Bi- or tri-lingual houshold??

Question

In my family we speak three langueges,, I have little kids. I was wondering, who here in same situation and when ( by what age)your kids were able to comunicate in all three (or two). My daughter is three (just turned) and is pretty fluent in english, mostly understands and speaks little the other and kinda understands of the third. Her english is little worse then of the kids speaking only english, though. Lot of their moms told me to put her in speach therapy I'm reluctant to that, because they'll tell me to stick only with one language. And I want my kids get all of them . So my question - when did yours caught up?

To BORED AT WORK - I get it you don't know any other ones, right??

Answer 1

Don't worry. Your little one will eventually catch up. Mine is 2 and can understand most common objects in both language. He speaks a little bit of both. I went to a workshop about this situation before and they said if you stick with your bi- or tri-lingual until age of 10, these language will stick with him/her for the lifetime. (And I assume you do want that, right?)

Answer 2

I have a friend who has a 1.5 year old, my friend speaks german, her husband speaks spanish and they live here in america so they comunicate in english, well, at this age he can answer how old he is in 3 languages, he understands all of them perfectly well and he can sing songs in three different languages. I studied psycology for a while and they tell you that it is best to teach you kids languages before the age of 3 because it is when they can pick it up better. Don't be afraid of using the languages at any time, just make sure you let her know what it means, songs are a great way to teach you kids because they mimic the song by using body landuage they learn what the words mean. Do not push the language and do not get ehm bored with it because then they will hate it so just speak natural, my friend speaks nothing but german to the baby and her husband speaks nothing but spanish and every time they sit on the table to have their meals they speak english and the baby is just so used to that that he is doing just fine, you gotta get into some kind of routine and compromise to it, it is not impossible you just have to work that out a little bit, have you considered getting bilingual books? they are great because our kids lear by sight so if you shouw them for example an animal you say it in both languages and then try to use those words in context while you talk to your kids.

Answer 3

Well, I would just try out two languages for right now. Like first say it in English then say the same word in a different language. It will help her understand what is being said and to understand the word better. We speak both English and Spanish in my house, and my oldest daughter understands both. She does say a few in spanish, She's only 2.

Answer 4

We only speak one language around here but it's fantastic you are exposing them to three languages. It's takes a bit longer for kids to become proficient in all of them since they must learn which word goes where and with who (if grandma is the only one who speaks spanish for example). They don't need speech therapy. Kids learn best by immersion, just like we all do and they are just little sponges.

Answer 5

I don't have kids, but I think it's great that your kids have all these cultural influences. I don't think that speech therapy is necessary in your daughter's situation. Kids are like sponges, they can pick up on anything, and the younger they are the better in their development. SO of course children in households where english is the first (and only) language are going to sound more advanced than her- what else do they really have to learn?

Answer 6

I moved to Germany when I was 2 months old, and learned to speak German and English simultaneously, although I don't remember the exact age.
I would say if your child is reluctant to speak multiple languages, she probibly prefers one language over the others, and that is why.
Don't try to force her to do something she does'nt want to do, it leads down a dangerous path for both of you.

Answer 7

I don't have children yet, but when I do, they will speak English, Hindi/Urdu, and at least a little Arabic and Punjbai. When they're young, it's so much easier for them to soak up all this information.

Answer 8

aaja! its better if u keep a balance between three languages thats if u make sure that ur kids speak equal portions of all the languages then it will b fine.

Answer 9

.If you live in AMERICA your children's primary language should be ENGLISH!!! (that applies for you also)