Trying to choose a language strategy!
Jun 3, 2017 14:28:28 GMT 9
Post by Sonia on Jun 3, 2017 14:28:28 GMT 9
Hello!
I purchased "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" last month and I've loved it so much! I'm glad I found this forum because in the summer my husband and I are expecting our first child!
I would love some advice as I decide which language strategy to use. Both my husband and I are bilingual. I grew up speaking both languages (my family immigrated from South America when I was 4 years old), he learned Spanish on a two-year church mission in Central America. I am leaning towards the approach of "One parent (me) speaks the minority language while one parent (husband) speaks both languages". However, I actually would prefer a mix of that approach and "both of us speak both languages".
The parts in the book where Adam talks about using English so that his children would get to know him deeply, speak to my own heart. Even though Spanish was my first language, English has naturally become my mother tongue. Spanish is a crucial part of me, but I know my relationship with my children won't seem as natural if it's only in Spanish. That's just not me. Which is why OPOL for our particular circumstance is out of the question.
Will we have as much success if I don't speak solely in Spanish to her?
Fortunately, schooling and community will be in Spanish for her. We are going to put her in a Spanish immersion school, when she is with my parents she will have Spanish and anything religious in our home (praying, reading the Bible etc.) is done in Spanish. We go to church where they only speak Spanish and so she will have that exposure and need in those circumstances. I'm also a teacher and plan on teaching her to read in both languages before she goes to Kindergarten! Any advice would be great!
Oh, are there any resources I could use to further research the "Time and Place strategy"? That seems intriguing to me in our particular circumstance. Thanks so much!
I purchased "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" last month and I've loved it so much! I'm glad I found this forum because in the summer my husband and I are expecting our first child!
I would love some advice as I decide which language strategy to use. Both my husband and I are bilingual. I grew up speaking both languages (my family immigrated from South America when I was 4 years old), he learned Spanish on a two-year church mission in Central America. I am leaning towards the approach of "One parent (me) speaks the minority language while one parent (husband) speaks both languages". However, I actually would prefer a mix of that approach and "both of us speak both languages".
The parts in the book where Adam talks about using English so that his children would get to know him deeply, speak to my own heart. Even though Spanish was my first language, English has naturally become my mother tongue. Spanish is a crucial part of me, but I know my relationship with my children won't seem as natural if it's only in Spanish. That's just not me. Which is why OPOL for our particular circumstance is out of the question.
Will we have as much success if I don't speak solely in Spanish to her?
Fortunately, schooling and community will be in Spanish for her. We are going to put her in a Spanish immersion school, when she is with my parents she will have Spanish and anything religious in our home (praying, reading the Bible etc.) is done in Spanish. We go to church where they only speak Spanish and so she will have that exposure and need in those circumstances. I'm also a teacher and plan on teaching her to read in both languages before she goes to Kindergarten! Any advice would be great!
Oh, are there any resources I could use to further research the "Time and Place strategy"? That seems intriguing to me in our particular circumstance. Thanks so much!
I think that I need to give it a try (speaking in Spanish) first before I decide to it won't work for me and you've given me hope that it could be natural! I'll make adjustments if necessary!
