My husband and I are having our first child. I am russian and he is american. I would like for our child to be able to speak my native tongue as well as english. We are living in america so I am sure this will be no problem. My husband has only been learning russian now for a year and we primarily speak in english. I dont know any other russians in our area and all my family lives in Russia so I cant surround the baby with other people who speak russian. Would speaking to the baby in russian while my husband speaks to her in english work? Or would it be to confusing for the baby? Does anyone have any ideas how to go about this?
2007-02-23 08:21:10 · 7 answers · asked by Zaneta 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
Sesame Street must be right..for you will see them teaching Spanish with pictures and words and sound for our little ones to hear. Do the same thing. Your baby can grow up rich in both cultures and both languages. She is so lucky! Play your country's music and read to her your children stories. Sing to her lullaby's in your language and then sing the same in English. Start with very well known objects and tell her the name in both languages. Kids are like sponges and they are so smart when very young. You can teach her repsect for both cultures in a consistent manner. She will know when Daddy is around, you speak English. She will hear English on the street. When appropriate, you can speak to her in Russian so that it seems normal in her daily life. I wish you so much luck and this can be such a fun time for all of you!
2007-02-23 08:34:28 · answer #1 · answered by Kay 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just speak Russian to your baby all the time. Maybe have him/her listen to Russian music tapes, watch Russian cartoons, etc. I'm sure you can bring them over from Russia or have a relative send them to you. Babies and kids are like sponges, they pick things up really quickly. The important thing is that you talk a lot of Russian with your child. Good luck.
2007-02-23 16:31:00 · answer #2 · answered by Mari76 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go ahead and talk to your baby in both languages. Babies are able to understand the differences as they grow older and accept that both are a means of communication. However, I would use this as an opportunity to "force" your husband to learn Russian. Ask him to try and speak mostly Russian around the baby and they'll both benefit.
2007-02-23 16:36:19 · answer #3 · answered by shaboom2k 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My husband speaks spainsh and we both speak english but we wanted our children to learn both. We have va spanish Saturday where my husband only speaks spanish. He also talks to her in spanish all the time. We also have her watch her disney movies in spanish. She speaks a lfair amount of spanish.... But the more we speak it to her the more he speaks it. She also had a sitter who only spoke to her in spanish. So all she heard in the mornings was spanish.
I would have your family send her gifts from russia that she can listen to... movies or music. And spend a part of your day reading her stories or simply talking to her in your own language. It really is no different then teaching them english.
Children are easly capable of learning numerous languages at the same time. It just depends on how hard you are willing to work with them on it.
Good Luck!
2007-02-23 17:30:11 · answer #4 · answered by Erin B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you show the baby thing like for instance shoe say shoe in English then repeat it in Russian do that with every thing like dog or toy or eat the baby will pick up on the words and learn them both that is how my sister taught her daughter Spanish
2007-02-23 16:31:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well my friend talk to your baby now only in Russian, and then only on Russian never in English he/she will learn that mami only talk Russian, and ask your hubby to talk only English, and he will learn both no problem, how i know that works, well I'm Spanish my hubby Iranian, we leave in Canada there for french and English, my kids 6 and 4 talk to me in English, Farsi with the father and french and English at school, yap kids can do it they are very smart, but i never talk to them in English and never let them talk to me in English, so my friend I'm 101% sure that u baby will talk both no problem just be strong and remember only Russian, good luck
2007-02-23 16:33:45 · answer #6 · answered by anirak 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you talk to it. My niece speaked spanish and english when she was 2.
2007-02-23 16:26:29 · answer #7 · answered by Magret 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