If your child goes to weekend language schools of your heritage (Chinese, Korean, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

I'm not sure if English is your first language or not, but the PP did not say mom spoke no English. She said mom wasn't *fluent* in English, but was fluent enough to talk with teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

Some people aren't up for consistency. However, there's nothing stopping you from doing this if you actually prioritize it. We raised our kids trilingually in English, Japanese, and Swedish. The kids got constant reminders that we spoke English because we used it with each other but never with them. They still learned all three because we made it clear from day one that they needed to speak to us in not-English. If you don't want to try that hard, that's fine.

If you're saying that you never spoke a word of English to your child, I don't believe you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

I'm not sure if English is your first language or not, but the PP did not say mom spoke no English. She said mom wasn't *fluent* in English, but was fluent enough to talk with teachers.

I'm not sure if it's your first language either, but why would that matter? You are in the thread that gives brownie points for multiple languages after all. Let's review what the poster said:

1. Dad spoke to us in English and Russian because he was fluent in both.

2. Mom spoke to us only in Russian because her English wasn't fluent.

Is it a reach to say that if Mom DID speak English fluently, she'd be speaking it at home, just like Dad? Is it a reach to say that it helps to have a native speaker at home who doesn't actually speak any English? Are you getting tangled in all the hairs you're trying to split?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

Some people aren't up for consistency. However, there's nothing stopping you from doing this if you actually prioritize it. We raised our kids trilingually in English, Japanese, and Swedish. The kids got constant reminders that we spoke English because we used it with each other but never with them. They still learned all three because we made it clear from day one that they needed to speak to us in not-English. If you don't want to try that hard, that's fine.

If you're saying that you never spoke a word of English to your child, I don't believe you.

LOL, suit yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

I'm not sure if English is your first language or not, but the PP did not say mom spoke no English. She said mom wasn't *fluent* in English, but was fluent enough to talk with teachers.

I'm not sure if it's your first language either, but why would that matter? You are in the thread that gives brownie points for multiple languages after all. Let's review what the poster said:

1. Dad spoke to us in English and Russian because he was fluent in both.

2. Mom spoke to us only in Russian because her English wasn't fluent.

Is it a reach to say that if Mom DID speak English fluently, she'd be speaking it at home, just like Dad? Is it a reach to say that it helps to have a native speaker at home who doesn't actually speak any English? Are you getting tangled in all the hairs you're trying to split?

I don't have a dog in this fight, but you (or whoever the PP was) did say the mom didn't speak English, and that's clearly not what the Russian OP said. I'm not sure why it's so hard to just say "whoops, my mistake" on the Internet.

[Anonymous]

If the parents in this thread are a typical example of those who make their kids attend heritage schools, I'm glad we're raising our kids multilingually without them. The amount of insecurity here is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on the language.

DS, in 4th, has also been going to language school since K. While he doesn't complain or cry, he has said he is not happy he has had to give up other activities for it. However, he knows going is not a choice and we will continue to have him go there until middle school.

Like your DD, he doesn't have friends or access to a larger community of people who share the same heritage/language.

Of the two languages you mentioned I think it's interesting you picked one language with a very large community in our area and one that is less large.

If the language you are talking about is Chinese there is a huge Chinese community in the area and there are activities full of Chinese kids. If your child hates the school so much there are many alternate activities where your child could find Chinese friends.

It's not the same for children of Korean heritage (unless you are in some parts of Nova) and our situation is kinds of similar to that (think something like Dutch, Indonesian, Greek). The weekend school is literally the only option.

The Korean community in many parts of NOVA is huge. My kid even knows some words from going out to eat!

[Anonymous]

One of the reasons these heritage language schools were so ineffective back in my day was the low standard of teaching. Some of the language schools are private, and the owners just hire friends who are down on their luck, (and they are usually down on their luck for a reason). If they are emphasizing worksheets, rather th an active approach and verb memorization instead of practicing idiom, you really aren't getting professional language instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the parents in this thread are a typical example of those who make their kids attend heritage schools, I'm glad we're raising our kids multilingually without them. The amount of insecurity here is ridiculous.

Thankfully the parents are perfectly normal at our French Saturday school!

And to answer other PP's question, the teachers there all have teaching diplomas from France.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

I'm not sure if English is your first language or not, but the PP did not say mom spoke no English. She said mom wasn't *fluent* in English, but was fluent enough to talk with teachers.

I'm not sure if it's your first language either, but why would that matter? You are in the thread that gives brownie points for multiple languages after all. Let's review what the poster said:

1. Dad spoke to us in English and Russian because he was fluent in both.

2. Mom spoke to us only in Russian because her English wasn't fluent.

Is it a reach to say that if Mom DID speak English fluently, she'd be speaking it at home, just like Dad? Is it a reach to say that it helps to have a native speaker at home who doesn't actually speak any English? Are you getting tangled in all the hairs you're trying to split?

I don't have a dog in this fight, but you (or whoever the PP was) did say the mom didn't speak English, and that's clearly not what the Russian OP said. I'm not sure why it's so hard to just say "whoops, my mistake" on the Internet.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am bilingual (English and Russian). I was born here but my parents are from the Soviet Union. I never went to language school but I speak fluent Russian because we always spoke it at home, and I taught myself how to read Russian at 12. My mom only spoke to us in Russian and my dad spoke to us in English and Russian as he was fluent in English but my mom wasn't. She was fluent enough to talk to teachers though. My sister doesn't know Russian as well as I do. I think talking to her in Korean and having her watch Korean TV, etc. will help. How did you learn your first language?

Exactly. It's about using it consistently and expecting the kids to use it with you too (which is harder than just allowing them to use the dominant language over and over again).

Nope, not really, this poster used Russian with her mom because she had to as mom spoke no English. It's a lot harder when the kid knows you speak English perfectly well.

I'm not sure if English is your first language or not, but the PP did not say mom spoke no English. She said mom wasn't *fluent* in English, but was fluent enough to talk with teachers.

I'm not sure if it's your first language either, but why would that matter? You are in the thread that gives brownie points for multiple languages after all. Let's review what the poster said:

1. Dad spoke to us in English and Russian because he was fluent in both.

2. Mom spoke to us only in Russian because her English wasn't fluent.

Is it a reach to say that if Mom DID speak English fluently, she'd be speaking it at home, just like Dad? Is it a reach to say that it helps to have a native speaker at home who doesn't actually speak any English? Are you getting tangled in all the hairs you're trying to split?

I don't have a dog in this fight, but you (or whoever the PP was) did say the mom didn't speak English, and that's clearly not what the Russian OP said. I'm not sure why it's so hard to just say "whoops, my mistake" on the Internet.

+1.

Insecurity drives most of the posts on DCUM. The PP was wrong, equated being wrong with her self-worth, and lashed out instead of apologizing like a normal human being. This repeats itself endlessly and is why Jeff will retire a rich man someday.

[Anonymous]

We struggle with this as well - we just moved here but the Arabic weekend schools don't seem to be very engaging (from what I've heard - we haven't tried any of them yet).

Some friends recently told us about Concordia Language Village (in Minnesota) that offers language immersion summer camps. They said their daughter just loved it and made a lot of friends that she keeps in touch with over the years. These relationships and the fun nature of the camp has gotten her much more proactively interested on her own in her family's language. Here are the languages they offer:
Arabic
Chinese
Danish
English
Finnish
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Swedish

Just an idea.