Hola from Australia! :)

Ellie
Junior Keeper

Posts: 10

Country (residing now): Australia
Country (originally from): Australia (Husband from Costa Rica)
Children, Ages: son born May 2015
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Dec 21, 2015 19:01:00 GMT 9

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Post by Ellie on Dec 21, 2015 19:01:00 GMT 9

Hi there,

My name is Ellie and I am from Australia and my husband is from Costa Rica. We currently live here and have just had a baby boy, who is now 7 months old. Anyway, I started with the whole "one parent, one language" approach (the main approach I'd learnt about in the First Language Acquisition subject of my Master of Applied Linguistics), but after a trip to visit his abuelos and many people telling us "he won't speak Spanish" I decided to only speak to him in Spanish, as I thought that actually, he probably wouldn't, as his exposure to it wouldn't be enough, so I started quick smart. My husband and I speak mostly in Spanish anyway, so making our house a "Spanish speaking house" just made sense.

Now, I do have some queries though, as I'm not sure what language to speak to my son when we're with my family or out with English-speaking friends and other mummies and babies. I sometimes feel rude talking to him in Spanish in front of people who don't understand. As he's getting older and starting to interact more with other babies, I also feel that perhaps I need to talk to him in English, so that he learns to play with other kids in English (saying "please", "thank you" etc). The one place I get the most confused is at swimming lessons. I've been talking to him in Spanish, but sometimes the teacher and I have to work together with him and I feel that it might not be a good idea for me to be speaking to him in Spanish when the teacher doesn't understand and we're in a pool (safety is prime). Does that all make sense? I'd love others' opinions, as I feel like I'm playing it all by ear at the moment. Anyway, I look forward to learning from/with you all.

Adam Beck
Head Keeper

Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"

Posts: 2,176
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): USA
Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English, Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Dec 22, 2015 8:51:58 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Dec 22, 2015 8:51:58 GMT 9

Ellie, welcome! It sounds like your conditions are now very favorable for success!

In this case, because you're actually the majority language parent, I think there's less "risk" in you using English when it feels appropriate. Since, for the most part, you and your husband are using Spanish quite consistently, I expect you'll "condition" your son to use Spanish, too, once he begins to speak.

So, although I don't see your limited use of English as a concern (it would be more of a concern if you were the sole minority language parent), I would advise continuing to control your use of English with him, and around him, to whatever reasonable degree you can. Naturally, there are other aims beyond language development, but the more "strict" you can be about not speaking English in his presence, the more you'll strengthen his exposure and need for Spanish.

Ellie, best wishes to you all! I'm sure your approach, and persistence, will pay off richly over the months and years ahead!

Bilingual SuperKids: Supercharge the success and joy of your family's bilingual or multilingual journey with powerful private coaching from Adam Beck, author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"
bilingualsuperkids.com

Mayken
Star Keeper

Cool in two languages!

Posts: 1,286

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Germany
Children, Ages: Girl, 14
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): German (and learning English)

Hola from Australia! :) Dec 23, 2015 1:40:45 GMT 9 via mobile

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Post by Mayken on Dec 23, 2015 1:40:45 GMT 9

Hello Ellie and welcome to this forum!

In addition to what Adam says, I'd say that it's perfectly okay if you use English in specific places like at the swimming pool - he'll learn to associate the place and the language.

I think it's great you're mainly speaking Spanish with him. Good luck!

Cheers from Paris,

Mayken

My guest post at Bilingual Monkeys on traveling to our minority language country

Ellie
Junior Keeper

Posts: 10

Country (residing now): Australia
Country (originally from): Australia (Husband from Costa Rica)
Children, Ages: son born May 2015
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 13, 2016 16:25:54 GMT 9

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Post by Ellie on Jan 13, 2016 16:25:54 GMT 9

Hi and thanks for your responses. I think I'll have to have a look around the forum to see what other parents do. As my son gets more interactive with us and others, I'm finding it tricky deciding how to speak to him in front of others who don't speak Spanish (my family, other mums and bubs). Should I continue to only address him in Spanish in his presence, or should I use English in these situations?

