Joanna's journal

Joanna
Senior Keeper

Posts: 226

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Canada
Children, Ages: Charlotte, 4.5 years, James 3 months
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): English

Joanna's journal Oct 29, 2017 15:14:16 GMT 9

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Post by Joanna on Oct 29, 2017 15:14:16 GMT 9

Now I'll keep track of my updates in one place...

We're very happy with my little girl's progress at the moment. She is 2,5 at the moment and really likes being read to, loves skyping with her ml grandparents and is doing very well speaking English. I've noticed she chooses English if calling out to us in the night now.

She is kept by French speakers 2.5 days a week and the rest of the time is spent with my husband alone (ml exposure as he speaks English to her despite being French), myself alone (same exposure) or as a family...this is the part which needs improving as I go back and forth between speaking English and French to my husband.

We live in a small French village, so are creating English community how we can...

--a monthly playgroup with English families an hour away, (did that yesterday)

--a monthly English story and music time for 0-6 in our village that I created

--monthly drinks evening at our house for adults with a good level of English (she benefits from about an hour of this...but it is good practice and motivation for my husband who wouldn't do actual English lessons, but he can chat and have a drink!

Goals:

--most exciting development: a 16-year-old girl from our village has just returned from 5 years in English-speaking Canada and we'll be having her babysit in English at least once a month starting in November. I'm teaching a private English lesson and have decided to use it to fund my daughter's "lessons". Ideally, we would have her babysit a minimum of twice a month.

--spend a little more time with other English speaking people who have children

--ensure homework is minimum 4 days a week

--going to be in Canada for Christmas

English speaking Canadian Mom, French speaking Dad, transitioning to minority language at home (English) with our daughter in France. Our daughter is doing great with English:) recently our son was born.

Amy
Star Keeper

***"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" - Oscar Wilde***

Posts: 1,682

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): France
Children, Ages: 10 and 6year old girls
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): Spanish (ml1) & English (ml2)

Joanna's journal Oct 29, 2017 16:55:26 GMT 9

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Post by Amy on Oct 29, 2017 16:55:26 GMT 9

Joanna,

This thread is a good idea and your ideas for ml exposure even better! You are so resourceful! And congrats to your husband for sticking to ml at home being the ML speaker, that is not always easy.

How is your monthly English story and music time for 0-6 in your village going? How is your daughter reacting to it now? (I remember at one time you wondered whether to continue because she didn't seem to enjoy it.)

Amy

My guest post at Bilingual Monkeys: bilingualmonkeys.com/bilingual-families-and-limiting-the-influence-of-the-majority-language/

My blog in English: www.ourmlhome.wordpress.com My blog in French: bilingue.home.blog

Joanna
Senior Keeper

Posts: 226

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Canada
Children, Ages: Charlotte, 4.5 years, James 3 months
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): English

Joanna's journal Oct 29, 2017 21:52:14 GMT 9

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Post by Joanna on Oct 29, 2017 21:52:14 GMT 9

Yes, I ought to update that thread too! I'm pleased to say she seems to like it much more, and same goes for me. Her dad managed to come along to the first of the season in October, and was able to report that she was singing one of the songs "Mystery Box" at home after (while I was at the second session). He thinks she's more observant than interactive at them...soaking it up...she may also find it weird to see me in that role in English, in public. It's a good thing for her, and for me: confidence, and professionally so I'll be doing them monthly until June. I do wish I had chosen to do just one instead of two per morning, the 9-10 a.m. session goes much better than the 10:30-11:30.

I was thrilled yesterday at our English-speaking families group (esfg): During the singing part I said "Any more requests?" (Speaking more to the adults) but my daughter said "Baa baa" without even looking at me, as though it were a real suggestion to the group. I realized this is one of the first times she has so confidently spoken out in English in public to anyone but my husband and I. (Baa baa = Baa Baa Black Sheep)

This morning she played with her doll all in English!

As we spoke together at lunch, trying to teach her to take turns and dialogue, I said "Okay, do you have something to say?" She responds "English! Speaking to daddy..."

We managed to do our "homework time" this Sunday morning, and will hopefully fit in a ml Skype session before our ML family arrives for four days!!

English speaking Canadian Mom, French speaking Dad, transitioning to minority language at home (English) with our daughter in France. Our daughter is doing great with English:) recently our son was born.

Joanna
Senior Keeper

Posts: 226

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Canada
Children, Ages: Charlotte, 4.5 years, James 3 months
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): English

Joanna's journal Nov 4, 2017 22:56:01 GMT 9

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Post by Joanna on Nov 4, 2017 22:56:01 GMT 9

Happy to report that my daughter spoke a lot of ml to me during her ML grandparents, aunt and cousin's visit! The night they left she had really interesting things to say in ml, which is puzzling but I'll take it! She's giving a lot more interesting input, like telling me what book to read, and adding that her dad has already read it...asking me where we bought the broccoli we're cutting up...

