Should immigrant parents teach their children their native language? What do you think about it?
2007-02-05 17:38:57 · 7 answers · asked by Saimon 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Primary & Secondary Education
"teach"? Most of the times they already know it from a spoken or oratory level since they were born with parents that didn't know English. Now if you're asking should they go further to a special local school to learn how to read or write that language, then I think that's up to the parents. They wouldn't attend those schools until about the age they were proficient at English, too.
One thing that does make it difficult to become a really good English speaker or writer, etc, is when your parents don't know the language and so can't correct you, etc. I think about all the times my parents corrected my English growing up and I know I wouldn't have this added bonus away from the classroom had my parents spoken Russian, for example. So should the parents spend extra money to allow the kids to attend extracarricular activities around English speaking children? I think so. But sometimes money is tight.
The only time I think this "assimilation" debate really raises flags with me is when you do have certain enclaves like Little Havana in Miami where you truly could spend the rest of your life without being too proficient in English. Everything you need is right there. Hey, if you're making it, you're making it...can't really argue with that...except I think there is a lot more to America and its many cultures, not just Spanish, than Little Havana.
The United States is not plagued with assimilation problems like Yugoslavia as some people might suggest, but what if it came to that? 100 different languages. No official language. Every culture for itself. Then that would be an obvious problem.
2007-02-05 17:52:32 · answer #1 · answered by zzzzzzzzz27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. For two reasons: 1) bilingualism is very good for a child and is easy for them to do; 2) if the immigrant's English isn't very good, THAT is what they will be teaching their child. If you are talking in terms of homeschooling, I still say yes. They would just need to make sure their children have regular English contact, listen to English stories on tape, participate in lessons, activities, etc. They would probably have to make sure of this more than the average homeschooling parent. Those who are saying that the primary language to be stressed should be English are off-base and are too stuck in the melting pot ideology. Here in Canada, we are multicultural and encourage multiculturalism. As a former teacher, I saw kids all the time who had different home languages than they did in school. The kids were just fine. They have no problem with bilingualism.
2016-05-23 22:42:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they should teach them all about the culture they come from and how to speak, read, and write in their native language. However they should speak the language of the country they are in first. Children can learn about where they came from after they learn to function competently where they are.
2007-02-05 17:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by micheletmoore 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely. i always see native language a a form of identity and it also helps one to understand the culture, remember the roots of their own origins. Knowing an additional language is beneficial to the child when they grow up. Allowing them more flexibility and choice when it comes to choosing where to go next time if they would like to go back then they would not be restricted to just the country you have migrated to.
2007-02-05 21:30:08 · answer #4 · answered by Soulblitz 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My immigrant parents taught me their native language, and I certainly appreciate that! Besides all the cultural benefits, it never hurts to speak a second language. Looks good on resumes, too.
2007-02-05 17:43:48 · answer #5 · answered by sfsfan1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely! The more languages someone knows, the better prepared they are for the real world. Nobody should forget their culture and their roots, but they shouldn't close themselves off from the new and different culture of the country they currently reside in. The best thing to do is mix the best of the 2+ cultures.
2007-02-05 17:44:12 · answer #6 · answered by The Riddler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they should if this wouldn't impact negatively on the local language learning proccess. It is a very delicate subject since I know many cases where at the end the teenagers can poorly speak both local and parents languages.
But giving them this knowledge would give them opportunities in the future, if they someday decide on coming back to where the parents came from.
Good luck!
2007-02-05 17:44:15 · answer #7 · answered by Edu 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