Best way to teach baby foreign languages if you only speak one?

[jwp]

I would like my son to grow up to be fluent in at least one other language (if not several), but I only speak one well. Any recommendations on ways to expose a baby or toddler to multiple languages so that they can become fluent if you only speak one yourself and only have friends and family who speak one?

[Kimba15]

I just wrote about this on my blog. Here is the link http://intellikidsdownunder.blogspot.com/2011/05/how-to-tackle-teaching-second-language.html

Expose them as much as you can to other languages, take classes if you can afford them, buy language cds and play them at night to your child. By dvds in another language and learn along with the baby. Expect the baby to do better. Miss S corrects my tones (I am teaching Chinese) all the time. I am also writing up cards in chinese and sticking them all over my house so I am immersed in the language to and I am watching you tube videos in the language I would like to teach so I know more about it.

I hope this helps!

Kimba

[jwp]

Thanks Kimba! Those are some great suggestions and I enjoyed reading about all the things you are doing on your blog. Are you planning to teach another language besides Chinese or are you planning to just stick with Chinese for now?

I had thought about trying to teach my son Spanish since it is so prevalent in the US, but after reading your blog post, I’m intrigued by the idea of teaching Chinese. It does seem like it would be beneficial to learn a language so different from one’s native language, but I’m sure much more difficult for an adult to pick up. I’m interested in see how things continue to progress for you. Thanks for sharing and for the great suggestions!

[Kimba15]

I have found it difficult for my self to pick up but I believe that that has alot to do with the fact I have never learned another language. In Australia it is not a big deal if you do not learn a 2nd langauage. A 2nd language is not high on the priority list at schools which I believe has alot to do with our isolation from the rest of the world and that most other non english speaking countries are willing to learn english most Australians have become a bit lazy in learning a second language.

The other language I would like to introduce is French as it is a diplomatic language and is used in alot of countries as well. So much to teach such little time!! 

KImba

[2010BEBES]

You only speak to your baby in english or are you able to speak some Chinese?

I read you ar using Baby learn chinees (DVD) and LR english and chinese.

At waht age did you start viewing each of this products with your baby?
What is the your recomendation , at what age would you start if you did it again and go back in time?

[Kimba15]

You only speak to your baby in english or are you able to speak some Chinese? At this point in time yes I can only speak to my baby in english. I do try to incorporate chinese words into my day lets eat at the zhou zi (table) which you are not meant to do, I have put up chinese word cards around my house and through out the day I point them out to my DD1 who is 32 1/2 months and I point them out to my baby DD2 wh is 5 months

I read you ar using Baby learn chinees (DVD) and LR english and chinese.

At waht age did you start viewing each of this products with your baby? My DD2 has viewed LR English and Chinese since she was 10 weeks old she also watchs some of the BLC Dvds but not much. I am also doing YBCR with DD2 and I think that is enough screen time for her during the day. With my DD1 she started LR english at 8months and thouroughly enjoyed it. She started but never really got into LR Chinese she sometimes watches it with her sister but she much prefers watching BLC and will quite happily sit down and watch it all day if I let her. I think my DD1 is getting to the stage where she is starting to grow out of the flashcard method.

What is the your recomendation , at what age would you start if you did it again and go back in time? If I could go back in time I would much have started DD1 on a 2nd language straight away and exposed her as much as I could to chinese. I regret now not doing that. I was so daunted by the task of teaching her a 2nd language and one as complex as chinese I thought I would hindrance her more than help her.As I have found out that is not the case. If they are willing to learn they will learn. I was also put off the task by what Patricia Kunhl had said in her talk that babies learn a language through interaction of the people who speak that particular language and DVDS and CDs were a waste of money. My DD1 has proven me wrong. She loves her BLC and has learnt so many words. I hope I can learn along with her and eventually my girls and I will be able to speak in Mandarin together.

[luckybabe]

hi jwp..

let me share this :
I have a niece who dont speak mandarin with any of her family members (expect her grandparents, she only get to meet once a year).. but when she was younger, everytime her grandparents visited, they speak mandarin to her.
fast forward a few years when she starts schooling.. (starts formal mandarin education), she picks up the language very quick! even though no one at home is speaking mandarin with her.

so i believe early exposure is important.. so do what works for you..

[lelask]

It is only DVD's  and CD's to be played.I would like to teach my D spanish but if I play CD for a long time during a day it starts to annoy me   

[rajah]

Hi! I have been searching for answers to this question for a while now. One common answer is that there needs to be human interaction with someone fluent in the language of your choice. I think that is definitely important, but as of now it's just me.   I have been teaching myself lots of vocab and common phrases and sentences used in my home. In addition, I found a language exchange site where you can learn your language of interest and teach someone else. Books, CDs and homemade flashcards are great, but I enjoy talking to him the most. At this stage I'm having a ball because he's a newborn and he smiles and laughs at everything I say....even if I mess up.

[Boca Beth]

As a bilingual mom of three children, all of whom speak their second language to varying degrees, plus as a bilingual educator of hundreds of children I always recommend finding the solution that fits your family, heritage, community, situation and child the best.

Reading the book titled "The Bilingual Edge" is super helpful. 

One language one parent sounds good, but it's not always practical to put this into play.

Then there's the preschool / academic learning situation where you may not have two languages going on in the classroom.

So - it's up to us as parents to make the choice early in life as to how you will teach your baby, toddler and preschool age child more than their native language.  INTERACTION is the key to success - so if you choose to buy a music CD and / or DVD in the new language please prepare to interact with your child as he/she listens in and/or views it.

Babies learn through play!  Toddlers learn through play!  Preschoolers learn through play!  Aren't they so very lucky?!?!?

[Martusia]

JWP

Please visit my blog http://earlylearning-eaton.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-teach-toddler-foreign-language.html
I just posted some materials about how I teach my baby another language I don't speak.

I hope you can find it useful
Marta

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