Moving for a year - ml becomes ML

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Tona R
Junior Keeper

Posts: 11

Country (residing now): USA
Country (originally from): USA / Mexico
Children, Ages: Boy (2013), Boy (2016)
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Moving for a year - ml becomes ML Mar 21, 2018 22:10:12 GMT 9

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Post by Tona R on Mar 21, 2018 22:10:12 GMT 9

I've been meaning to come back to this forum for a while. Over a year ago, we had to move houses. That plus a new baby pretty much derailed my participation. Things are going quite well in the ml. Sure, my boy's production is better in the ML, and there are many things I could do better, but all told, I'm pretty happy and amazed with how he's done.

I wanted to share an amazing opportunity I have. I plan on taking a sabbatical year in the ml country (Mexico). So ml becomes ML and now I don't even know what to write! We have both boys registered in schools that have little to no English. The 4yo will be in preschool and the 1yo will be in a daycare. My wife will really improve her Spanish to where I hope I can banish my use of English from the house while the boys are awake.

I kind of feel like I'm cheating!

Amy
Star Keeper

Posts: 619

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): France
Children, Ages: 5 and 2 year old girls
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): Spanish (ml1) & English (ml2)
Member is Online

Moving for a year - ml becomes ML Mar 21, 2018 22:40:00 GMT 9

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Post by Amy on Mar 21, 2018 22:40:00 GMT 9

Tona,

You are so lucky! It's an amazing opportunity! And you certainly aren't cheating, you're just shaping your family life to give all the best opportunities to your children.

No later than this morning, I came across Kris T 's thread where she explained how she took a term's leave of absence to do the same thing with her children. The results her kids reaped from this incredible experience were fantastic.

All my best wishes on this great experience.

Amy

***"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" - Oscar Wilde***

My guest post at Bilingual Monkeys: bilingualmonkeys.com/bilingual-families-and-limiting-the-influence-of-the-majority-language/

Alison
Senior Keeper

Posts: 123

Country (residing now): UK
Country (originally from): UK
Children, Ages: 9mths
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Norwegian, Sami

Moving for a year - ml becomes ML Mar 22, 2018 0:22:05 GMT 9 via mobile

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Post by Alison on Mar 22, 2018 0:22:05 GMT 9

That's a fantastic opportunity, Tona! I hope we get the chance for an extended stay in ml country one day too. It will make a massive difference. It certainly isn't cheating, though, as you can make sure to think of ways to get the most out of your stay ie making connections with people and stocking up on resources and then sustaining it once you return to ML country again. Hope you can check in again and let us know how it's going.

Kris T
New Keeper

Posts: 4
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): Canada
Children, Ages: Boys 11, 9
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English

Moving for a year - ml becomes ML Mar 22, 2018 9:23:17 GMT 9

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Post by Kris T on Mar 22, 2018 9:23:17 GMT 9

Tona,

Definitely not cheating! How wonderful that you can do this. Your whole family will reap the rewards of this experience. Your children will likely start using new words/expressions within days. At least that's what I have found even on just 2-week visits to family, especially if they are around other children. I took my children back to Canada last fall for 4 months and on the third day, my youngest was playing with his cousin and after a cool move, he announced 'that's so sick!'. I laughed so hard because it's definitely not an expression I use, but he had picked it up and was using it correctly so quickly. I wish my own language development moved so fast.

Good luck with the move and enjoy every aspect of the immersive experience!

Tona R
Junior Keeper

Posts: 11

Country (residing now): USA
Country (originally from): USA / Mexico
Children, Ages: Boy (2013), Boy (2016)
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Moving for a year - ml becomes ML Mar 22, 2018 22:52:23 GMT 9

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Post by Tona R on Mar 22, 2018 22:52:23 GMT 9

Thanks for the encouragement. We're excited. The application isn't finalized, but we don't expect that it will be rejected.

Mar 22, 2018 9:23:17 GMT 9 Kris T said:

I took my children back to Canada last fall for 4 months and on the third day, my youngest was playing with his cousin and after a cool move, he announced 'that's so sick!'. I laughed so hard because it's definitely not an expression I use, but he had picked it up and was using it correctly so quickly.

Great story. That's may be what I'm most looking forward to. Having kids around will be so much more motivating and so much more natural than dad and his books.

Adam Beck
Head Keeper

EXCITING NEWS! My new novel, How I Lost My Ear, is now available worldwide!

