How to raise a quadrilingual child in a predominantly English environment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, forget French. If your DC truly masters Spanish, then s/he has a groundwork for learning French. DC will have more of an opportunity in the States to speak Spanish than French, and, therefore, a greater chance at mastery.

I agree. French is a waste of time. 15 other languages are more spoken in the world than French (Telugu is one example)

Actually, I know a lot of people who have tried to learn both Spanish and French in different orders. Universally (well, at least among my limited set of 5-6 people), learning French after Spanish was a lot harder than learning Spanish after French. French is just a more difficult language as far as pronunciation goes, although the grammar is similar although not identical. Yes, I speak both, and learning Spanish after French was a breeze, but my relatives and friends who tried to go in the other direction really struggled with French pronunciation and none of them ever became fluent in French.

[Anonymous]

Why isn't the OP's DC studying Latin?

[Anonymous]

Or ancient Greek for that matter?

[Anonymous]

Or both, Latin and Greek.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or both, Latin and Greek.

Funny, I think last year Gwyneth Paltrow was look for a nanny to teach her kids both Latin and Greek. In London, where she lives these days.

[Anonymous]

I speak 5 languages and would suggest that your environment is in 3 languages. Start the other languages after the age of 10 or so.
Visit the countries where it is spoken. Even if it means your kid is amazed that even the 'bus driver' can speak French!

[Anonymous]

Most human babies can learn to understand and speak up to 5 languages until they have to read and write. A few people on the planet are exceptionally multiliterate. But usually it's not identified at preschool level.

OP, unless you're moving to India, West Africa, Eastern Europe, Belgium, the Philippines, or Queens NY, don't worry too much about how many languages your child speaks. Find something fun for both of you and enjoy restaurants, books, movies, etc. with your lovely child.

PS, nanny Spanish is not enough to get you into WIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC just turned four years old and speaks fluent English, knows some Spanish (DC had a Spanish speaking nanny and also takes Spanish class in preschool), studies Mandarin at an immersion school on the weekends since three, and recently started taking French lessons (as enrichment) at the preschool. DC speaks English at preschool and communicate to us in English at home but I would like DC to know Spanish, French, and Mandarin. Is it better to learn all languages at the same time, or is it better to master one langue before learning another?

This is clearly a joke, right?

[Anonymous]

I once met someone who said their family woud speak one language one week, and switch to another the next

[Anonymous]

I agree with the posters that at least one parent has to speak to the child in a native language at home. I have a friend who speaks to her child in her language at home, is fluent in English and a third language. Her son attends an immersion school for the third language and visits relatives every summer in mom's country of origin (dad is also fluent in the language). I think he'll likely have the most trouble with the written form of mom's native tongue, but that won't be a problem if he chooses move to a country where that language is spoken.

He's facile in all three languages. He's in 4th grade and attends a public school btw.

[Anonymous]

For the sake of this child, I so hope this is a troll.

[Anonymous]

It's actually funny. Monolingual parent and very obviously speaks only one language, wants to raise child quadrilingual with nanny Spanish, weekend classes and after school enrichment. Good to aim high...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or both, Latin and Greek.

or Pig Latin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I speak English to our kids all the time, DH only Dutch. They go to a French school.

You do need to choose between French and Spanish. I've studied both. Spanish is more practical in the U.S. but is easier to master later in life. French has distinct sounds that must be picked up in childhood for a perfect accent.

Heaven forbid the accent should NOT be perfect!

[Anonymous]

It is funny, but I feel sorry for the 4 year old. Poor kid is being dragged from class to class. Let her play on the playground.