[rinabean]

I was wondering if anyone out there that adopted a child from a foreign country tried to raise their children bilingual.

I am from Italy and my family still lives in Italy. I would like my baby to speak English and Italian so she can interact with her Grandparents and the rest of my extended Italian family.

I know that babies are very resilient and will adapt soon to new environments, but I am concerned of delaying my baby's speech even more.

I am in the process of adopting a baby girl from China and I am guessing that she'll be less than one year old by the time we bring her home.

I have found material that talk about how to raise biological children bilingual but nothing that applies to an older child that has been already exposed to a different language.

Can anyone give me any advice or suggest books that talk about this?

Thank you!

[michellemartin]

My sister's son is Caucasian/asian. He will be learning both languages. He is two and can speak about 15 words in English. He understands a bit more than that. If you ask him to get something, he understands, but yet doenst understand the word yes and no. He also speaks about 5 to 10 words in Hmong. The speach delay (though not always THAT significant) is IMO well worth the end result.

Good luck!

[rinabean]

Thank you, that really helps!

[Kellster]

Hi Rina,

Where I live (Quebec, Canada), many children are raised at least bilingual- French and English. Children learn both languages at school and even as babies in daycare. For families whose mother tongue is a language other than English or French, their children are often trilingual. (My children's mother tongue is Englih, but they got to school in French and a third language. Studies have shown that although there may be a slight delay in perfecting each language, bilingual (or more) children end up doing BETTER in school since learning languages apparently stimulates certain areas of the brain. I think that every addtitional language one teaches their child is a great gift!

Kelly

[6boysrus]

I was born in America, and my native tongue is Polish. I did not learn English until I was in Kindergarden. I knew some words in english so I used half polish/ and half english in my speech.

I know many families that one parent speaks english to the children and the other in their native tongue.

Kids are quick to pick up two languages at once.

Good Luck

[momtoB]

I am in the process of adopting a baby from Russia. My mother tongue is Japanese. Somebody advised me that I should choose one language and once I decied to speak to him in Japanese, I should talk to him only in Japanese and not change.

[sak9645]

MomtoB, I really have to disagree with the person who told you that. I think it would be fantastic for your child to speak English, Japanese, and Russian.

[momtoB]

To: sak9645
Thank you for your comment. Do you disagree bacause of your experience? I am curious.

[sak9645]

We are not a bilingual family. However, we are Jewish, and my daughter attends a private school in which Hebrew is taught by immersion for one-half of every day. Becca, now age nine, reads, writes, and speaks Hebrew about as well as any kid who's NOT raised in a home where one parent is fluent. (I can read and write enough to help with some of the homework, but that's about all.) She uses modern Hebrew in school, but can also tell you the difference between those words and the Biblical Hebrew she reads in the Torah.

I would love to have Becca learn Chinese. The problem is that she is already getting two hours of homework some nights -- in fourth grade -- and I really want her to spend some time on non-academic things. She is already a big book lover and computer user, and it's hard enough to chase her outdoors, except for her beloved horseback riding lessons. (For a kid who can't even ride a two-wheeler, she has turned out to be a natural rider, and she is currently in a jumping class, although she started riding less than two years ago.)

Hopefully, she'll develop a strong interest in learning Chinese at a later date. Meanwhile, I keep her involved in other China-related activities, and hope for the best. She is very proud of her Chinese heritage, but right now, she would rather die than give up Hebrew. The price of tuition at her school keeps going up, and when we moved to an area with a great public school, I asked her whether she would like to go. I got an absolutely shocked, "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HEBREW?" Suffice it to say, we stayed at the private school.

I have seen lots of bilingual kids, however, even if my own is not one. We live in a very Asian neighborhood, for one thing. Although we have some Chinese friends, we are not fully accepted, because the first question out of every adult's mouth is not, "Does your child go to Chinese school?" It's "WHERE does your child go to Chinese school?" There is a lot of head-shaking about Becca not going to Chinese school!

The two Chinese non-adopted children whom Becca sees a lot are fully bilingual, and translate for their parents and relatives. They are excellent students and totally well-adjusted. Like most of the Chinese kids around here, they go to public school during the week, and Chinese school on Sunday. If their parents ever got too concerned about their Chinese language skills and cultural knowledge, they would be shipped off to relatives in China for a year. As it is, they visit China from time to time with their parents.

