Today at More than a Mum, we have another guest post. This post is about languages; bringing up children bilingual and the need (or not) for languages to be taught at school.
I’m bilingual. My mother tongue is not really a useful one, other than when communicating with my family back home. But, I am trying to raise my children (2.5 and 4.5 years-old) using my mother tongue. Both my children were born abroad, and my son was surrounded by the language for the first 3 years of his life. We spoke English at home, but his childminder and everyone around spoke another language and he spoke very little English until we moved here nearly two years ago.
Languages are important to me. I speak two fluently and can get by in two others (the more useful French and German). If I had the time, I would study languages and become as fluent as possible in my two weaker languages. I think teaching my children to speak and think in another language will help their brain development. My husband is convinced that teaching them to play a musical instrument will do the same. It makes us sound like we’re pushy parents, but we’re not. I speak to them in one language (or at least I try) and my husband speaks to them in English. I use the Internet to buy books and DVDs for them in that language. Because I find English easier and we now live in England, my children’s second language is now being pushed out. So, we’re taking them back for two weeks in the summer to help them develop and use that language. So that they see that other people speak it, too!
I thought most parents felt the same. I thought that most parents, given the opportunity, would introduce their children to other cultures and other languages, but I found out recently that it’s not the case. My son’s school had organised an after school club to introduce them to French. It was run by a French woman, who sang songs and played games in French with the children. We signed up, but didn’t get a place as demand for the 15 places far outstripped supply. So, I was moaning about the lack of places one afternoon at pick up with some of the other parents when two parents were quite outspoken that languages were a “waste of time” and “useless”. They felt that “everybody should just learn English”. A third added that Modern Foreign Languages were a waste of time on the curriculum and “they” should concentrate on more important subjects.
I was shocked. We live in a small town, in an East Anglian county and it’s not the most diverse place, but I was still sure that most parents would appreciate the opportunity for their children to learn another language. But maybe I’m in a minority. Would you be happy to pay a little extra for your child to learn another language? Do yours learn one already? I’m always looking for strategies to help my children remember and use both their languages, so they don’t forget either. Can you share any?
English is the most common second language that people speak around the world. But is being monolingual enough in our modern world?
by Kinga
6 Comments
I find the view that learning languages isn’t important shocking. Discovering different ways of expression and the emphasis other cultures place on words helps anyone realise the world is a diverse and interesting place. Who only wants to see their own back yard?
We couldn’t agree more!
My mother is a teacher and she did think it a bit of a waste of time that kids who barely spoke coherent English let alone write it were obliged to struggle in addition with French.
It’s perhaps not such a great idea for ALL KIDS, but most benefit if they put their minds to it (which is something else altogether…).
I was brought up fluent in both Welsh and English; this made it so much easier for me to learn even more languages. It helps with other subjects too because your brain is used to multi-tasking! Whether it be maths, science, poetry, music or even puzzles – I truly believe that my ability to speak, read and write in two completely different languages encouraged my brain development from a very early age. And it is most certainly not a waste of time, it opens many doors in your career, if I wasn’t fluent in Welsh, I wouldn’t have had half the jobs I’ve had! It also allows me to promote my shop in two languages too
You’re children will be way ahead of their classmates, what you are providing for them is more than just a language, it’s a great resource for their future!
I think learning a second language is a great idea, children are sponges and soak up learning things like this easily when they are young. In our current modern world it is so beneficial for them to have another language. I am all for it. x
My children are bilingual (I’m Australian and my husband is Finnish, and we currently live in Helsinki). We lived in Tokyo until my older daughter was 4.5, and she learned fluent Japanese as well. Although she has forgotten most of it, I firmly believe that just having learnt the language will make it easier for her to learn other foreign languages in the future. Research has proven that there are all kinds of amazing benefits that come from learning a second language, preferably from birth (including all kinds of learning-related benefits, and even later onset of dementia in later life!) It’s such a shame that some people are too close-minded to discover these benefits for themselves and their children.