Bi-lingual children

[Skytte 74]

I was brought up in England and moved to Norway when I was thirteen, so I speak both Norwegian and English fluently. My husband is Norwegian so at home we speak Norwegian. We're now expecting our first child, and we're considering trying to speak both languages at home, II'd speak English to her, whilst my husband would speak Norwegian.

 

Has anybody got any experience with this? I've heard speaking two languages can delay the developement of language. Is it better to wait until they're OK with one language before you start them out on another?

[Gjest]

we asked the helsesøster about that (delay of language) and it isnt true, its just a good thing for a baby to learn 2 languages, its when they are learning 3 or 4 languages that it becomes a problem she said, but she said that it should go just fine

I talk english with my son and my boyfriend and his family speak norwegian, its worse for me to speak norwegian with him because im not so good at norwegian and he would gett difficulties learning norwegian from me etc the helsesøster thought it was best that i spoke english but my son is pretty good, he says mamma and dada and papa basically everything ending with an a, he started around 6-7 months so i dont think he is delayed in anyway he is 10 months now.

[Tokatter_USA]

I think my daughter is slow in speaking. I speak Norwegian to her, everyone else speaks English. (We live in the U.S.) But that doesn't mean she doesn't understand, she understands everything (within reason!) that we all say. When we were in Norway just now, she started using more words, but now that we're back in the US, she's talking less again. I think she's just taking her time categorizing the words and the languages and trying to be sure before she utters too much. She uses her hands a lot!

But I don't at all think it harms her. On the contrary, all the studies I've seen indicate that the brain benefits from learning two languages at once.

 

You're lucky, assuming your husband understands English. Mine doesn't understand any Norwegian, so he's missing out on some of the "conversation" my daughter and I have. But he's learning a few words along with her.

[Anonym bruker]

Det er ikke noe problem så lenge dere er konsekvent. En person snakker 1 språk. Ikke snakk litt engelsk til henne en dag og så norsk neste. Dette forvirrer. Dette er lærebøkene sine råd.

Kjenner barn som lærer 3 språk, norsk i barnehagen og 1 språk fra hver av foreldrene sine. Kanskje litt senere i å snakke flytende enn andre barn, men de får veldig mye igjen for det.

Mitt barn er 2 år, forstår 2 språk. Snakker like godt norsk som de som er like gamle og bare lærer 1 språk. Foretrekker å snakke norsk, også til faren, men vi regner med ho snakker mer og mer hans språk til han. Merker allerede at når ho vil smiske litt med han velger ho hans språk også når ho skal snakke til meg om faren.

[Smallish]

I just started speaking english to my one year old son yesterday, so imagine my surprise when I discovered this forum only today.

 

My mother is a native english speaker, so i was brought up in an norwegian/english home. Norwegian soon became the dominating language, but english has always been a part of my life. We used both languages, and after awhile developed sort of a "the julekalender - english"

 

I have wanted to teach my son english since he was born, but norwegian comes more naturally (especially after being married to a norwegian bloke for 4 years) so I put it off. Felt unsure of myself I suppose. But after giving it careful thought I decided, neither he, nor I have anything to lose.

 

So I'm giving it a try. It still feels a bit strange speaking english, but he's at least used to the language, as my mother speaks it around him.

 

I have been worried that I will confuse him, but if I'm consistent, I'm sure it will work out.

 

 

[Skytte 74]

Thank you for the answers, I guess the biggest problem will be being consistent as I speak Norwegian to both my husband and friends. But I speak English to my parents and siblings despite my sister consistently answering in Norwegian, so it should be doable!

[Anonym bruker]

we have a two year old, and we have been teaching har both English and Norwegian since she was born. my husband speaks English to her and we speak English to eachother. i speak Norwegian, so does everybody else. she s no slower at learning than other kids her age. So good luck!!!

