[Joliey]

Children can learn many languages when young. The younger they start the better. To insinuate that it is not something worth pursuing, or that it hinders primary language, is to be, not well informed. Now, that it is not important to your family, that is something else altogether. Then like I stated in my earlier post it is up to the parents to decide.

The post originated with Karen thiking of introducing her daughter to Mandarin. She is on the fence, it is perfectly fine for her to be. There are a lot of Asian kids who live in the US and do not speak their parent's tongue. She is trying to gague if this is important. So I will say this to you Karen, it is totally up to you. You are doing an excellent job with your daughter. She is so gifted at what she does with her gymnastics, it might be all you want to persue for now. I will say that for me, learning another language is important. It gives children an edge in this global market. I am not thinking in terms of only culture. It is entirely up to you, this is just my opinion.

Yoli

[Sheba]

We have considered sending Kennedy to Chinese class but there are none around us. I think being bilingual in any languages are good and spanish is probably a good one for us in the US. She likes to here Chinese and when we go places it makes me laugh because Chinese people start talking to her in CHinese and she just smiles. They feel she should know Chinese. I am going to leave it up to her. We raise her as a Chinese American Woman and to be proud of both of her cultures. She does want to go to Chinese dance class and we are in search for one. My other 2 bio daughters would also like to go, so it will be interesting to see the two blondes in that class with their sister of Chinese descent. Maybe they will understand her feelings better afterwards.

We do keep her in the Chinese culture thru events, books, tv and keeping in contact with other parents who adopted. I truly think this helps.

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by Joliey

Children can learn many languages when young. The younger they start the better. To insinuate that it is not something worth pursuing, or that it hinders primary language, is to be, not well informed.

Good Greif!
Again, that is not what I said.

I cautioned parents that in their zeal to expose their child to Chinese culture through the Language to be aware that children adopted internationally often express receptive & expressive language delays. This is something parents should consider before taking on a 2nd language.
What I did say is *if* your child already has a language processing delay, then introducing a 2nd language *may*negatively impact the acquisition of their primary language of English.
I assure you, I am anything but "not well informed" on this matter.
As mentioned earlier, I provide therapy for children with exactly these kinds of problems. Professionally speaking, I would prefer not to have inaccurate comments attributed to me which I have not said. If you wish to continue this discussion, or wish further clarification, I'd prefer to do so via PM.
~Paul

[Lissa]

Paul,

In your opinion if your child is not experiencing language delays is teaching a child another language a harmful thing to attempt?

I have known many children who were not language delayed and some who were. Lydia was but only by a few months and is now totally caught up.

[specialk4b]

Our son is delayed (current languange is 23 months at 34 months of age). It seems to me, just as an observer, that exposing him to Mandarin would confuse his language further. I've had other adoptive parents kinda not-so-subtly tell me that I'm not honoring his heritage by not sending him to Mandarin lessons. But it just feels like it would confuse his language acquisition.

BTW Paul, he popped B's several times today! Hooray!

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by Lissa

Paul,

In your opinion if your child is not experiencing language delays is teaching a child another language a harmful thing to attempt?

I have known many children who were not language delayed and some who were. Lydia was but only by a few months and is now totally caught up.

Hi Lissa,

Short Answer: It should not be a problem for a child, not experiencing language delays, to learn a 2nd language.

Long(er) answer: From what I've observed of immigrant children (Chinese, Polish, and Mexican) in schools and early childhood programs... I personally would not be comfortable introducing a 2nd language until I had a good idea of my daughter's language processing abilities first. A child who is particularly good with labels (naming objects) can appear, and even test higher than is accurate (depending on how they are evaluated). I point this out because one of the 1st things good & supportive adoptive parents do is get a picture/vocabulary deck and practice words. This is good...but (depending on age) you also need to work on things like answering "wh questions" (who, what, when, where, why)...adjectives & adverbs...same/different...quantity/quality...figurative speech...associations...etc & etc. Keeping things developmentally appropriate for the child.
Additionally, I would not want the 2nd language program to introduce language concepts (like mentioned above) before they are 1st mastered (70% +) in English.

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by specialk4b

Our son is delayed (current languange is 23 months at 34 months of age). It seems to me, just as an observer, that exposing him to Mandarin would confuse his language further. I've had other adoptive parents kinda not-so-subtly tell me that I'm not honoring his heritage by not sending him to Mandarin lessons. But it just feels like it would confuse his language acquisition.

BTW Paul, he popped B's several times today! Hooray!

Congratulations! That is pretty quick.
20 years ago, I worked with Craniofacial Anomalies (mainly cleft palate & cleft lip)...and things have come a long way from even then. Primary concern was feeding, then speech. Nowadays feeding is a given and speech has a very high success rate. I'm so happy things are going well for your little guy.

