https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 10:35:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual/page/2#post-855692 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:29:03 +0000 lamariniere 855692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are a bilingual household, English and French. DS also goes to a bilingual English/German preschool. He has been going for about 6 months now and we can see that he is picking up German and using it at home sometimes. </p> <p>At home, I speak about 95% English to him and DH speaks 100% French. However, DH and I speak about 80% French to one another so I think DS gets a fair amount of exposure to both languages at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual/page/2#post-855020 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:04:04 +0000 banana 855020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine: Oh man. I can write a novel about this. But basically, what I've learned from dealing with my son's speech delay is that it's best to stick with "one language/one person".<br /> We've worked with at least 5 or 6 different therapists and they all agreed with this. They definitely all recommended that we expose our kids to multiple languages because studies have shown that early exposure to multiple languages boosts executive function. So it's definitely a positive thing. But in order to help the child compartmentalize the 2 (or more) languages, it's easier for the child to associate languages with specific environments/people. </p> <p>With that said, there are certainly children who tend to pick up languages easier/faster without the "one language/one person" split. When I asked our speech therapists about bilingualism, they said there isn't any evidence to show that bilingualism causes speech delay. Apparently it's a hot topic in the speech &amp; language community. But they've all seen it first-hand. They've worked with many, many bilingual speech-delayed kids without any diagnosable problems, other than expressive speech delay. Once the child masters the art of expressive language (in whatever language), then it's ok to start mixing them up.</p> <p>This is sort of the same premise as language immersion programs. Most of the ones that I've seen start by speaking 100% in the foreign language in Kinder, then 90% in 1st grade, 80% in 2nd grade, etc. I haven't seen any programs that mix the 2 languages up 50/50 in the beginning, when they are first becoming exposed to a new language.</p> <p>We started by mixing up the 2 languages in our household too (english/korean). I spoke Konglish to him all the time. Once we realized he had a speech delay, we switched to 100% English because he gets 100% korean at his daycare (and from his grandma). It's really made a big difference for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual/page/2#post-854914 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:39:11 +0000 PurplePumps 854914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I hope to raise our future children bilingual. I speak Cantonese and plan on speaking it to the LOs. My parents are pretty close by too, so I hope they can spend a lot of time with them too. DH does not speak any Chinese though, but I think it's still possible.<br /> My distant relatives are from Puerto Rico, the dad speaks Chinese, English and Spanish. The mom speaks Chinese and English. So Dad always speaks Spanish to the kids, mom always Chinese, and then to each other, English. I'm not sure why they speak English to each other, instead of Chinese - I think Chinese was his last, language so it's not as easy for him as English. But anyways.. it works, the kids understand Spanish and Chinese, and being in America, will have no problem learning English, esp since their parents speak it to each other too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual/page/2#post-854813 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:15:18 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 854813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Clementine: we're speaking Arabic exclusively at the young age before school</p> <p>Our plan (and our parents did it) is no speak Arabic at home 24/7 and then when they go to school, they can learn English. We plan to send our kids to pre-k so, that means the age of 4. I think Arabic will be solidified by then and English will/ can be easily learned by 4.<br /> Then, after that point, we plan on speaking exclusively in Arabic at home, but allowing the kids to listen to music, watch TV and play in English. That way: both languages are solidified and fluent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-854765 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:06:40 +0000 Clementine 854765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Sunglasses: @geekinheels: do you have to speak one language exclusively? I find it hard as I seem to mix Korean and English more. Just wondering what your thoughts are. I don't want to confuse him, but I find it hard to stick to one language all the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-854756 Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:05:20 +0000 Clementine 854756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have to exclusively speak one language to them? I speak Korean very well, I'd say fluent, and my husband's is very fluent, but my instinct is to speak Konglish. I don't want LO to be confused, but I can't see myself speaking just one exclusively which seems to be par for the course. Any one else have any good ideas or running up against this? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12485 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:49:07 +0000 Pitbull Mommy 12485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm expecting, and we plan on raising our child to be bilingual. My husband speaks fluent Spanish and I will be in charge of English! Our plan is to have him speak Spanish exclusively while he is home. I will get to improve my Spanish and that way the baby will be exposed to both languages, since I will be home during the day speaking English. </p> <p>There are so many benefits for the baby, and I love the idea of keeping his family traditions alive through the Spanish language. I will update you on how it works out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12480 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:41:12 +0000 .twist. 12480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, not really. We're both only fluent in English. My husband can speak quite a bit of Japanese, but he's not fluent. I speak minimal Japanese but an not good at it by any means.</p> <p>It would be REALLY awesome if we got better before we had a baby and then taught it to them as well. I think being bilingual (or more) is really important, it was just not something my parents pushed and not something I was ever interested in until later in my adult life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12472 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:33:35 +0000 cyndistar3 12472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, husband only speak english (I speak a little spanish but not much) so we haven't been raising her bilingual but she watches Dora way too much and can count higher in spanish than english and often says gracias instead of thank you... I think it is cute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12267 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:39:56 +0000 SugarplumsMom 12267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. English and Swedish, although English is taught in school here, our LO will have a head start. I also want to incorporate some Tagalog into her/his vocabulary. </p> <p>I think I want to follow the one parent speaking one language rule - although English is the common language in the house. LO will have tons of opportunity with learning Swedish everywhere else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12257 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:32:36 +0000 themcmom 12257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm actually trying to get my husband to bring some of his grad student friends with kids to play with Wombat. Hubs is the only American in his group, so everyone else speaks English as a Second Language and several have kids. </p> <p>My sister also teaches deaf students, so she's helping me learn ASL. </p> <p>I'm horrible with languages and I don't want that for Wombat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12197 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:53:49 +0000 BabyBear 12197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish my family continued to speak Italian, but they never taught us younger kids. I think it would be great to have that connection to where we came from and our family. So, I only speak english as does Mr. Bear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-12094 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:36:47 +0000 mrsnarbonne 12094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes - husband is multilingual, speaking at least 6 languages well (English, Mandarin, Taiwanese, French, German, Japanese). I'm multilingual, but am definitely not as facile in languages other than English.