She also told her grandparents things about us (her parents whom she calls mommy and daddy) by saying "mon papa va au travail" (daddy's going to work). The translation of all of these kinds of things for her grandparents sake by a 2.5 year old was pretty cool to listen to.

I also found it quite easy to limit my ML around her, and I don't think anyone noticed (hope not)...

So, in the end an ML immersion validated her ml too.

We now have 3 dates booked for our ml babysitter, starting tomorrow.

English speaking Canadian Mom, French speaking Dad, transitioning to minority language at home (English) with our daughter in France. Our daughter is doing great with English:) recently our son was born.

Raquel Star Keeper Posts: 1,234 Country (residing now): Spain Country (originally from): Spain Children, Ages: daughter (10) & son (7) Majority Language: Spanish Minority Language(s): English	Joanna's journal Nov 6, 2017 17:49:01 GMT 9 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Raquel on Nov 6, 2017 17:49:01 GMT 9 I'm glad it went so well, Joanna!! Translating already, wow!

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

Joanna's journal Nov 9, 2017 14:52:16 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Nov 9, 2017 14:52:16 GMT 9

Nov 4, 2017 22:56:01 GMT 9 Joanna said:

Happy to report that my daughter spoke a lot of ml to me during her ML grandparents, aunt and cousin's visit! The night they left she had really interesting things to say in ml, which is puzzling but I'll take it! She's giving a lot more interesting input, like telling me what book to read, and adding that her dad has already read it...asking me where we bought the broccoli we're cutting up...

She also told her grandparents things about us (her parents whom she calls mommy and daddy) by saying "mon papa va au travail" (daddy's going to work). The translation of all of these kinds of things for her grandparents sake by a 2.5 year old was pretty cool to listen to.

Wonderful, Joanna! It sounds like you and your daughter (and your husband, too) are doing really well! I look forward to following your family's adventures at this thread!

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

Joanna
Senior Keeper

Posts: 226

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Canada
Children, Ages: Charlotte, 4.5 years, James 3 months
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): English

Joanna's journal Nov 13, 2017 4:55:47 GMT 9

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Post by Joanna on Nov 13, 2017 4:55:47 GMT 9

Thanks for the encouragement, Adam! We've just got back from an evening out, and the second time we used our "ml" teen babysitter (the one has native-like fluency after 5 years in Canada). I'm a bit concerned that she might be taking her role almost too seriously, and need to find a way to have her inject play into their time together. Both times they have read mountains of books, but don't seem to have done any playing or coloring...just books. This is indeed good, but my daughter hasn't warmed up to her yet...so I'm trying to think of strategies. One: a special new toy only for when the babysitter is here "bought" by the babysitter, like playdoh or something...to show the babysitter too that language input can come from playing and not just reading. I struggle to know how to put this tactfully...so maybe the new toys would be sufficient? I welcome your thoughts...

English speaking Canadian Mom, French speaking Dad, transitioning to minority language at home (English) with our daughter in France. Our daughter is doing great with English:) recently our son was born.

Amy
Star Keeper

***"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars" - Oscar Wilde***

Posts: 1,682

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): France
Children, Ages: 10 and 6year old girls
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): Spanish (ml1) & English (ml2)

Joanna's journal Nov 13, 2017 5:13:35 GMT 9

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Post by Amy on Nov 13, 2017 5:13:35 GMT 9

Nov 13, 2017 4:55:47 GMT 9 Joanna said:

I struggle to know how to put this tactfully...so maybe the new toys would be sufficient? I welcome your thoughts...

Delicate indeed. You'll have to be subtle... e.g: "Here! (thrusting the toy in babysitter's hands) We just got this new game because we realised that playing these with Charlotte gets her chatting, etc...

How about some game like Funny Bunny (a huge hit in French nursery schools -known as Croque Carotte), BrainBox, puzzles, games like Chicken Drop, Dino Hunt and Hungry Pups (we have a similar one my eldest enjoys to play that gets us chatting, plus Pavilion games tend to be quite cheap).

Hope it helps!

Amy

My guest post at Bilingual Monkeys: bilingualmonkeys.com/bilingual-families-and-limiting-the-influence-of-the-majority-language/

My blog in English: www.ourmlhome.wordpress.com My blog in French: bilingue.home.blog

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

Joanna's journal Nov 13, 2017 10:18:08 GMT 9

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Post by Adam Beck on Nov 13, 2017 10:18:08 GMT 9

Nov 13, 2017 5:13:35 GMT 9 Amy said:

Nov 13, 2017 4:55:47 GMT 9 Joanna said:

I struggle to know how to put this tactfully...so maybe the new toys would be sufficient? I welcome your thoughts...

