teaching your child english
By eltobh
@eltobh (231)
Indonesia
May 4, 2009 10:38pm CST
Hi all,
I am living in a country where English is not our first language. However, I observe that many parents here (particularly the new parents)are talking to their toddler and even babies, in English. I know that English is important as it is a worldwide language, but I don't know, I do believe that I should teach my child the national language first, and later when he goes to elementary school, I am planning to start teaching him English, just like my father did to me. Another reason is that I am afraid that if my child begins to speak clearly, he might be confused of this language difference (I mean, if I teach him English early, while the environment are using the national language). I also see that these parents sometimes are not even using the proper English or the proper pronunciation, and more likely to use it only as a lifestyle. What do you think?
2 responses
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
5 May 09
I have never been put in this situation before. But it is my opinion that is probably easier to teach them both languages when they are younger. That way both languages will be natural to them. It may be harder for them to learn another language when they are older.
@pmcepe (194)
• Philippines
5 May 09
Children have enormous capacity to learn. Talking to/teaching them in another language is okay. They will learn the common (native)language instinctively. I'd be using our national language when talking to my soon-to-be-born grandchild because she will be learning English anyway from her invironment (she'll be born in the USA). My nieces and nephew learned German when they lived for 10 years in Germany without formal tutoring of the language. They speak English at home while their parents spoke Filipino. They all learned Filipino also. So it is not at all confusing to children, but just another learning.