Language Delay + Surgery.... I doubt you could find many professionals who would disagree with your holding-off on a 2nd language.

[KarenInCa]

There's some good discussion here. Please, let's stay on topic and realize that most of the time, people are going to talk in generalizations. It's just the nature of communication, generally. :-)

[KarenInCa]

Originally Posted by specialk4b

Our son is delayed (current languange is 23 months at 34 months of age). It seems to me, just as an observer, that exposing him to Mandarin would confuse his language further.

Karen-I'm not really sure this would really be comparable, but when we adopted our daughter, I was concerned that teaching her basic sign language would delay her learning English, and it actually did not.

Originally Posted by specialk4b

I've had other adoptive parents kinda not-so-subtly tell me that I'm not honoring his heritage by not sending him to Mandarin lessons.

I've had other parents that are not adoptive parents do the same, that's exactly why the thread was started. It does bother me, because I do the best I can, and the connotation that I am somehow doing her wrong, is insulting.

[MissyAmomChina]

Hi,

I'm a speech language pathologist too I think Paul brings up a good point in reminding us that our children are at a greater risk for communication disorders. Obviously, we all acknowledge the sudden loss of the original language and the introduction of a new one at the time of adoption. I don't think that we always process that many of children are probably language delayed in their first language. Simply put, the nature of institutional care does not allow for the caregivers to provide the stimulation, interaction, one on one time necessary for typical language development. In addition many of our children are gravity fed, aren't introduced to solid foods, can't explore toys with their mouths, can't put their hands in their mouths and this compromises oral motor development.

Ultimately, we've all heard of the research saying it's easier to acquire a second language as a child. There is also research to support that introducing a second language to a communication impaired child is detrimental. Of course this is a very personal decision for each family. I do think Paul brings up a good point in reminding us to evaluate where our children are in their language development before an additional language is introduced.

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by KarenInCa

Karen-I'm not really sure this would really be comparable, but when we adopted our daughter, I was concerned that teaching her basic sign language would delay her learning English, and it actually did not.

Interestingly in many ways sign language is processed differently in the brain. It is often used with non-verbal & severe language delayed children in conjunction with verbal speech...usually referred to as "total communication" (speech & sign at the same time)
These children may benefit from adding the visual to the aural mode of communication because they might be more receptive to seeing it than hearing it.

[pgruodis]

Originally Posted by MissyAmomChina

Hi,

I'm a speech language pathologist too

Giving you the Secret Handshake

[KarenInCa]

Originally Posted by Joliey

I will say this to you Karen, it is totally up to you. You are doing an excellent job with your daughter. She is so gifted at what she does with her gymnastics, it might be all you want to persue for now. I will say that for me, learning another language is important. It gives children an edge in this global market. I am not thinking in terms of only culture. It is entirely up to you, this is just my opinion.

Yoli

Yoli, this post skipped my viewing (probably because I was supposed to be working when I read the thread earlier today
Thank you for your kind words Sometimes that's all we need, is a little validation.

[copper653]

Originally Posted by pgruodis

I point this out because one of the 1st things good & supportive adoptive parents do is get a picture/vocabulary deck and practice words. This is good...but (depending on age) you also need to work on things like answering "wh questions" (who, what, when, where, why)...adjectives & adverbs...same/different...quantity/quality...figurative speech...associations...etc & etc. Keeping things developmentally appropriate for the child.
Additionally, I would not want the 2nd language program to introduce language concepts (like mentioned above) before they are 1st mastered (70% +) in English.

pgruodis, can you offer any suggestion of the picture/vocabulary deck of cards? I think my daughter's language skills are doing great, so I am not sure if you are saying every child requires this or just the children that are delayed. I feel like I am always talking to her and answering her questions, trying to explain things to her, but I am not just not sure if I am doing the things you are suggesting.

Thanks

[KarenInCa]

My daughter's best friend at preschool (3.5 yrs old) is Chinese American. She lives with her bioparents and her grandmother. Her parents speak Cantonese and English proficiently. Her grandmother has been here for 20 yrs but ONLY speaks and understands Cantonese.
The girl is very much delayed in speaking. Her mother was concerned that she had autism, but she has had testing done, and does not seem to exhibit signs of autism. Her mother seems to think that the language delays are because she talks to her mother in English, and then the girl says the same thing to her grandmother in Cantonese.
Paul, based on my daughter's friends experience, what you say about 'the 70% language acquisition in the first language before attempting to learn the second language', makes sense.
I am not a specialist, and this is only one child. But it does make sense that she might feel overwhelmed at times, to the point that she just doesn't try.