Delicate indeed. You'll have to be subtle... e.g: "Here! (thrusting the toy in babysitter's hands) We just got this new game because we realised that playing these with Charlotte gets her chatting, etc...

How about some game like Funny Bunny (a huge hit in French nursery schools -known as Croque Carotte), BrainBox, puzzles, games like Chicken Drop, Dino Hunt and Hungry Pups (we have a similar one my eldest enjoys to play that gets us chatting, plus Pavilion games tend to be quite cheap).

Hope it helps!

Joanna, tagging onto Amy's helpful post, I think that putting out appealing resources (toys, games, puzzles, craft materials, etc.) would likely be sufficient for guiding the babysitter to move beyond only reading books. When we had a similar "language playmate" for a year or two early on (a college student from the U.S.), I simply put out a lot of resources like this and encouraged her to play with my kids and be as talkative as possible--that she shouldn't feel obligated to "teach" them anything.

Maybe these blog posts could be useful to you as you continue adding to your resources...

Recommend Resources: Great Cooperative Games
These excellent games, from a Canadian company, could be particularly useful for nurturing a bond between your daughter and the babysitter. (And I bet you and your husband would enjoying playing the games with her, too.

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

Raquel
Star Keeper

Posts: 1,234

Country (residing now): Spain
Country (originally from): Spain
Children, Ages: daughter (10) & son (7)
Majority Language: Spanish
Minority Language(s): English

Joanna's journal Nov 13, 2017 22:04:51 GMT 9

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Post by Raquel on Nov 13, 2017 22:04:51 GMT 9

This may be one of those cultural differences, but I would simply tell her. You could say something like: "Look, I love that you're reading books together, but it would be nice if you could also play with her. Don't think of this as teaching her a language, but as simply interacting with her in this language, as you would with any kid here in French, but in English."

We had a similar problem with the American girl who comes home, and I simply told her. I said it takes some adjusting at first, that it's happened with every person who's ever come home, but what we'd like her to do is such and such.

Joanna
Senior Keeper

Posts: 226

Country (residing now): France
Country (originally from): Canada
Children, Ages: Charlotte, 4.5 years, James 3 months
Majority Language: French
Minority Language(s): English

Joanna's journal Nov 22, 2017 6:25:45 GMT 9

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Post by Joanna on Nov 22, 2017 6:25:45 GMT 9

Thanks for your tips everyone. I've received the playdoh set (with accessories) and I think this is what I'll go with...as well as telling her clearly like Raquel suggested. I appreciate the game suggestions, and I'll likely order some of those in the future but for now I'll hold off. They seem a bit too near the current issue...being word related. I like the idea of them opening the playdoh together for the first time...I'll test it this Sunday!

I've had time to reflect since my last stressed post, and I see also that my daughter is 'reading' books out loud to us that we rarely read to her. This is amazing, showing me which books they read, and proof that she did enjoy it. Just tonight she showed me the letters in a word and said 'look B-E-L' (even though it certainly did not say that, haha). It's the first time she showed an interest in the concept of spelling. I often tell her it's time for B-E-D and she told me that herself tonight...so she has 'spelled' twice today.

We're doing well on the goal of having the English babysitter minimum once a month (we've had her twice, and will have her twice more before Christmas).

My daughter is saying a lot of things, some of which we never say to her, so we've figured out she's translating things she knows in French (ML) from daycare. For example, tonight she said, 'Look, a funny walk' as she toddled along in her sleep sack...

We're feeling pretty positive about these and other ml things, if only I could speak 100% English everyday in our home!!!

English speaking Canadian Mom, French speaking Dad, transitioning to minority language at home (English) with our daughter in France. Our daughter is doing great with English:) recently our son was born.

Post by Joanna on Oct 29, 2017 15:14:16 GMT 9

Post by Amy on Oct 29, 2017 16:55:26 GMT 9

Post by Joanna on Oct 29, 2017 21:52:14 GMT 9

Post by Joanna on Nov 4, 2017 22:56:01 GMT 9

Post by Raquel on Nov 6, 2017 17:49:01 GMT 9

Post by Adam Beck on Nov 9, 2017 14:52:16 GMT 9

Post by Joanna on Nov 13, 2017 4:55:47 GMT 9

Post by Amy on Nov 13, 2017 5:13:35 GMT 9

Post by Adam Beck on Nov 13, 2017 10:18:08 GMT 9

Post by Raquel on Nov 13, 2017 22:04:51 GMT 9

Post by Joanna on Nov 22, 2017 6:25:45 GMT 9

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