Adam Beck
Head Keeper

Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"

Posts: 2,176
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): USA
Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English, Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 14, 2016 8:51:12 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Jan 14, 2016 8:51:12 GMT 9

Ellie, if you and your husband are staying consistent about your use of Spanish at home, as a "minority language family," I don't think using some English out in the community is a cause for concern.

At the same time, I think it remains true that the more you're able to limit the amount of English you speak to him directly--particularly during these first few formative years--the more you'll raise the odds of "conditioning" him to communicate with you in Spanish. I appreciate how tricky all this can be, but as a general rule, I would encourage you to emphasize Spanish and "de-emphasize" English, to whatever degree is realistic and comfortable for your lifestyle.

This post (and the many comments below it) might also offer some helpful food for thought...

What Language Should I Speak in Public with My Bilingual Child?

Bilingual SuperKids: Supercharge the success and joy of your family's bilingual or multilingual journey with powerful private coaching from Adam Beck, author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"
bilingualsuperkids.com

Ellie
Junior Keeper

Posts: 10

Country (residing now): Australia
Country (originally from): Australia (Husband from Costa Rica)
Children, Ages: son born May 2015
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 16, 2016 8:35:00 GMT 9

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Post by Ellie on Jan 16, 2016 8:35:00 GMT 9

Thanks Adam. I'll check out that post. I agree with you on trying to de-emphasize English. What about when he's playing with other kids? I've noticed other parents saying things to their children like "Share with X" "Say thankyou/please" etc when they're trying to teach them manners and their first words etc. Do I do the same in English, as obviously it won't help him to start learning to say "Por favor/Gracias" etc to everyone.

Ellie
Junior Keeper

Posts: 10

Country (residing now): Australia
Country (originally from): Australia (Husband from Costa Rica)
Children, Ages: son born May 2015
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 16, 2016 8:39:38 GMT 9

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Post by Ellie on Jan 16, 2016 8:39:38 GMT 9

I just read your post and it's very interesting. I hadn't really thought about how much English my son is actually exposed to when I'm out with other mums or chatting with my own family. He's still so young, that I kind of forgot that he will actually be taking it all in. Now I just have to find the balance between getting out with friends for my own sanity, but limiting it for the sake of his language acquisition. Hmmm...lots of food for thought there.

Adam Beck
Head Keeper

Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"

Posts: 2,176
Country (residing now): Japan
Country (originally from): USA
Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16
Majority Language: Japanese
Minority Language(s): English, Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 16, 2016 11:18:46 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Jan 16, 2016 11:18:46 GMT 9

Ellie, I'm glad you found that post useful. Since there's no "right answer" to this question, a range of perspectives are helpful to hear, I think.

Because you and your husband are both using the minority language, I don't think speaking a certain amount of English to reinforce social graces is a large concern. As a rule of thumb, you might consider speaking English in his presence (and in particular, to him) only when it serves an important need or purpose. In other words, to whatever degree you can refrain from "casual conversation" in English until he's a bit older, and has been "conditioned" to communicate with you (and your husband) in Spanish, the more you'll likely strengthen the odds of success.

Bilingual SuperKids: Supercharge the success and joy of your family's bilingual or multilingual journey with powerful private coaching from Adam Beck, author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World"
bilingualsuperkids.com

Mayken
Star Keeper

Cool in two languages!

Posts: 1,286

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Germany
Children, Ages: Girl, 14
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): German (and learning English)

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 17, 2016 22:10:45 GMT 9

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Post by Mayken on Jan 17, 2016 22:10:45 GMT 9

Jan 16, 2016 8:35:00 GMT 9 Ellie said:

Thanks Adam. I'll check out that post. I agree with you on trying to de-emphasize English. What about when he's playing with other kids? I've noticed other parents saying things to their children like "Share with X" "Say thankyou/please" etc when they're trying to teach them manners and their first words etc. Do I do the same in English, as obviously it won't help him to start learning to say "Por favor/Gracias" etc to everyone.

