Minority language at home
May 30, 2015 15:48:52 GMT 9
Post by Joanna on May 30, 2015 15:48:52 GMT 9
Hi everyone...my family is gradually becoming successful at using only the minority language in the home. As Charlotte has little contact with others because she isn't in daycare yet, it makes for practically 100% ml exposure. This will change in December, and then maybe as she begins to talk my husband might prefer to use the (and his) ML with her. I'm looking for some people to share their experience with ml at home if you have been doing this as opposed to OPOL. I have just read something encouraging from Francois Grosjean on the topic:
The strategy that I favor, and that I recommend to parents who wish to bring up their children with two languages, is to use one language in the home, usually the minority language, and the other language outside the home (I call this the "home - outside the home" strategy). This does mean that one of the parents has to speak his or her second (or third) language to the child so that everyone is using just one language at home. In addition, the language will need to be reinforced by people other than the parents (e.g. family members, friends, etc.) so as to give it a strong base. As for the outside language, usually the majority and hence the school language, it will have no problem finding its place. The strategy has a clear advantage in that the weaker language (the home language) will receive much more input than if only one parent uses it as in the one parent - one language strategy. In addition, things will be clear in the child's mind: at home, language X is spoken, and outside the home, it is language Y.
The way I would differ from his ml at home idea is that I plan to keep up ml outside the home when out and about in France, and I guess dad will speak ML if he wants.
So, if you have any interesting tips, strategies, stories of success or challenges...and even changes that have modified your language use system, feel free to share. It's all just ideas for me right now as Charlotte is so young. I look forward to hearing from you!
The strategy that I favor, and that I recommend to parents who wish to bring up their children with two languages, is to use one language in the home, usually the minority language, and the other language outside the home (I call this the "home - outside the home" strategy). This does mean that one of the parents has to speak his or her second (or third) language to the child so that everyone is using just one language at home. In addition, the language will need to be reinforced by people other than the parents (e.g. family members, friends, etc.) so as to give it a strong base. As for the outside language, usually the majority and hence the school language, it will have no problem finding its place. The strategy has a clear advantage in that the weaker language (the home language) will receive much more input than if only one parent uses it as in the one parent - one language strategy. In addition, things will be clear in the child's mind: at home, language X is spoken, and outside the home, it is language Y.
The way I would differ from his ml at home idea is that I plan to keep up ml outside the home when out and about in France, and I guess dad will speak ML if he wants.
So, if you have any interesting tips, strategies, stories of success or challenges...and even changes that have modified your language use system, feel free to share. It's all just ideas for me right now as Charlotte is so young. I look forward to hearing from you!