[Anonym bruker]

Hi! well i'm scottish and the father to my baby is norweigan (we dont live together). But still i go through the same thing. I have spoken norweigan since the second year i came here. So it's hard for me suddenly to just talk english! But i do try as my family does speak english and it would be nice for them to be able to talk to my baby girl and that she can understand. When ever we have cartoons on in the background i always have it in english. But when we are with other norweigan people then we speak norweigan. The healthsisters here in norway would say that it is a really good idea to let only talk english at home, includeing your husband. Reason being, even if she only talks and understands english her first couple of years she is going to learn norweigan when she goes to kindergarten and school. So its actually really good to start with the english and let the "rest of norway" teach her norweigan! Now my girl is 7yrs old, and speaks both english and norweigan and brilliantly! Good luck!

[Anonym bruker]

One parent one language is what is recommeneded.

Bilingual children MAY be a bit delayed when it comes to speaking one (or both) languages, but this is not a rule saying that they all will..........

 

Our son is actually above the expected level allthough he's bilingual Norwegian/English. He switches very easily from one to the other, very noticeable when visiting the UK. At home he's a bit more lazy as he will speak to his dad in Norwegian and his dad will answer in English, so I often have to remind my husband to have our son repeat it in English.

 

My husband and I both speak English together. Naturally our son hears more Norwegian at the barnehage and with the rest of the family, so his Norwegian is stronger than his English.

 

What really incredible is how he seemed to know to ask for OST from me and CHEESE from his dad from a very early age as those were some of the first words he said relating to food................

 

If your child has not yet started talking then I'd recommend trying to introduce both languages, it really has worked very well for us and hopefully it will for others as well!

[blirdettre?]

Our daughter has just turned 1 and I have spoken english to her from the start...I'm english my husband is norwegian, he speaks norwegian to her.

 

Like everyone else says as long as you are consistent there's no problem. They can be slightly delayed in speach development but not neccesarily (and who is to say that's the reason...might have been delayed anyhow...)

 

I used to work in a bilingual barnehage and had plenty of chilren who were not from multi lanuage home who learned english very quickly...it's an advantage to learn languages early, those who learn before 7 are more likely to speak as fluent as a native. I knew a 5 year old who spoke 3 languages fluently and never mixed them up.

Also it is possible that bilinguals are more flexible in their problem solving abilities and ways of expressing themselves later on in life because they have learned to think in more than one language (according to my sister in law who is studying this)

[tuzel]

Well, i am a first time mommy to be in may and before worrying about anything else I started worrying about the language. I'm Turkish and has just recently moved to Norway. My husband and I communicate in English to each other. I am planning to speak only Turkish to my kid, but then again most probably s/he will hear me speak English, and then hear the father speak Norwegian to other folk. It sounds so confusing even to me when I think of it. Have anyone of you got any advice?

[Pære]

We've decided that we'll speak our native languages to the baby (due in 6 days!). That being me speaking English, and my husband speaking Norwegian. We've always spoken English together, but when we're with family and friends, it's Norwegian.

 

What do you all speak as a family? What happens if you're the English speaking parent, and you're out with the children and the main language is Norwegian, do you switch to Norwegian to accomodate everyone else around you? I would feel very strange speaking English when everyone else is speaking Norwegian.

[Gjest]

HEI

In some cases you'll find that speaking two languagues to a child will delay the development of language. Thats very individual..In my consern its a myth here in Norway that it will delay it, alot of ppl keep saying that its always like that.

I used to work in a kindergarden and one of the kids there had a norwegian mum and an english dad. At home he would hear both the languagues at the same time, but that didnt delay his languague development at all. He was in fact one of the most developed kids when it came to talking, way ahead many of the other kids.

My son will learn Norwegian and English at the same time.

[Anonym bruker]

All children are different. My son who's bilingual is far advanced linguistically compared to his cousin who only speaks Norwegian. Does that mean anything? NO!

 

In general bilingual children MAY be a bit delayed, there is no rule saying they WILL be delayed. It is not a myth however, there has been research on this and delay is slightly more pronounced with bilingual children than in those only learning one language.

 

With regards to speaking English to your child around other Norwegian speakers, can't see that would be a problem at all!

[Helga79]

Hi Young mama,

 

May I ask which barnehage you worked at, with Norwegian/English children? Thanks!

[Anonym bruker]

Helga 79, if you say which area you live in (not the excact adress but "bydel") maybe someone here can advise you if they know of anywhere?