Up until this year, one of my daughter's classmates, also adopted from China, was a girl who was adopted by an American woman living in Israel. They moved to the U.S. only when the girl reached school age. The girl is totally bilingual in terms of Hebrew and English. She has a slight problem with her "R" sounds in English and is getting help, but I don't think it's related to being bilingual. She and her Mom decided to return to Israel this year, as they are both happier there, and we miss them very much. They do plan to visit the States pretty often, as they have relatives here, so we hope to keep up with them. I simply cannot afford to go to Israel right now, even if I were not concerned about safety issues.

In our Chinese play group, there are two kids who are growing up trilingual, at least to some extent. The Dad is of Chinese heritage, but grew up in Brazil. The Mom is a Caucasian, born in this country. Their two children, adopted from China, are hearing Chinese, English, and Portuguese at home.

One of Becca's friends, adopted from the same orphanage, has been living in Rwanda for the past two years, because of her Mom's work. She will turn nine soon. She is attending a Belgian school, where French is the language of instruction. The adjustment was tough for the child, because she knew a little Spanish but no French when she got there. However, she is doing satisfactory work and has made lots of friends. Her Mom speaks some French, though she does not consider herself fluent. While Becca and I miss Dottie terribly, I know that the exposure to foreign languages is good for her. Her Mom has worked overseas on and off for years, and hopes that Dottie will follow in her footsteps.

So I'm used to seeing bilingual kids. From what I can see, they all do just fine. From my reading, I get the sense that they may begin speaking a little later than monolingual kids, but that they catch up pretty fast.

Sharon

[momtoB]

Sharon Shalom,

I am excited to hear that your daughter is learning Hebrew! Actually, my husband is Jewish and now I am posting this from Tel Aviv!
I speak a little Hebrew, too! Eventually, my son from Russia will speak Hebrew, too.


As I am from a pure mono-lingual Japanese family, being in a multi-language family is new to me. I am trying to figure out what it will be. I never have a confidence in my English and Hebrew and because of this reason I am thinking too much...
But I should believe my son will do fine because he is very young.

Thank you very much for sharing your story. It is very encouraging to hear about how Becca and her friends from China are doing well with languages. I have just decided to speak to my son in the most natural way through my intuition.

I can't wait to bring a little one to home and speak to him about everything! Thank you again for your help! Toda!

Hiko

[sak9645]

I hope that your son winds up quatri-lingual, if I can be excused for making up a word. Knowing English, Hebrew, Japanese, and Russian, he will be in great demand when he is old enough to work, in our global economy. Whether he chooses to be in business, in diplomacy, or in some other field, he'll do a heck of a lot better than anyone without foreign language skills. And if he becomes a rabbi, well, there are Jewish congregations all over the world. Chabad is active in Russia and Japan, for example, if he chooses to be Orthodox and follow the Chassidic path.

Sharon

[sak9645]

By the way, I'm told that Bar and Bat Mitzvahs have taken place in China. A cantor I know officiated at one of them. I won't be able to do Becca's there, when the time comes, but it would be fun!

Sharon

[momtoB]

There are many years to Bar Mitzvah for our baby boy but traveling to Russia would definitely be a good option for his Bar Mitzvah. He may be able to translate for us if we succeed to raising him as a multi-lingual! :-))

Hiko

[AdoptAmiga]

I love this topic! My husband and I are raising our two bilingual (Spanish/English). We believe in the "one parent one lanuage" system. I speak only English and he speaks only Spanish. (But both of us have command of both languages.)The kids understand and speak both equally. We hope to move to China in 2006 and want them to be immersed in Madarin. The more languages the better. Do a little research on bilingual children and do what's best for your family. There is a publication from England called "Bilingual Families" - any large university that has a teacher ed. program probably subscribes to it.
Best of luck. Let's cure monolingualism!!!

[WannabeMomof2]

I think this is just such a wonderful thing...

I have one friend who's family is Italian and they speak to their 4 yo daughter in both English and Italian. The little girl speaks more English than Italian , but does use the Italian. Sometimes she uses both languages interchangebly- substituting the appropriate Italian words for some English- Italish if you will ..LOL.

I have another friend who's family speaks nothing but Lebanese. Her husband speaks English. My friend has been speaking to her daughter in Lebanese since birth so when their daughter's grandparents spend the summer with them, she speaks nothing but Lebanese. IT is so amazing to hear these beautiful languages come out of these tiny girls.

I would have to say that these 2 little girls are 2 of the smartest kids I have encountered.

My husband and I are going to adopt from Guatemala and I would like for our children to be bilingual. I am not a fluent speaker of Spanish, as in not a native speaker, but I took 7 years of spanish through school and can read and write it like nobody's business.LOL I just need to brush up on my converstaional skills before we bring baby home.