For me and my husband it’s been a tough journey to acquire a
new language. When deciding on how to introduce our son to both our languages
we had a great many conversations, read plenty and spoke to other families in
similar situations.
We finally decided that we would both speak to him in
English. There are several reasons for this.
First when deciding to speak any
other language with your child it is important to be consistent. There have
been studies that revealed a link to dyslexia in children who had a parent who
spoke more than one language with them when they were small. Second, we want
him to speak both languages well and for this we believe he needs a relaxed
environment where he can speak English as everywhere else he will have to speak
Portuguese. We also want him to feel supported in his language learning and if
we both use English with him he will be able to ask either of us for help. I
also read some blogs from people where one parent speaks a different language.
In many cases their child understands both languages but responds only in the
dominant language. Also when they have their clingy phase with one of the
parents the language is a key factor in this too, distancing or isolating the
parent who speaks another language.
So these are our reasons for deciding to go forward with
English at home. It was not a choice we took lightly and it has been a huge
decision for my husband to make as it is not his first language. It was
entirely his choice as to which language he would speak with his son as
communication is a very intimate and important part of being a parent.
Our language journey began when I was pregnant. Our boy
moved more when I spoke English and we both spoke, read and sang to him in English
throughout the pregnancy. When he was several weeks old he would cry when I
spoke Portuguese and was quiet and content when he could hear English being
spoken. Now he is bigger he is very interested when people speak to him in
Portuguese or when I speak it when we are out. He pays close attention to
people’s mouth when they speak. When we are at home he looks to us for
language. We tell him the names of his toys and the animals and he has begun to
try sounds for certain things such as the dog’s name.
We now wait excitedly to see how his language development
will progress and how he will dominate the two languages.
Any tips, ideas or stories from your own experiences would
be great so do leave a comment below.
Hello Zoe--thanks for dropping by Bringing up Baby Bilingual to introduce yourself! I'm adding your site to my blogroll.
ReplyDeleteYour son is a very lucky little boy to be able to grow up bilingually. It sounds like you and your husband take great joy in interacting with him and that you will be dedicated and consistent in raising him with English at home.
(How interesting, by the way, that he responded negatively to your speaking Portuguese when he was so little!)
Bravo to your husband, too, for his willingness to parent in his non-native language. I know exactly how challenging that can be! I'd guess that learning all the infant-related vocab and songs and rhymes in English was hard for him (it certainly was for me in my non-native French).
Good luck to you three!
Thank you Sarah. I enjoyed reading about your children's development and will be dropping by regularly.
DeleteNice post. Where did you read about dyslexia?
ReplyDeleteIt was an article I read while living and working in a bilingual school in Spain. I haven't managed to find it online but if I do come across it I will post the link.
ReplyDelete