But is it enough?
Sept 14, 2016 19:20:36 GMT 9
Post by Heidi on Sept 14, 2016 19:20:36 GMT 9
Hi all!
I'm an ml (English) Mom to a wonderful 14 month old in an ML world (German) and trying to reach those two crucial points of "exposure" and "need" and I'm hoping to get some feedback. I have been speaking 100% English with my daughter and was/am the main caregiver. I was home with her for the first year (thanks, Germany!). My husband always speaks German to her. I speak English to my husband and he has started speaking English to me about 75% of the time (sometimes I forget to remind him!). He is fluent in English, but still makes mistakes (mostly word order or verb tense). Does that matter? I feel like it's still better that he speak English with me in front of our daughter.
Now reality is hitting, I'm back at work and my daughter is starting (German) day care (she is almost 15 months). She will be there from 7:30 to 12pm. After that, she is with me and weekends, too. My base efforts currently: Narration - poor kid has been listening to me narrate our lives since she was born. Reading aloud - I read at least 15 minutes a day to her during meal times and she loves it. Skype with Grandma - I skype with my Mom at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 15 minutes and my daughter is always there to listen and participate. Home - We go to the States once a year for about 2 weeks. But, I still feel like I'm racing against a speeding train (a German ICE)! It is deeply important to me that she speak English with me and I'm worried she'll start up with German and that will be that. The exposure is going pretty well, but the "need" is a kicker. How do I maximize that? I can't completely not speak German in front of her since I have to speak German with most of our friends, my in-laws speak NO English, day care teachers, shops, etc.
Also, a side question, how often should I change the books I read to her? Right now I rotate through about 25 books.
Thanks!
Heidi
I'm an ml (English) Mom to a wonderful 14 month old in an ML world (German) and trying to reach those two crucial points of "exposure" and "need" and I'm hoping to get some feedback. I have been speaking 100% English with my daughter and was/am the main caregiver. I was home with her for the first year (thanks, Germany!). My husband always speaks German to her. I speak English to my husband and he has started speaking English to me about 75% of the time (sometimes I forget to remind him!). He is fluent in English, but still makes mistakes (mostly word order or verb tense). Does that matter? I feel like it's still better that he speak English with me in front of our daughter.
Now reality is hitting, I'm back at work and my daughter is starting (German) day care (she is almost 15 months). She will be there from 7:30 to 12pm. After that, she is with me and weekends, too. My base efforts currently: Narration - poor kid has been listening to me narrate our lives since she was born. Reading aloud - I read at least 15 minutes a day to her during meal times and she loves it. Skype with Grandma - I skype with my Mom at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 15 minutes and my daughter is always there to listen and participate. Home - We go to the States once a year for about 2 weeks. But, I still feel like I'm racing against a speeding train (a German ICE)! It is deeply important to me that she speak English with me and I'm worried she'll start up with German and that will be that. The exposure is going pretty well, but the "need" is a kicker. How do I maximize that? I can't completely not speak German in front of her since I have to speak German with most of our friends, my in-laws speak NO English, day care teachers, shops, etc.
Also, a side question, how often should I change the books I read to her? Right now I rotate through about 25 books.
Thanks!
Heidi