Helping My Child To Be Bilingual

[garro]

There are the steps I'm taking to help my son become bilingual;

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1...gual.html?cat=4

I know from previous posts about the subject that other parents are more strict about teaching their children, but my way seems to be working so far. My son is only two though so time will tell.

[CTO]

There are the steps I'm taking to help my son become bilingual;

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1...gual.html?cat=4

I know from previous posts about the subject that other parents are more strict about teaching their children, but my way seems to be working so far. My son is only two though so time will tell.

One problem I found because iI was travelling a lot my daughter's English wasn't moving - so switched her from a Thai kindy to a English speaking one -

[ThaiBasil]

There are the steps I'm taking to help my son become bilingual;

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1...gual.html?cat=4

I know from previous posts about the subject that other parents are more strict about teaching their children, but my way seems to be working so far. My son is only two though so time will tell.

One problem I found because iI was travelling a lot my daughter's English wasn't moving - so switched her from a Thai kindy to a English speaking one -

Nice article, same discussion going on in here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Raising-Mult...ld-t281766.html

[bojo]

If the father doesn't have much time to communicate with their child and the child is around Thai's all the time speaking their native tongue, then unless one puts the child into an international school playgroup/elementary school at an early age, the child will always be way behind in English skills at a young age compared to other kids who's father has more time to communicate/and or go to international schools. Once a child gets older and goes to an international school or at very least a really good bi-lingual school can they may be able to catch up, but to what level I wouldn't know.

Regards Bojo

[KhaoNiaw]

Just picking the language up from everyday life has worked very well for my daughter. She's 16 now and English is not her 2nd language but her second 1st language. Most bilinguals will have one language that is more dominant, probably depending on the linguistic environment.

I think you're doing the right things. It's OK to use Thai with your wife but never speak to your son in Thai. Do the feeding, bathing, and everything as much as you can and keep talking.

[garro]

Thanks for all the comments

I wonder do those trying to teach their children their own language avoid baby talk?

[bkkmick]

I'm with bojo on this one. While growing up my kids spoke mostly Thai (as bojo says they're surrounded by Thai language with only me speaking English to them). As soon as they started (international) school the English came on leaps and bounds. They both started at around 3 and by 3 1/2 there was an amazing difference. They are 6 and (almost) 8 now and their English is fantastic.

When my first daughter was almost 4 she seen fireworks in the distance and said that they were like 'fountains in the sky' - I nearly crashed the car.

[quiksilva]

Nice story Mick!

Im raising my first son now, he's just 8 months, but making lots of noises. I never use baby language always speaking to him normally, but perhaps in a slightly higher tone occasionally which seems to engage him.

My wife is Thai but we both speak to him and each other in proper English (no pidgin in my house thanks!). The TV though is often tuned to Thai soaps (god help him) and the MIL looks after him during the day. In fact I encourage her not to speak English, at all, because she does not have a very good command of it.

I prefer my son to listen to good Thai, instead of picking up poor English from her. (The poor lad will suffer enough from my poor diction!)

Edited July 28, 2009 by quiksilva