Ellie, what I do when reminding my daughter to say please and thank you and things like that is I say in ml "Please say/Remember to say/Have you said" and then in ML the word in question. Our ml is German and our ML is French, so an example would be "Hast du merci gesagt?" for "Did you say thank you?"

When I'm reminding her to share or similar things, I'll speak to her in ml, sometimes I'll repeat it in ML for the benefit of the ML playmate, but that's the exception not the rule.

It's worked for us so far.

Good luck!

My guest post at Bilingual Monkeys on traveling to our minority language country

Ellie
Junior Keeper

Posts: 10

Country (residing now): Australia
Country (originally from): Australia (Husband from Costa Rica)
Children, Ages: son born May 2015
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Jan 28, 2016 7:53:36 GMT 9

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Post by Ellie on Jan 28, 2016 7:53:36 GMT 9

Thanks for your example, Mayken. I have done similar at times and will probably continue to do so. I guess part of this process is getting over the feeling (MY feeling, not my son's or anyone else's) that I'm being 'rude' or something for speaking in another language. Perhaps that has something to do with where I live and the fact that, despite being a very multicultural country, there are still many people in Australia of the mindset that you should only speak English and try and 'fit in' etc. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of ignorant (bordering on racist) views when it comes to speaking other languages, practising other religions, cultural practices etc. Luckily for us no one in my family or circle of friends is like that, but perhaps it's almost been conditioned in me to feel a bit like this.

My father's native language was actually Mauritian Creole, with French as the Majority Language and English as a third language. However, when he moved to Australia at the age of 17 he was determined to 'fit in' and he pretty much stopped speaking French or Creole, except with his parents. Despite my mum also speaking French (she learnt at school in the UK), they never taught it to us as children. It's a shame, but basically bilingualism back then really wasn't valued. As a result, I'm determined to give my son and future children the best possible chance at being truly bilingual.

Norma Junior Keeper Posts: 11 Country (residing now): France Country (originally from): USA Children, Ages: Girl, 1 Majority Language: French Minority Language(s): English, Spanish	Hola from Australia! :) Jan 29, 2016 21:35:36 GMT 9 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Norma on Jan 29, 2016 21:35:36 GMT 9 Hola, Ellie! It is really nice to meet another family with Central American roots. Welcome!

Filipa
New Keeper

Mother of 2 trilingual toddlers

Posts: 4

Country (residing now): Australia
Country (originally from): Portugal/France
Children, Ages: Tiago 3, Elisa 20 months old
Majority Language: English
Minority Language(s): French/Spanish

Hola from Australia! :) Feb 14, 2016 23:51:25 GMT 9

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Post by Filipa on Feb 14, 2016 23:51:25 GMT 9

Hello Ellie,

I live in Perth. I have 2 toddlers and I only speak French to them and dad only Spanish. We never switch to English when I am outside and surrounded by non French or Spanish speakers. If we see that some people get annoyed we translate the main information but we are consistent with our languages.

I do not want my children to think 'oh she can speak English, so why bother?' or 'Is mummy switching to English because French is not good enough'? I was myself raised bilingual Portuguese & French and my parents used to switch to French when we had non Portuguese speakers with us. It just encouraged my sister and I to speak French even between the 2 of us.

My children go to daycare 2 days a week and they understand English very well but at this stage it is their minority language. When we are going to swimming lessons, 99% they understand what they are being asked, but when I see that they do not get it, I translate into French.

They are not confused and identify the languages with the persons they are dealing with.

At daycare, I am told that my son does not speak much because English is not his most proficient language. He is 3 and speaks better French and Spanish than his little friends at daycare speak English.

I would say to do what feels right for you but it is good to be consistent and persevere.

Suerte

Filipa P