We are a bilingual family. This has occasioned many interesting observations from people who speak only one language. The most common is, “Poor kid, he must be confused from trying to learn the two languages at the same time.” If this person has seen me using sign-language with my baby they usually tack on something like, “Oh, it must be triply hard for him!” As they give my child’s curls a pity pat. The following is my usual response.
Actually children’s brains are wired for language learning. The optimum time for learning multiple languages is in the first few years of life. There are some countries that the children learn three or four languages at a time out of necessity. I read in a Dr. James Dobson book once that the skill of learning to read is natural and should not be forced due to the physical development of the human brain. At about the age of six (usually by the age of eight) a film solidifies around the brain that permits the logical reasoning and memorization that reading requires. Until that film is formed it is frustrating for the teacher and the child to traverse through the process of reading. I think this relates to learning the vocabulary and the intuitive conjugation of that vocabulary because the brain is still ‘open’ when the child is young for absorbing all language that he or she is exposed to. And, actually, after that film is formed a seal is put in place that makes learning a new language more difficult.
If the person is still interested in discussing the topic I explain the findings of a study about children and language presented in a documentary I once watched. They showed stuffed animal to a pre-school aged child and said, “This animal wants to boogle.” Boogle was obviously an invented verb. Then they made the animal turn upside down slowly. As they were doing this they asked the child, “What is the animal doing.” The child would reply without a hesitation, “The animal is boogling.” This is a word the child had never heard before, but it follows the rules for English conjugation. The study went through a number of similar tests demonstrating the natural and uninhibited capacity small children have to speak.
Our children were three, two and ten weeks when we landed in Bolivia. Our fourth was born here. They say the kids have no accent. That is just awesome.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi @ngie, this is a really interesting post, thank you! It was so good to hear what you read about children’s reading skills, and the stage when the ability to memorise and logically reason develops.
I thought of my nephew with this. He is 7 and has a reading age of 18. He has an incredible gift which has always been evident, even as a very little boy. The thing that is remarkable to me is his comprehension. It is just amazing to hear him explain facts so fluently.
It is also really interesting to read about the first few years of life being the best time for children to learn multiple languages. What a gift your children have to grow up speaking two languages fluently. That’s so great!
I love learning about the neuro and brain stuff behind how children learn! It’s absolutely fascinating and probably why I do what I do!
Signing is perfect for little toddlers who aren’t able to verbalize their needs and GREATLY decreases their frustrations…AND their parents!
Congrats to you for having a high tech way to explain to other quizzative minds who don’t understand.
Birgit – Your nephew is indeed gifted, that is fascinating to me when children are so smart. Yes it is great that our kids are having the benefit of two languages.
Libby – You will appreciate this… I was talking to Angela, the speech therapist who is here for another week. She was chatting with our social worker in the orphanage about the levels of the kids. The social worker (Cristina) asked how many words the child should be able to say at one year old. Angela answered one word. Then Cristina asked about the two year olds. Angela said they should be at about 50 words. And Cristina said good naturedly, “Well we are about 40 short then.”
Right now Angela is putting together a plan to help the workers, like you did when you came with the occupational stuff.
Oh how awesome!! I hope she too is trying to add just a touch of sign language as I really feel that helps the whole process along a tad. Just basics like more, “all done” or finished, drink, and eat are good ones to start with and then ball and cookie…ones EVERY toddler LOVES!
Of course, I don’t know how Bolivian sign differs from ASL (American Sign Language)…as every country has their own spin on things…which is yet another interesting topic in the whole language thing! Smile!
Having such a big group of kiddos, I’m sure the little ones have older ones that “predict” their needs or are able to assist them with whatever they want. I’m sure the staff is learning LOTS on creating a communication RICH environment. Fun, fun, fun!!
the fact that your kids have no accent is the best part. that means they are TRULY bilingual.
kudos!
Libby - I knew you would like that.
Alece - thanks friend.
Yep, yep, kids are way better learners than adults. When I went to Chile the second time, we worked with the missionaries. I was so impressed how well the children spoke Spanish. They picked it up quickly. And when I went out, I took the 8 year old with me and made her translate.
I so wish I would of learned Spanish as a child.
yep, you’re giving your kids another asset by enabling them to grow up bilingual. I’m listening to a linguistics college course on CD. fascinating stuff.
I cannot wait until my munchkins learn spanish, I hope I can catch on quickly or they will be saying things I won’t know
Blessings,
Carin
Just wanted to say thank you for telling me how to change my name!!! That was much appreciated… cause I had no clue and like I said, no patience to figure it out!
Brandy – You can do it!
Peri – A linguistics course would be so interesting, especially at a college level. Fun.
Carin – The trick is exposure; as much as you can just dive into the culture. The kids will pick it up quick.
Anna – I am glad that you were able to figure it out.
yeah … sigh … I realize all that about kids, and I just love that kids have that capacity. It’s telling us something about us, right? ….. but anyway, I have actually wished that I could live in a land that speaks a different language – or marry (before I did) someone who spoke a different language, just so they could grow up learning both. I love language learning myself. I have a list of about 7 that I would tackle. As it is I speak fluent English, rudimentary Spanish (mostly what pertains to food and how I am), the random 5 words of 4 other languages, and am rather well-versed in baby-speak. Sigh. Yeah, I’d love to learn other languages.
I love that…when I have kids I definately want them to speak at least Portuguese and English.
Anita – Baby speak huh? What that the course you were taking before the Hebrew (or is it Greek – it is late sorry – I know it is one of those bible languages) course?
Mo – The Spanish speakers here say Portuguese is drunk Spanish. And the Brazilians say Spanish is drunk Portuguese. Funny.
Haha. No, that was the course I took while living with a family that is now having their 6th. I seem to have a knack for it, as it is. Kids in the restaurant benefit from this skill quite frequently.
or is it me that benefits? …
Yeah, I’ve heard that too….sooo funny!
Annie – I think I would like to see that in person.
Mo – You have heard that too?!?! Cool.
I saw my French professor a couple months ago and she excitedly asked me if I spoke French to my children. I had to give her a guilty, “No.” Sigh. Ditto on your post. It’s a great advantage for a child or any person to be multilingual. Actually, I’ve never heard anything contrary to that.
Christy – I really don’t hear anything against being bi-lingual, it just seems that some people think it is a trial and extra stress for children to have to learn the two languages, when in fact it is the most natural thing that they could do. When you are not immersed in the exposure I think it might be a bit more difficult – but not impossible.