Hello from a Korean mom in Los Angeles
Apr 16, 2021 16:25:29 GMT 9
Post by Yeri on Apr 16, 2021 16:25:29 GMT 9
Hi all-
My name is Yeri. I am originally from South Korea, came to the United States to go to graduate school, and have been living in the States for 15 years. My husband (American-born Chinese) and I raise our 22-month-old daughter Hannah. Because of the COVID, I and my husband work from home while taking care of Hannah by taking turns. My parents-in-law (first generation immigrants from Hong Kong who are fluent in English and Cantonese) look after her two days per week to ease our burden.
Hannah understands Korean but mostly speaks in English. She knows some Cantonese as well, but I don’t know how much she understands it. My husband reads to her in English. His parents read to her both in English and Mandarin and speak to her in English and Cantonese. I read to her both in English and Korean.
She can distinguish three languages. If she speaks a word in English, then I ask in Korean “what is it in Korean?” then she answers the right word in Korean. Same case for Cantonese. But sometimes she uses Korean word (such as “Hug me”) to parents. It’s not certain whether it is because my husband understands it so she assumes that parents would understand it as well or whether she not knowingly uses it. This is one of my concerns because I mix languages sometimes (I try not to do it...but it happens).
And, even if I want to speak mostly in Korean, books she brings me to read are almost 70-80% English and the rest Korean. I don’t translate English books in Korean for her. I usually read books in original languages. However, when we found a new word for Hannah in her Korean books, I repeat the new word a couple times in Korean and then tell her what it is called in English (because in most cases that’s the word she already knows). Like this, there are so many little things that I am not sure whether this is the right thing to do or not. I plan to visit Korea at least once a year for a month to three months and send her to schools there once the COVID is over. During my Sabbatical year, we hope to live in Korea for a year.
Being the only one who speaks a minority language has not been easy. From time to time, I get frustrated and worried. However, I would like to relax and have more fun with Hannah in this bilingual journey. I am happy to find this forum where I can relate to, be understood, and support each other. Thank you!
My name is Yeri. I am originally from South Korea, came to the United States to go to graduate school, and have been living in the States for 15 years. My husband (American-born Chinese) and I raise our 22-month-old daughter Hannah. Because of the COVID, I and my husband work from home while taking care of Hannah by taking turns. My parents-in-law (first generation immigrants from Hong Kong who are fluent in English and Cantonese) look after her two days per week to ease our burden.
Hannah understands Korean but mostly speaks in English. She knows some Cantonese as well, but I don’t know how much she understands it. My husband reads to her in English. His parents read to her both in English and Mandarin and speak to her in English and Cantonese. I read to her both in English and Korean.
She can distinguish three languages. If she speaks a word in English, then I ask in Korean “what is it in Korean?” then she answers the right word in Korean. Same case for Cantonese. But sometimes she uses Korean word (such as “Hug me”) to parents. It’s not certain whether it is because my husband understands it so she assumes that parents would understand it as well or whether she not knowingly uses it. This is one of my concerns because I mix languages sometimes (I try not to do it...but it happens).
And, even if I want to speak mostly in Korean, books she brings me to read are almost 70-80% English and the rest Korean. I don’t translate English books in Korean for her. I usually read books in original languages. However, when we found a new word for Hannah in her Korean books, I repeat the new word a couple times in Korean and then tell her what it is called in English (because in most cases that’s the word she already knows). Like this, there are so many little things that I am not sure whether this is the right thing to do or not. I plan to visit Korea at least once a year for a month to three months and send her to schools there once the COVID is over. During my Sabbatical year, we hope to live in Korea for a year.
Being the only one who speaks a minority language has not been easy. From time to time, I get frustrated and worried. However, I would like to relax and have more fun with Hannah in this bilingual journey. I am happy to find this forum where I can relate to, be understood, and support each other. Thank you!
) and will not see the "need" to use the ml if you speak the ML. I totally agree with Adam about having sometimes having to be "extreme" about our goals. You can discover how extreme we went to "de-emphasise" the ML in our home 
