Nicola in Germany (English/German)
Aug 7, 2014 21:02:43 GMT 9
Post by Nicola F on Aug 7, 2014 21:02:43 GMT 9
Hi Everyone,
My daughters (born 2010 and 2012) are growing up with English and German in Germany. My husband is German and I am British, although I myself grew up bilingually with a British father and German mother in England. Our family language is German, although my husband does speak good English.
My mother always spoke German to me but I spoke very little German growing up. My father speaks no German. I always felt that English was my mother tongue (my German is very good, but far from perfect, esp. grammar-wise) and I am an EFL teacher - however, when my first daughter was born, all the comforting/baby language came out in German and it felt weird speaking English to her. So I really can't say now what my mother tongue really is...
I don't speak anywhere enough English with my girls - it feels more natural to speak German. I know myself that I always felt/feel more comfortable speaking the language of where I am, i.e. when visiting Germany as a child, I spoke German, but refused to speak it when at home in England and this hasn't really changed: I can't get into consistently speaking English here. I've not lived in England since 2001 and rarely go back.
As a child, I also absolutely hated being corrected by my mother when speaking German and am very conscious that I don't do that with my daughters. But maybe I was just over-sensitive?
I also tend to end up mixing both languages horribly when I start speaking more English at home. However, I do read a lot in English to the girls and they both understand it well enough. My oldest also makes an attempt to speak it with my Dad when we visit my parents (they now live in France).
I suppose I also know that English being a 'cool' language, will mean thay are more likely to want to speak it as they grow up. There wasn't such an incentive for me to speak German, growing up in England in the 80s!
My question is, is there anyone else out there who grew up bilingually themselves and is now also facing some of these issues with their own bilingual children? I envy friends who 'studied' a second language and have the ability to so clearly differentiate between their languages! All the literature which advises 'one parent, one language' is all very well, but as far as I'm concerned, it is much easier said than done when you are bilingual yourself.
Nicola, in Germany
My daughters (born 2010 and 2012) are growing up with English and German in Germany. My husband is German and I am British, although I myself grew up bilingually with a British father and German mother in England. Our family language is German, although my husband does speak good English.
My mother always spoke German to me but I spoke very little German growing up. My father speaks no German. I always felt that English was my mother tongue (my German is very good, but far from perfect, esp. grammar-wise) and I am an EFL teacher - however, when my first daughter was born, all the comforting/baby language came out in German and it felt weird speaking English to her. So I really can't say now what my mother tongue really is...
I don't speak anywhere enough English with my girls - it feels more natural to speak German. I know myself that I always felt/feel more comfortable speaking the language of where I am, i.e. when visiting Germany as a child, I spoke German, but refused to speak it when at home in England and this hasn't really changed: I can't get into consistently speaking English here. I've not lived in England since 2001 and rarely go back.
As a child, I also absolutely hated being corrected by my mother when speaking German and am very conscious that I don't do that with my daughters. But maybe I was just over-sensitive?
I also tend to end up mixing both languages horribly when I start speaking more English at home. However, I do read a lot in English to the girls and they both understand it well enough. My oldest also makes an attempt to speak it with my Dad when we visit my parents (they now live in France).
I suppose I also know that English being a 'cool' language, will mean thay are more likely to want to speak it as they grow up. There wasn't such an incentive for me to speak German, growing up in England in the 80s!
My question is, is there anyone else out there who grew up bilingually themselves and is now also facing some of these issues with their own bilingual children? I envy friends who 'studied' a second language and have the ability to so clearly differentiate between their languages! All the literature which advises 'one parent, one language' is all very well, but as far as I'm concerned, it is much easier said than done when you are bilingual yourself.
Nicola, in Germany
), but I can empathize with the positive point of view. 
Very positive podcast review of my book Bilingual Success Stories Around the World at Kletsheads 
