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Alba jimenez
Junior Keeper

Posts: 75
Country (residing now): United Kingdom
Country (originally from): United Kingdom
Children, Ages: 1 boy, 5 and a half years
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from the UK! Oct 30, 2018 7:15:12 GMT 9

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Post by Alba jimenez on Oct 30, 2018 7:15:12 GMT 9

Hi everyone,

I have been reading a bit in here in the forum and finally decided to take part more actively.

I have a 14-month-old boy who was born in the UK, where we live. I am originally from Spain and my husband is from India. Therefore, we speak Spanish and Hindi to our little one, and our majority language is English. Our families reside in our respective countries, so no family around as much as we'd like (although my parents do come when they can).

So far Spanish is the stronger language as I am the main carer, and he has seen my family a bit more too (I guess it helps we're closer and my family is big and noisy). I am also the one who talks the most at home (or anywhere

) and I'm passionate about language.

My son is speaking some Spanish words, and understands 95% of what I say to him. I am more concerned about Hindi, as his father has limited time after work and he is not getting enough exposure I'm afraid. His father realises that he doesn't understand as much in Hindi, although he understands some actions in Hindi too.

My son just started nursery (in English) although he only goes a couple of days a week for now.

My aim is to raise my child as an active trilingual, or at least as an active bilingual with a passive third language (it doesn't depend only on me so I need to consider both scenarios).

I am positive that I will be able to find resources in Spanish and I'm also looking for Hindi resources and supporting his father with Hindi. Lately we've been reading all together when my husband reads to my son in Hindi, to ensure that my little one pays attention, mentioning some vocabulary both in Spanish and Hindi.

I understand the language that should worry me the least is the majority language, but I can't avoid wondering if he'll be ready to start preschool in English and understand his teacher and classmates in English, be ready for phonetics, and all included without feeling lost or insecure at that stage.

In any case, what a journey we have started, I am thrilled and getting ready for everything.

All the best to all of you with your families!

Alba

Amy
Star Keeper

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

Posts: 1,682

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): France
Children, Ages: 10 and 6year old girls
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): Spanish (ml1) & English (ml2)

Hola from the UK! Oct 31, 2018 0:36:29 GMT 9

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Post by Amy on Oct 31, 2018 0:36:29 GMT 9

¡Hola Alba!

It's great that you've joined our chats, we have so much to learn from one another!

We're a trilingual family too, though both of my daughters have been/are looked after by a ML speaker.

I wouldn't worry about your child not having enough ML proficiency for nursery school, as he is attending a nursery twice a week and hears the ML from his environment (radio, telly, people on the street, shops)...he can't escape it, it's everywhere! He might only gain a passive comprehension now but he'll activate his ML skills when he decides to. Little bilinguals are often like that!

If you are still concerned, try and leave him more days at the nursery, arrange for ML playdates and babysitters. That will help too.

Good luck on your trilingual journey and let us know how things go!

Amy

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

My blog in English: www.ourmlhome.wordpress.com My blog in French: bilingue.home.blog

Alba jimenez
Junior Keeper

Posts: 75
Country (residing now): United Kingdom
Country (originally from): United Kingdom
Children, Ages: 1 boy, 5 and a half years
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from the UK! Oct 31, 2018 5:55:44 GMT 9

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Post by Alba jimenez on Oct 31, 2018 5:55:44 GMT 9

Thanks a lot, Amy! I appreciate a lot your motivation.

I have a feeling I'll turn to this forum for moral support.

And I'm convinced, I'll be all pro minority languages going forward! I'll listen to my son's needs of course but following Adam's recommendations as well as yours and the forum, I feel more relaxed with the majority language then.

We do have playdates in ML at the moment too so it seems covered.

Have a lovely week!

Alba

Adam Beck
Head Keeper

Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"

Posts: 2,176
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): USA
Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English, Spanish

Hola from the UK! Oct 31, 2018 10:33:38 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Oct 31, 2018 10:33:38 GMT 9

Oct 30, 2018 7:15:12 GMT 9 Alba jimenez said:

My aim is to raise my child as an active trilingual, or at least as an active bilingual with a passive third language (it doesn't depend only on me so I need to consider both scenarios).

I understand the language that should worry me the least is the majority language, but I can't avoid wondering if he'll be ready to start preschool in English and understand his teacher and classmates in English, be ready for phonetics, and all included without feeling lost or insecure at that stage.

Alba, welcome! It sounds like your family is off to a strong trilingual start!

I would second Amy's view that English won't really be a concern, especially as he's already begun attending nursery school in this language.

In fact, I would caution you not to "overdo" his English exposure at this early stage because that exposure could potentially undercut the input he's receiving in the two minority languages, as well as his need to use them. In another thread, I see you expressed concern about the fact that you and your husband have no choice but to use English as your shared language, given that you don't speak each other's native languages well. (I hope I recalled that correctly!) Now, while it's true that hearing you both regularly speaking English could eventually weaken his need for the other languages, this won't necessarily occur if you can do your very best, during these first few formative years, to "condition" him to communicate with you in Spanish and in Hindi with this father. That's the key aim for this first stage of bilingual (trilingual) development.

As for his progress in Hindi, if there's a relative lack of exposure to this language, it may become difficult for him to respond in Hindi to his father. And because he will have some English ability, and will eventually grow aware of your husband's ability in this language, he might naturally come to rely on English to respond. So, in order to prevent this scenario from occurring--though it may be difficult, realistically speaking, to prevent entirely--I advise that your husband be as mindful and proactive as possible, through these early years, in his efforts to provide your son with exposure to Hindi.

