My 2 year old daughter is starting to say words, when she wants something or when she wants to say something. I am of portuguese nationality and I talk to her in portuguese, my wife is english and talks to her in english. She seems to pick up much quicker the words in portuguese than the one's in english and sometimes she mixes both. I don't know if this is good or not, but experts said she should learn both languages.
2006-09-15 22:46:28 · 50 answers · asked by Hacker 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Thanks everyone for your answers. They reflect what me and my wife thought of it.
2006-09-16 04:28:15 · update #1
That's great! I think it's a good idea that you speak to her only in one language and your wife only in another. I think it will help her differientiate the two languages.
Usually kids who are bilingual have problems for about a year, when they start learning to write and read. In France, they learn at 6, so that's when it's a bit difficult. They get a bit confused, but they soon overcome it. Don't worry: she'll get used to it.
Also, once she can read (or you can also read to her before she goes to bed), buy books in both languages (not necessarily the same stories) and DVDs as well.
Maybe you can buy a book on the subject (or maybe you've already done it). It will help you understand what's "normal" and what's a bit unusual. Anyway, it will help you worry less!
Also, I've read and have been told several times that knowing different languages reduces the risk of Alzheimer. I guess you use some parts of your brains more. And it will be easier for her to learn other languages.
She's lucky!
2006-09-16 04:16:46 · answer #1 · answered by Offkey 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes for sure. And it is the best possible time to make someone bilingual. Children learn language skills far more readily before 8 years of age than at any other time. If you want the child to be perfectly fluent in English and Portuguese, encourage both as much as possible. But try not to mix the languages when you use them. Use one or the other, so it is easier to distinguish.
2006-09-15 22:57:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is perfectly ok to teach a child two languages, and the younger kids start learning languages, the easier it is (for them). As long as you consistently speak the same language to your child (you in Portuguese; wife in English) the child will not have a problem. I know this because I have 2 children and I speak to them in English while my husband speaks Greek. My children are fully bilingual in both languages.
2006-09-16 04:14:38 · answer #3 · answered by geia_25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My old friends mom married someone from the middle east. They started saying things in both languages right from the start. I suppose it may be confusing for the child early on..in school...when he/she says something in a foreign language and no one knows what he said. Trying to constantly learn what word is which language. But other than that it's great.
2006-09-16 02:21:50 · answer #4 · answered by WriterMom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Infants learn from the earliest time the different "body english" which identifies their major caregivers, the language of the body which tells them who they are with and what the appropriate behavior is for each of those people. They can certainly learn different spoken languages at 2 years. It's later, when they start in school, that their learning gets slowed down and presentation may get dumbed down. (she may be learning more from your wife because they are together more and/or your wife talks with her more; also if the surrounding culture is in english she hears it more.)
2006-09-16 03:49:04 · answer #5 · answered by ctfryland 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes she can! My daughter although born here in France speaks English at home and at school speaks French. We taught her words in English first, when she had got them we then started the French words, It is natural for your daughter to mix both languages for a while, but she will sort it in her head soon.
A little girl who is in the same class as my daughter has a Scottish mum and a French dad, she only speaks english to her and her dad always speaks french to her, at the age of 5 (today, party later) she is fluent in both.
It is great for children to learn 2 languages, experts say that at this young age they have a natural ability to learn, but start loosing that ability at around 7 years old, you go for it, and be proud of your little girl! I am very proud of my daughter!
2006-09-15 23:13:19 · answer #6 · answered by pinkbabi 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have done some looking into this because my wife's mother tongue is different to mine and between the two us we speak 5 languages, the general view is that young children can handle learning up to 4 languages at the same time, the older they get the harder it is for them to cope with so many languages.
2006-09-15 23:11:20 · answer #7 · answered by plax 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friend was brought up with a spanish speaking mother and an english speaking father. At the age of your daughter she was also rambling in bth languages but it didnt do her any harm at alland she was quickly fluent in both languages! The older you get the harder it is to learn a language and immersion is the best technique so keep gong!! :)
2006-09-15 22:57:23 · answer #8 · answered by smileyscribe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am no expert in it, but I have a personal experience to share with you.
When I was little my grandpa used to talk to me in Holkienese, and my parents and aunts in Mandarin (but when they spoke to other adults in Holkienese). When I was five, my grandpa passed away and since then I rarely talk to anyone in my family in Holkienese, even though they had begun talking to me in Holkienese more often now, because I was used to talk to them in Mandarin. Now I can understand Holkienese when people speak it, but I can't speak it well. When I try to talk to my family in Holkienese, they'd feel that my Holkienese sounds a little odd. I think I might need a lot of time and effort to make my Holkienese fluent. Therefore I think it will be fine if one of you speak to a child in one language and the other another language at the same time, but you must insist that she speaks Portuguese to you and English to your wife when she gets older.
2006-09-16 03:17:46 · answer #9 · answered by Singing River 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
dear friend,
yes very well.
Scientifically, kids,children have almost similar or more brain capabilities compared to grown-ups, except that they have less vocabulary and hence less expressions and has limit on physical body.
My kids learnt 4 languages simultaneously at the age of 3.
now when one is 8 yrs and another is 12 yrs of age,both have mastery in all 4 languages.
so never ever prejudge or mis judge the power of human mind and brain.
need not worry . motivate the child to groww in multi-directions.
have a nice day.
raj
2006-09-15 23:12:19 · answer #10 · answered by dreamsunltd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