Should migrant children learn the language of their parents?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339930)
Rockingham, Australia
June 12, 2024 10:46am CST
There was an interesting article on a news page recently regarding households where immigrant children haven’t learnt their native language and now have trouble talking to their grandparents. Some might have learnt to speak a language but haven’t learnt how to read or write it.
In some cases, the child didn’t want to learn their native language but in other cases, the parents didn’t encourage it. The main reason seemed to be that adults/children wanted to fit in with their peers and not be seen as too different.
I came across this again in an autobiography. An Italian lad became friends with an Arab boy. The latter spoke four languages but quickly learnt to keep that fact quiet. Both refused to speak their native languages. The Arab boy, when out with his family, would hang back so he wouldn’t be seen with them as they spoke in Arabic.
I can understand why children weren’t encouraged to learn their parents’ language, and why children would want to fit in with their peers but it can obviously make for problems later.
The photo is of a sign on a garage door in Germany. Roughly translated it says: 'Attention, there is a 'free-roaming dog'. Its tally is 5 postman, 3 burglars and six cats.'
31 people like this
30 responses
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
13 Jun
@LadyDuck
I agree with you Anna and it is very important for them to be able to speak to others in their native language. I was born in American and g lad I learned American English. I said American English because there is also other English that people learn. I have and still am learning about my heritage and learn all my life and am very proud of it. I guess that is why I live in Israel because my heritage is very important to me and want to know as much as I can and here is a good place to learn about it.
4 people like this
@SIDIKIMPOLE (1818)
• Eldoret, Kenya
13 Jun
I strongly agree! This is a good idea.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (471494)
• Switzerland
13 Jun
@Hannihar We moved to live in the south of France in 1975, we lived there 31 years, but we always spoke Italian at home, French outside and with friends. Now we are back living in an Italian speaking part of Switzerland and I am glad we never forgot our native language.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160663)
• United States
12 Jun
I feel they should learn their family language, plus anything else that interests them about their heritage. That does not mean the cannot learn new things.
5 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (2209)
• India
12 Jun
Children should definitely be encouraged to learn their native language, no matter where they live around the globe. The point here, they will get alienated from their roots, culture and worse their identities. We should also embrace the culture, language of the host country but not at the cost of losing our identities and culture.
@kaylachan (69646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jun
If a child is raised with bilengal parents, then the parents should teach their children their native tongue. It will make the child well-rounded, and if the parents don't make it feel like a chore, Ie: make it fun/have them speaking it naturally or whatever, then the child should fit in fine.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (69646)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Jun
@JudyEv And, there's no shame in being smart. Or, knowing something someone else might.
2 people like this
@rebelann (112870)
• El Paso, Texas
12 Jun
It would be really good if all children learned to speak more languages before they turned 5. I lived next door to a couple who had their 4 year old learning Japanese, his mothers language, German, his fathers language, English, Spanish and Italian. I wish I had known them better, I would like to know how many languages their son eventually learned to speak, read and write.
4 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37351)
• Toccoa, Georgia
12 Jun
I think they should learn their native language and the language of the country they migrate to.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50243)
• United States
13 Jun
My grandpa was born in the United States. His parents came here before he was born. They only spoke Spanish. Grandpa taught himself English. He refused to teach his children or grandchildren Spanish. He told us all that we were Americans and would speak English. I really wish that we were all bilingual. He felt very strongly about this. I know he truly thought he was doing the right thing.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (50243)
• United States
14 Jun
@JudyEv I would hope that they’d teach them.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (79833)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jun
I think that learning the parents' native language is essential and good for children, If all the Latvian children like me who were born when their parents arrived in the New World never established Latvian schools there would never have been Latvian organizations and people to take over as leaders and etc etc, I could have never gone to Latvia if I did not know the language, I learned both English and Latvian as a child, I now have a diverse love of both Engish and Latvian music and read in both languages,
4 people like this
@just4him (317041)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Jun
I think it's good when a child learns his/her native language so they can communicate with their parents and grandparents. It should be encouraged. I also think it's good for the child to know the language of the country they live in.
My friend often says she wishes she understood and spoke her grandparent's language, Belgian.
4 people like this
@psanasangma (7288)
• India
12 Jun
I think there is nothing wrong in learning their parent's language but if you stay other places or countries it is likely that you will be only communicating with limited people.
4 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
12 Jun
Personally I think it's an advantage to speak another language.
If your parents are from another country you could be learning from a very young age to speak (for example) English as it's where you were born, and Polish as it is where your parents are from.
I do understand about wanting to fit in etc but there's absolutely no disadvantage to learning another language as it makes you valuable to employers in so many sectors these days.
4 people like this
@SIDIKIMPOLE (1818)
• Eldoret, Kenya
13 Jun
This is a very interesting discussion. For my case, i would encourage my children to learn my language because they could be deported and have to go back to our native land. Also, for cultural preservation, I would insist they learn!!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (339930)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jun
That's very sensible in my opinion. And who knows? It might result in better job opportunities.