[Gjest]

hi helga79

it was a kindergarden in the south-eastern part of oslo. I dont wish to say to say witch kindergarden it was because of my 'taushetsplikt'. Its not a kindergarden for Norwegian/English children or anything like that. But one of the kids had an english dad.

[Gjest]

To anonym

Just to make everything clear, Im not saying that its a myth that kids will be delayed. What Im saying is a myth is that they always will be delayed... I think you just got me wrong there.

[Helga79]

Hi young mama,

 

I live in St. Hanshaugen. I would like my children to go to an English speaking (or other bilingual) barnehage. Do you know of any bilingual barnehager near St. Hanshaugen? Thanks!

[Gjest]

Hi Helga79

 

Sorry, I dont know that. But maybe you can call the 'bydel'administration and ask them. I think you'll be able to reach your bydel if u call 02180 and tell them what 'bydel' you are living in... It might be worth a shot??!!

Good luck anyway!

[sasha76]

I have a 7 year old son, i am born and raised in the UK. I speak english to my son, the father and school speak norwegian to him. I started this since he was born, and never have stopped, or will ever stop:

 

He has never had any problems at all. He speaks mostley back in norwegian, but i allways answer back in english, and try to encourage him to speak english to me:)

When we travel he switches over to english and is understood by all. It takes of course a bit longer for bilingual children to seperate the two languages, but that is to be expected. Its a very positive thing we can give our children when we have the possibility to do so.

Now in school they have started to learn english, and he is of a great help to his fellow class mates.

 

You can also notice that he spends time thinking of the norwegian word in english when he answers me. Its extreamly cute to notice, how his mind is working and that you can see how they really make an effort to be understood and that they want to know the name in both languages.

 

Kepp up the good work.

 

I am expecting a new child, and i am going to do the same again. And i have finally a nice husband that understands this and is positive too:)

 

Best regards.

[sasha76]

i allways talk to my son in english, even though there are loads of norwegians around, and that he hears me speak norwegian to them. Its a habit.

Sometimes i translate what has been said and ask for his opinion. We have never had a problem witth this.

 

I never accomodate everyone else around me. They know i am english, even his class mates. They think its fun, and they have a big thing afterwards asking him what i said.

 

Everybody respects this:)

 

Hope you will feel the same way too.

 

 

[januarglede]

Hi Skytte 74.

 

I am a norwegian who lives with a duchman in Norway. We have a 3year old daughter witch speeks norwegian better than average for her age. I speek Norwegian with her. Her father speeks dutch to her, and her dutch is not so good for a 3year old. But she understands it verry well. The last months she is also speeking a mix between norwegian and dutch to him. Her father works in england for 2 weeks at the time, and he is home for to weeks. I do belive that is one of the reasons why her dutch is not developing as fast as her Norwegian.

Me and my boyfriend speeks english together, so ouer dauther has to get used to 3 languishes. She is following some of ouer conversasions in english, and she is verry awere of that different people speeks diferent langueshes.

 

So my advise to you is to do what feels natural for you. langushes is a method for comunicating, but also for expressing your feelings. So it has to feel natural, for being a good way to comunicating with your child.

 

[Mamsen med lillemor i magen]

My mother is American, and my father is Norwegian. I grew up in Norway, with both languages! They spoke both Norwegian and English around me, since I was a baby, and I speak both languages fluently. It has given me a ton of advantages! My English grades have always been top notch, and being able to comminucate with English speaking people is a good quality.

 

Since my English was so good I was also an exchange student in Iowa a few years back, and I pulled nothing but As and A+s... So I am very thankful that my parents spoke both languages around me when I was growing up! As a baby I spoke both languages as well, and my "samboer" and I will do the same thing with our son, who will be arriving in January.

 

I also have a ton of relatives and family in the States, and I want my children to be able to communicate with them, they are after all family.

 

 

[Mamsen med lillemor i magen]

oh, I forgot to mention that you should teach your child both languages at the same time, that way you do not favor one over the other... Our son will learn Norwegian at kindergarden and such, so I think I will speak mainly English around him, giving him an equal amount of each language...