any bilingual people here?

Dagmara - posted on 01/28/2009

I got you a bit fuzzy on my conditions - we live both in Poland and are Polish by origin although we both studied English and work in an English speaking environment at the universities. Since knowing another language in Poland is very important we decided to create a semi-native like environment for our children in order to provide them with new opportunities. I speak three languages and use two of them constantly.

Ana - posted on 01/28/2009

I plan on speaking to my son only in spanish, though mu husband doesnt speak spanish, i'll be speaking english around him as well. Growing up, my first language was spanish. when i was 4, I went into preschool and learned english. I only wanted to speak english from then on, but my mom only spoke spanish to me, even if i responded in english. Now I'm perfectly bilingual.

i think you should try to expose your child to a second language as much as possible. They will get all they need of english from school and friends and tv. No one but you and your family will expose him or her to a second language.

Silvia - posted on 01/28/2009

We are a blingual family. My husband did not speak very well spanish when we married so it was an exchange of languages. My 13 year old was able to understand most of the spanish when he was little but he refused to talk to us. There has been alwasys a mixture of languages at home. We do not limit the tv, or our conversations to one language only, but english is the one that we use the most. Now he is able to have a conversation in Spanish and he is very thankful for it. My 5 yr old now is showing interest; hopefully he will be fully bilingual like his brother later one.

I do not push them a lot with the language ...but it is our language and they should learn it. It is not going to hurt anyone to learn another language than english.

Dagmara - posted on 01/28/2009

Now, did you make any particular effort to teach your children you second language or did it just go by itself? Another question was there any particular method if yes? When did you start?

Kathleen - posted on 01/27/2009

Hi Dagmara,

I grew up only speaking English- but started studying Spanish in high school. I married my husband 22 years ago when I just graduated from school- he did not speak English when we met. We pretty much taught each other the other language-- but I continued to study languages in college. I am now a teacher-- ESL teacher next year =0)  -- and I am also a translator/interpreter. Our 5 boys have grown up with both languages-- English has been their dominant language, but they seem to use Spanish much more as they progress through their teenage years.

Let's talk-- languages and bilingualism is a passion of mine!

Kathleen 

Ana - posted on 01/27/2009

I'm bilingual. What kinds of questions do you have?