My son is 18 months old. My husband is biligual but only speaks to my son in Tamil a few times a day. Will he still be able to absorb this other language?
2006-08-21 15:06:52 · 11 answers · asked by BAnne 7 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
It really depends on the kid. However, the best way to become fully bilingual is "social immersion" meaning that he is exposed to both languages equally. An example: your kid goes to school and they speak English all day; however at home your family speaks NOTHING but Tamil.
2006-08-21 15:50:15 · answer #1 · answered by Brutally Honest 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh my goodness children are sponges!! If say a child had a spanish speaking mother and english speaking father, a german speaking nanny and lived in France he could and would learn all 4 languages at the same time up until he was about 5 or 6 then childrens learning abilities slow down. your son is learning much more than you could imagine. Infants and young children learn so much easier and faster than older children and especially adults. I recommend How to Teach Your Baby to Read. I talks a lot about that.
2006-08-21 22:19:16 · answer #2 · answered by kristi p 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He'll absorb the pronounciation of different sounds than english contains, which will help. Your husband should speak in Tamil as much as possible. Your son can handle it. I have a friend who speaks to her children and always has in german and english. her husband speaks to them in arabic and english. the kids speak all three languages.
Sometimes, when we're on the phone, I'll hear her use all three languages in a single sentence!
2006-08-21 22:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by t jefferson 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Now is the perfect time to expose him to another language but he needs to hear it more than a few times a day. maybe you can record your husband saying things then play that for your son when Dad isn't around. My kids were exposed to Spanish from 4 months on and they understand it but don't speak it bcuz we didn't speak to them in Spanish often enough. Congratulations on making the decision to expand your son's world hopefully he'll learn the best of two worlds.
2006-08-21 22:17:06 · answer #4 · answered by Rae 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, from my own experience, my second language (Portuguese) was the first language that I learned. I learned English from television, my older brother and from school (my parents barely spoke English at the time).
My 2-year-old son is now learning Portuguese because my mom takes care of him while I work, so he is exposed to it on a daily basis. My husband and I (we are both fluent) try to speak to our son in Portuguese as much as we can as well. He has picked up English words and phrases from his favourite cartoons, as well as myself and his father. It's amazing because when we speak to him in Portuguese or in English, he completely understands what you are saying to him (although he is more fluent in Portuguese at the moment).
I think that it is great that your husband speaks to your son in his native language. Maybe you can pick up some words and speak to your son in Tamil as well. Children can differentiate the two languages, it's really amazing.
I totally agree with Fun Lovin' Girl. That was the way it was in my house growing up, we only spoke Portuguese at home, and my brother and I only spoke English in school. It truly was the best way for us to become fluent in both languages. If you want your son to become fluent in Tamil, your husband will have to speak with him constantly in his language.
2006-08-21 23:52:02 · answer #5 · answered by Chewie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some parents only speak to there children a few times a day,
IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. Feel blessed.
Im sure your son will pick it up quickly if daddy is helping.
Maybe you could learn a little too? It would help if he heard it from
both of you. (Besides, wouldnt it be fun?)
ohh btw... wafahamu kiswahili?
2006-08-21 23:21:17 · answer #6 · answered by Ron K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most defently he will be able to but I guess it also depends on the launage its easy to pick up on foregin launages with kids my daughter has been around hispanics almost her whole life and can speak spanish better than most ppl I know LoL... they pick it up easy it like children hearing a cuss word once they hear it they are going to remember it.. its the same thing
2006-08-21 22:14:42 · answer #7 · answered by angie 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
my husband is from mexico and has been with me since my oldest was 2 he doesnt really speak spanish anymore but he does to his family.my duahgter can say colors and numbers and animals in spainsh but thats about it.but if he spoke it all the time i think your child wuld pick up on it.my friends husband only speaks spanish and their daughter can speak it pretty good and shes 4.so i guess it depends on how often they are exsposed to it. :)
2006-08-22 00:01:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he doesnt know how to speak english yet then you shouldnt bring another language itto the mix because its better to learn one language at a time
2006-08-21 23:06:43 · answer #9 · answered by me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to talk to the child pretty much constantly in both languages if you want them to be bi-lingual.
2006-08-21 22:22:38 · answer #10 · answered by Simon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