[MamusiaWI]

We've been home about a year and a half with our children 7, 9, and 10. Do any of you encourage retention of their first language - Polish? What do you use for practice if you are not a fluent speaker? If there is interest sometimes and not others, what do you do to encourage lessons/speaking with fluent speakers? If your child(ren) have no interest, has it been difficult to let it go.

What do you think/feel?

[momraine]

My son did not want to retain it, I think he wanted to concentrate all his energy on learning English. We also live in a small town and there are no Polish people here. He does have several Polish videos and CDS and books. (I think he still remembers some because if I put on a cd I will catch him singing along) He won't speak Polish with me (not that I speak much) I am hoping I can convince him when he is older to relearn it.

[jola_nyc]

I am waiting for referral and my advice is very theoretical but I am planning to enroll children into Polish Supplementary School.Most of the schools have 8 years program and end with Regents Exam. Some of them have 12 years program and end with Polish Language Certification Exam. They also have additional after school activities as polish dance, soccer, etc... and polish library.

[momraine]

That sounds awesome. Of course we live in a tiny rural town and there is nothing like that around here. If there was, I would use it.

[Jensboys]

Interestingly, I was talking with someone this week who was adopted at the age of 10 from an Eastern European country and "lost" his native language completely (or so he thought). He returned to his country of birth as a young adult for a 4 month period of time -- and he said the language returned almost completely within 2 weeks. He didn't think he remembered ANY of it ... but it was still there. Encouraging those adult immersion programs might be an option, or student exchanges etc.