5 so its important to aim to introduce langugae before that age. My husband is also bilingual and I would love him to speak his first language to the baby but I doubt he will - I'm working on him His family speak to him in his langugae but he always replies in english. It drives me nuts!!! It would be a shame for the LO not to be able to communicate with his cousins and grandfather in their first language. Anyway, go for it - as long as both you and your partner imput in both languages he will pick them both up without a problem xx

Status: Offline

Mar 8th, 2010, 17:19 PM	#20
gina8177 Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Port Coquitlam, BC Posts: 1,958	My dad strongly discouraged my mom from speaking to us in greek when we were kids, as a result I hardly know any greek. I think it is a great opportunity to communicate with your child in both languages.

Status: Offline

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