I am worried that teaching her 2 languages simultaneously will prevent her from becoming fluent in one. We are most concerned with her speaking English but would love for her to be able to speak Tagalog as well. Any advice appreciated. Thanks !
2007-08-29 09:31:40 · 10 answers · asked by Nickfromnj 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
children are sponges. its the adults who have problems and get confused. i would have your husband speak Tagalog as much as possible. if not all the time. he can use hand gestures( pointing and showing )to help with understanding what he is saying.
2007-08-29 09:46:19 · answer #1 · answered by Mike V 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Teach her english first, then slowly start speaking to her in Tagalog. Kids pick up languages very quickly, don't worry, she'll be able to tell the two languages apart. It would help if each of you talked to her in a different languages starting from the age of 2 and a half/ 3.
2007-08-29 09:58:20 · answer #2 · answered by hedZy ♀ The Dancing Banana 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This can be achieved as long as you are consistent.
Let Dad speak English to her, and Mom can speak Tagalog. Baby will easily pick up Mom's language. (Guess why it's called "mother tongue"?) As time goes on, and your daughter begins to speak, encourage her to answer you in Tagalog.
There may be difficulties to overcome.( Is Dad ok about his wife and daughter speaking a language in which he is not fluent?)
If you can connect with other families with Tagalog speaking children, this will reinforce what your daughter learns at home. (It will also impress upon your offspring that Mom is normal in speaking a "foreign" language.)
FYI: Up to three languages are easily learned simultaneously until the age of 7. (Then, supposedly, a child may absorb additional languages.)
Good luck!
2007-08-29 10:09:27 · answer #3 · answered by Tequila 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mom speaks Tagalog to child at least whenever they are alone together. If it's not too confusing/frustrating for parents, Mom speaks Tagalog to child all the time. Dad speaks English to Mom and child. Dad and Mom continue to speak English together.
Do this from BIRTH! It's quite hard to kick a habit, linguistic or otherwise.
Child will speak English to Dad and Tagalog to Mom. If not, gently correct her, just as you would if she said "I want juice!" instead of "Could I have some juice, please?"
2007-08-29 10:03:17 · answer #4 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually babies are very much capable of learning several languages at one time. It is my experience (+ it has also been shown in scientific research) that parents in your situation should both talk their own language as much as possible. The younger you are, the better you can learn. I have seen examples of very young children who were fluent in two very different languages (like french and danish, english and arabic).. So my advice is to speak your own language as much as possible, and see how it turns out. :)
2007-08-30 01:04:36 · answer #5 · answered by TrickyTiger 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The child should learn the primary language of the country they live in. It is very important that that child not have an accent, otherwise they can be seen as foreigners and treated different when she is older. Then once she has mastered her primary language you can start her up with her mothers language.
2007-08-29 09:50:41 · answer #6 · answered by pinktoenails 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You will not confuse her.
Children are amazing. Just talk to her in both languages. She's start talking and knowing when to speak one and when the other. She'll grow up bilingual, I can promise you that.
.
2007-08-29 09:37:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
well i think just talking to her in both languages in enough...i am bilingual, was raised in the US by a greek family and i could understand both languages without a problem...the child will definetely become fluent in one language usually the one which is taught at the school s/he goes to...dont pressure anything , just use both languages and she wont have any problems...
2007-08-29 11:38:04 · answer #8 · answered by pixie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
just talk to them in both languages. they are smart, langauge is hard to learn when people reach a certain age, start them young. my niece and nephew speaks 3 languages and they can clearly differentiate the languages and they are not unique. in the philippines it is normal to speak at least 2 languages. just teach them while they are young.
2007-08-29 09:50:05 · answer #9 · answered by empty quiver 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ohh!
Ive been in that expierience.
Talk to her in tagalog because in america
there are english people so they will do the english talking and you guys do the tagalog.
im tagalog 2!
It worked trust me im still young 2
thats why i know!
2007-08-29 09:46:59 · answer #10 · answered by ♥♥ღ DreamChild ღ♥♥ 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