Yes, this journey of multiple languages is a thrilling and fulfilling adventure! Alba, I wish you and your family all the best as you move forward from here, and I'll be eager to read your happy updates!

Bilingual SuperKids: Supercharge the success and joy of your family's bilingual or multilingual journey with powerful private coaching from Adam Beck, author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"
bilingualsuperkids.com

Raquel
Star Keeper

Posts: 1,234

Country (residing now): Spain
Country (originally from): Spain
Children, Ages: daughter (10) & son (7)
Majority Language: Spanish
Minority Language(s): English

Hola from the UK! Oct 31, 2018 19:09:05 GMT 9

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Post by Raquel on Oct 31, 2018 19:09:05 GMT 9

Hi again, Alba! Welcome to the Bilingual Zoo!

I get your concern about your son's ability in English. I have 2 children and they've been very different in how they acquired their ML and ml.

My husband and I only speak to our children in the ml, but we spoke to each other in the ML until my daughter was 4.5yo and my son 1.5yo.

My daughter (now 5) attended nursery school Monday-Friday from age 1. When she turned 2, we spent August by ourselves, so she was always addressed in our ml, even though she heard us talk in ML to each other. After this, she only spoke in the ml. The summer she turned 3, she started saying a few words in the ML. To this day, her ml is stronger, she has a bit of a ml accent in the ML, and sometimes will make ml-speaker mistakes in the ML, like using the wrong article (el mesa, la niño... = the table, the boy).

My son, now 2, attended nursery school Monday-Friday since he was 6mo. Even though his sister only addresses him in the ml, his parents only address him in the ml, he only hears us speak in the ml and we spent 17 days in England the summer he turned 2, he still speaks both languages and uses one or the other depending on who he's speaking to. I asked his teacher the other day and she told me he speaks a lot and very clearly.

All this to say that every child is different. Some will only be interested in communicating with their parents, others only with other children, and others with everyone. My take on this? Strengthen your mls as much as you can now. My daughter is now spending at least 40h/week in the ML and we're struggling to keep up with this number of hours in the ml. Even if her ML is far from perfect at this time, she's 5. When I look at the big picture, I realize this is short lived. Her ML will be perfect by the time she's 10, most likely much earlier than that.

By this, I don't mean ignore the ML, because your son will feel better at school if he can communicate with other children and his teacher, but it's the mls you need to worry about most, IMO.

Alba jimenez
Junior Keeper

Posts: 75
Country (residing now): United Kingdom
Country (originally from): United Kingdom
Children, Ages: 1 boy, 5 and a half years
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from the UK! Nov 2, 2018 22:44:36 GMT 9

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Post by Alba jimenez on Nov 2, 2018 22:44:36 GMT 9

Thanks a lot, Adam!!

Yes, you got our case right, I appreciate a lot your recommendations, and will make sure to start strengthening the mls, and quit singing the baby group's songs (in the ML) at home!

I see how much of this is about being creative and making it fun. It just gives me the best excuse to revisit all my childhood songs, tales and games in Spanish. I also already see my husband more on top of it, so hopefully we'll get there!

I'll be in touch to share our progress.

¡Gracias!

Alba

Alba jimenez
Junior Keeper

Posts: 75
Country (residing now): United Kingdom
Country (originally from): United Kingdom
Children, Ages: 1 boy, 5 and a half years
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from the UK! Nov 2, 2018 22:53:16 GMT 9

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Post by Alba jimenez on Nov 2, 2018 22:53:16 GMT 9

Oct 31, 2018 19:09:05 GMT 9 Raquel said:

So interesting, Raquel! Thanks for your reply. It is amazing to see how children are different, right? Even within the same home and parents doing the same.

Thanks a lot for your tips and support!

Alba

Adam Beck
Head Keeper

Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"

Posts: 2,176
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): USA
Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English, Spanish

Hola from the UK! Nov 3, 2018 7:29:40 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Nov 3, 2018 7:29:40 GMT 9

Nov 2, 2018 22:44:36 GMT 9 Alba jimenez said:

Thanks a lot, Adam!!

Yes, you got our case right, I appreciate a lot your recommendations, and will make sure to start strengthening the mls, and quit singing the baby group's songs (in the ML) at home!

My pleasure, Alba! And, yes, that's exactly right: Being a minority language parent means that we have the lovely opportunity (and the need, really) to enjoy a "second childhood" by immersing ourselves and our kids in appealing books, stories, songs, games, etc. in the target language. To be honest, now that my kids are older (14 and 11) and this opportunity is fading away, I'm feeling a little wistful for the past.

So I encourage everyone to make the most of that "second childhood" while your children are small, which not only is great fun, it also generates great progress in the minority language.

Adam Beck Head Keeper Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World" Posts: 2,176 Country (residing now): Japan Country (originally from): USA Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16 Majority Language: Japanese Minority Language(s): English, Spanish	Hola from the UK! Dec 15, 2018 7:14:30 GMT 9 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Adam Beck on Dec 15, 2018 7:14:30 GMT 9 Alba, I thought of you this week when I was contacted by Reena, who has a site for parents teaching their children Hindi! www.hindibyreena.com/
	Bilingual SuperKids: Supercharge the success and joy of your family's bilingual or multilingual journey with powerful private coaching from Adam Beck, author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World" bilingualsuperkids.com

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