</p> <p>With our son, I am the English-speaking parent. My husband speaks Chinese to him most of the time. Lately he's been trying to add more French words. My son goes to a bilingual nursery school that's mostly Chinese, a little bit of English. His babysitter speaks to him in mostly Mandarin Chinese, and a little Taiwanese. My parents speak to him in Taiwanese. We also do ASL with him (via the Baby Signing Time series) to tie in the different languages. While he doesn't seem as verbal as Charlie, he's definitely going through a verbal explosion and can speak all 3 languages + do the signs. He also differentiates - I often don't realize he already knows how to say something in Chinese until I hear him say it to someone else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-9382 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:41:31 +0000 MH.Abroad 9382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LOOCH- are you on weddingbee? I'm there, same username. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-9375 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:29:32 +0000 mynoahbear 9375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>English and hopefully, Japanese from me and German from my husband </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-9361 Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:26:41 +0000 looch 9361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MHAlbania: too bad we can't private message! I'd send you my email address! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-9175 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:16:26 +0000 BSB 9175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uhh, probably not. I'm don't consider myself bilingual. lol I can understand vietnamese but I can't really have a conversation with someone without using english words here and there. </p> <p>I do wish my vietnamese was better. When I live at home, I hated it. Now that I moved away from my family and I see the importance of my culture and language. :/</p> <p>My husband does know spanish pretty well, though. Maybe he'll teach our kids. Although, I did take French in school and I personally like that language. I do have family in France and it would be nice to take our family there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-9169 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:09:41 +0000 DpeachLu 9169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Spanish and English :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-9038 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:57:40 +0000 MH.Abroad 9038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LOOCH - We should meet! Ha, Albania isn't a big country. Where's your LO's godfather from? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-8966 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:05:48 +0000 Maysprout 8966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're trying. My husband mainly speaks French to her and when his parents visit they do the same. However, usually people switch over to English when speaking to me. So I'm trying to get better a French but she'll be more exposed to English. Hopefully she''ll still pick up the 2nd language somewhat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-8951 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:57:36 +0000 looch 8951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mh.albania: one of my son's godfathers speaks Albanian, I'd love it if our son picks some up from him! The godfather is already planning a trip back in the spring with our son. I'm looking forward to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-8910 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:33:19 +0000 mrbee 8910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mh.albania - English, Albania, Sign and Serbo-Croatian? I'm officially impressed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-8905 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:30:20 +0000 Mrs.Argentina 8905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will definitely be doing Argentine Spanish/English. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-8893 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 13:16:45 +0000 MH.Abroad 8893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tri-lingual from babyhood (English, Albanian, and Sign), and then we'll add Serbo-Croatian after they've got a grasp on the first three. We speak the first three in the home already, and they'll grow up in a country where both Albanian and Serbo-Croatian is spoken commonly.<br /> They might pick up a little bit of German or Arabic from listening to DH and I practice, but we're not actively teaching them those languages, unless they express an interest. We'll encourage any additional languages they are interested in learning as well when they are older, maybe once in high school.</p> <p>I know lots of kids who grew up speaking 2-5+ languages at home, and while it may seem to slow them down at first, it really is worth it once they are older. It seems to help with creative thinking, and certainly makes it easier to learn additional languages later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-5377 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:50:01 +0000 hreichard 5377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is going to learn English &amp; Spanish. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-3955 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:20:30 +0000 mrsjyw 3955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope to! I'm hoping that with my parents and my ability to speak Korean fluently, our kids will be able to embrace their Korean culture as much as their dad has :) </p> <p>I' m hoping when my mom babysits that she will be able to speak to them in Korean and I can hopefully keep up with it. DH will speak English (and maybe Spanish later on because he is very proficient for a non-native speaker).</p> <p>It's been a blessing to be bilingual and I hope our kid(s) are able to be bilingual as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-3919 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:20:27 +0000 yin 3919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would love to raise my child to be bilingual, but neither my husband's Vietnamese or my Cantonese is good enough to teach our son. We are hoping that he can pick up both languages through his grandparents and understand it in conversation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-3907 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:39:09 +0000 katdevargas 3907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes! I will only speak english &amp; the husbone will only speak spanish. since I do not speak spanish, I am hoping that I learn along with the baby, though we have also talked extensively about ordering the rosetta stone to help me out </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-3509 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:05:53 +0000 looch 3509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misono: thank you for sharing that link! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-raising-your-child-bilingual#post-3504 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:21:57 +0000 leelee 3504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, our plan is for me to speak to our future children only in Vietnamese and my hubby will speak to them in English. Hopefully it works out and hubby will pick up on some of the Vietnamese too ;) </p>