Update since our 1-1 with Adam
Jan 11, 2022 21:44:56 GMT 9
Post by CHRISTOPHER L WILSON on Jan 11, 2022 21:44:56 GMT 9
Hi all and Adam,
I highly recommend one or more 1-1s via Habilnet. It was very helpful. So when we spoke the focus was my youngest one who is almost 4 (Benny) and despite nearly identical inputs/exposure which has been quite high since birth, he has been much more hesitant with target language than his older sister.
I've really tried to create highly emphasized target language moments--games--to further clarify that this time is for target language. This is somewhat difficult since the target language is liberally used throughout the day on a daily basis. I'll say I have seen some very small but noticeable increases in use of the target language by Benny. So yea for that! He still produces very little naturally which who knows why since his sister is bilingual.
For some reason he seems more self-aware, unconfident about his capabilities in target language. He says "he can't" and speaks about target language in a much more "other" way than my oldest ever did. For my oldest it was never "a thing" but just an organic form of communicating. For example, on our Netflix there is a Spanish channel we use when it's just me and the kids. This morning though he was VERY certain he didn't want the Spanish Netflix channel. I encouraged him that is the channel we use when it is just us--validated that he felt it was more difficult in the target language, tried to compromise saying we'll watch it in that channel until mommy wakes up, yet he was very certain as many 4 year olds are. It felt like I was creating hostility towards the target language if I would have "forced" him to watch it in the moment and I'd like it to be a point of pride, special, a positive part of his identity. So I said ok, I see it's important to you, we'll watch the English channel now but later we'll watch the Spanish channel, which he was okay with.
I'm certain it's just being steady and more of the same (we have OPOL, target language nanny, target language dual language program in school) however I'll say I certainly wish he was where our oldest was at his age...and this questionable relationship with the target language is concerning.
Anyone would have handled the Netflix example any differently?
Thanks for the accountability partners,
Chris
I highly recommend one or more 1-1s via Habilnet. It was very helpful. So when we spoke the focus was my youngest one who is almost 4 (Benny) and despite nearly identical inputs/exposure which has been quite high since birth, he has been much more hesitant with target language than his older sister.
I've really tried to create highly emphasized target language moments--games--to further clarify that this time is for target language. This is somewhat difficult since the target language is liberally used throughout the day on a daily basis. I'll say I have seen some very small but noticeable increases in use of the target language by Benny. So yea for that! He still produces very little naturally which who knows why since his sister is bilingual.
For some reason he seems more self-aware, unconfident about his capabilities in target language. He says "he can't" and speaks about target language in a much more "other" way than my oldest ever did. For my oldest it was never "a thing" but just an organic form of communicating. For example, on our Netflix there is a Spanish channel we use when it's just me and the kids. This morning though he was VERY certain he didn't want the Spanish Netflix channel. I encouraged him that is the channel we use when it is just us--validated that he felt it was more difficult in the target language, tried to compromise saying we'll watch it in that channel until mommy wakes up, yet he was very certain as many 4 year olds are. It felt like I was creating hostility towards the target language if I would have "forced" him to watch it in the moment and I'd like it to be a point of pride, special, a positive part of his identity. So I said ok, I see it's important to you, we'll watch the English channel now but later we'll watch the Spanish channel, which he was okay with.
I'm certain it's just being steady and more of the same (we have OPOL, target language nanny, target language dual language program in school) however I'll say I certainly wish he was where our oldest was at his age...and this questionable relationship with the target language is concerning.
Anyone would have handled the Netflix example any differently?
Thanks for the accountability partners,
Chris
