Hi from Tokyo!
Nov 1, 2020 21:47:00 GMT 9
Post by Jessi on Nov 1, 2020 21:47:00 GMT 9
Hi everyone!
My name is Jessi and I am originally from the US. I have been living in Tokyo for the past 13 years, and my first child (son) was born earlier this year. I found my way here after purchasing Adam's book Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability (am still making my way through it!), and I have to say I really love it so far! I had read a couple of other books on bilingualism before this one, but I have to say that once I heard about Adam's situation - an American living in Japan, raising children in an environment where Japanese is the main language at school and with peers - I really felt like I had found an amazing resource, seeing as I am in basically the same situation! All of the advice in the book just seems to hit home and speak to me so much more because of this. So thank you! It has been very helpful so far and I am excited to finish it.
A bit more background on me: I was born to a bilingual mother (English-Mexican Spanish), and while I had exposure here and there to Spanish growing up (hearing my mother speak to my grandmother, trips to Mexico, etc.), I did not grow up bilingual myself - that is, my mother spoke to me only in English as I grew up. I became fascinated with foreign languages from a young age, and through school and the exposure I had, picked up Spanish on my own, but I definitely would not be considered a native speaker, and I do regret that my mother did not raise me to speak Spanish (although I understand that it would have been very difficult for her for many reasons). I really want to make sure that my son grows up to be able to speak, read, and write in English, so I have been doing a lot of research into how I can be successful at it.
Adam, if you do not mind, I do have a couple of questions!
1. How do you handle being the only English speaker speaking to your children in English in situations where you are with other people who don't speak it? For example, at the in-laws house, or on a playdate with Japanese families, etc. Are you always strict about using only English with your children even if no one else around you understands it? Does it ever create an awkward situation where those are around feel left out? I know that I will start to find myself in more of these situations as time goes on. (I know that we will be going to the in-laws' often, for one!) I do admit to having a bit of a mental hangup when it comes to using a language in front of others who do not understand it. I am fluent in Japanese, and I feel like the impulse to use Japanese in the settings above will be strong - more than anything, as a way to make others we are with feel included in that they understand what I am saying to my son. But I know I need to be strict with myself when it comes to using English with him, so I feel like this is something I have to "get over", so to speak. I would love to hear your thoughts on handling these types of situations!
2. Is there anything you would have done differently with your children when they were babies/toddlers in their bilingual journey?
Thanks again, and I look forward to being a part of this community!
Jessi
My name is Jessi and I am originally from the US. I have been living in Tokyo for the past 13 years, and my first child (son) was born earlier this year. I found my way here after purchasing Adam's book Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability (am still making my way through it!), and I have to say I really love it so far! I had read a couple of other books on bilingualism before this one, but I have to say that once I heard about Adam's situation - an American living in Japan, raising children in an environment where Japanese is the main language at school and with peers - I really felt like I had found an amazing resource, seeing as I am in basically the same situation! All of the advice in the book just seems to hit home and speak to me so much more because of this. So thank you! It has been very helpful so far and I am excited to finish it.
A bit more background on me: I was born to a bilingual mother (English-Mexican Spanish), and while I had exposure here and there to Spanish growing up (hearing my mother speak to my grandmother, trips to Mexico, etc.), I did not grow up bilingual myself - that is, my mother spoke to me only in English as I grew up. I became fascinated with foreign languages from a young age, and through school and the exposure I had, picked up Spanish on my own, but I definitely would not be considered a native speaker, and I do regret that my mother did not raise me to speak Spanish (although I understand that it would have been very difficult for her for many reasons). I really want to make sure that my son grows up to be able to speak, read, and write in English, so I have been doing a lot of research into how I can be successful at it.
Adam, if you do not mind, I do have a couple of questions!
1. How do you handle being the only English speaker speaking to your children in English in situations where you are with other people who don't speak it? For example, at the in-laws house, or on a playdate with Japanese families, etc. Are you always strict about using only English with your children even if no one else around you understands it? Does it ever create an awkward situation where those are around feel left out? I know that I will start to find myself in more of these situations as time goes on. (I know that we will be going to the in-laws' often, for one!) I do admit to having a bit of a mental hangup when it comes to using a language in front of others who do not understand it. I am fluent in Japanese, and I feel like the impulse to use Japanese in the settings above will be strong - more than anything, as a way to make others we are with feel included in that they understand what I am saying to my son. But I know I need to be strict with myself when it comes to using English with him, so I feel like this is something I have to "get over", so to speak. I would love to hear your thoughts on handling these types of situations!
2. Is there anything you would have done differently with your children when they were babies/toddlers in their bilingual journey?
Thanks again, and I look forward to being a part of this community!
Best,
Some people don't like having another language being used in their presence and consider it rude. Personally, I have little patience for this and put my child's education as my top priority. 
, I usually do it just for ML kids and especially if they are playing at our place. But I do make a point when I introduce myself to new people related to my kids of explaining that I always talk in Spanish to them. 