Posts: 1,371
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): USA
Children, Ages: Girl, 13 and Boy, 10
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English, Spanish

Moving for a year - ml becomes ML Mar 23, 2018 5:29:01 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Mar 23, 2018 5:29:01 GMT 9

Mar 21, 2018 22:10:12 GMT 9 Tona R said:

I wanted to share an amazing opportunity I have. I plan on taking a sabbatical year in the ml country (Mexico). So ml becomes ML and now I don't even know what to write! We have both boys registered in schools that have little to no English. The 4yo will be in preschool and the 1yo will be in a daycare. My wife will really improve her Spanish to where I hope I can banish my use of English from the house while the boys are awake.

Tona, what a marvelous opportunity for the whole family!

(In fact, I wish my kids and I could join you. Spanish is now our third language, but our progress is very slooooow.)

I look forward to hearing how it all unfolds!

Adam Beck is the founder of Bilingual Monkeys and The Bilingual Zoo, and the author of the popular non-fiction book Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability amzn.to/22XKuCt and the humorous novel How I Lost My Ear amzn.to/2EsjVRS, both available worldwide.

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Mayken: I'm wearing my language police hat today - when I realized the movie my daughter was watching on the phone was in ML I told her to stop. I later asked her dad to remove all ML content from the phone. Screentime is ml only! Mar 27, 2018 23:00:03 GMT 9

Amy: Right you are Mayken!

Mar 28, 2018 1:43:20 GMT 9

Marisa: Way to go, Mayken! That's the (bilingual) spirit

Mar 29, 2018 0:55:54 GMT 9

Kristin T.: Will check out your podcast interview on my next run! Mar 30, 2018 23:24:37 GMT 9

Mayken: My daughter brought home her ml report card (she gets a separate one from the regular report card at her bilingual school), and it's straight A's! (Better than her marks in ML on the main report card.) I'm so proud!!! Mar 31, 2018 6:10:44 GMT 9

Amy: Gratuliere (Congratulations) Mayken!!

Mar 31, 2018 16:54:17 GMT 9

Mayken: Thank you, Amy! As a reward, we allowed her to purchase a big item from her Christmas money--a Playmobil house, with which she now plays in ml!

Apr 4, 2018 3:37:31 GMT 9 *

Amy: Reward all the way round

. Bilingual education can be a virtuous circle Apr 4, 2018 5:26:18 GMT 9

Nellie: What great news, Mayken! Apr 5, 2018 4:36:26 GMT 9

Raquel: I totally missed this. Congratulations, Mayken!! You have reason to be proud

Apr 10, 2018 20:08:02 GMT 9

Mayken: Thanks everyone! Today my daughter helped a classmate finish her ml homework just before school - all in ml. (My daughter had finished hers the day before at home.) Apr 11, 2018 3:58:56 GMT 9

Adam Beck: My Mother Has Passed Away bilingualmonkeys.com/my-mother-has-passed-away/ Apr 12, 2018 10:46:25 GMT 9

Raquel: I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's passing, Adam. She sounds like an amazing woman. Sending you a big hug from Madrid. Apr 12, 2018 18:16:38 GMT 9 *

Marie: I am sorry to hear about your mother Adam. Thinking of you and your family. Apr 13, 2018 4:25:21 GMT 9

Jana: What a beautiful tribute you wrote to your mother. Sending condolences from the SF Bay Area! Apr 14, 2018 5:34:03 GMT 9

Kristin T.: I enjoyed reading your post about your mother. Those were some amazing photos to cherish forever. I am sorry for your loss. I know it's ever the more painful having been an expat so long. Take care & be kind to yourself. Apr 16, 2018 2:24:35 GMT 9 *

Nellie: I'm so sorry to read about your mother Adam. She sounds like an incredible woman. Your friends across the world are thinking of you and your family! Apr 17, 2018 0:50:25 GMT 9

Adam Beck: Thank you, everyone, for your warm expressions of sympathy on the loss of my mother. Your friendship and support has meant a lot to me at this challenging time.

Apr 17, 2018 7:44:14 GMT 9 *

Adam Beck: 7 Interviews with Adam Beck, Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" bilingualmonkeys.com/7-interviews-with-adam-beck-author-of-maximize-your-childs-bilingual-ability/ Apr 19, 2018 15:02:39 GMT 9

Judit: I'm sorry about your mom, Adam, glad you could say goodbye, sounds like a wonderful woman. Beautiful pictures and a heartwarming tribute, thinking of you in Italy! Apr 19, 2018 17:17:40 GMT 9 *