Garris
Posted 1326253771
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#1
Hi everyone,
I was wondering if you all can help us with a problem. My wife, US born, lived in Israel for over 4 years and is fluent in Hebrew. I understand bits here and there, but am not fluent.
Since our current 2 yr and 3 mo old daughter was born, my wife has been speaking exclusively Hebrew to her all day about 4 days of the week, the other days English. I speak exclusively English. We also do Hebrew language playgroups, read Hebrew books, do Hebrew language songs (more than English) and movement games, and there are other exposures as well.
Our daughter’s English language development is outstanding, and she’s way ahead of her age for everything verbal. My wife says her comprehension of the Hebrew is seemingly perfect. She at an earlier age would mix her use of the two languages, but now she’s settled into English and won’t voluntarily speak Hebrew even if prompted, with the occasional exception of some phrases and words here and there. My wife often repeats her English responses back to her in Hebrew and the playgroup leader reports and does the same.
QUESTION: What can we do to encourage her to speak more Hebrew without making it an onerous “requirement” for her to reply? I’ve heard this same complaint from other bilingual households, some even doing far more exposure than we do (including from some second language at home households) and some have reported it takes almost until the school years when they learn the spoken language there (as she will) or even the pre-teen years for some enthusiasm for kids to reply in the second language to develop, and we don’t want to wait that long.
We have a new 4 mo old baby as well and we don’t want to repeat whatever “errors” got us to where we are now. Any suggestions?? Thank you!
Daira
Posted 1326294776
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#2
It sounds like you and your wife are both putting a lot of positive effort and energy into the Hebrew, but I cannot help but to wonder why your wife only speaks Hebrew 4 days of the week. Speaking 4 days of the week in Hebrew and 3 in English is demonstrating to your daughter that it is alright to communicate with your wife in English. On top of that, you are already speaking to your daughter in English. No wonder her English linguistic development is advanced! And, that is certainly something you can be proud of, but in order for the Hebrew to take a more active role in your daughter’s everyday life, it would seem reasonable that the Hebrew continues more actively every day. Also, you don’t mention in which language you and your wife communicate, but I am guessing it is English. This too is added English input your daughter is receiving. Your wife could speak with you in Hebrew and translate in English AFTER; this way the child hears/observes the Hebrew communication first. It is time and energy consuming, but well worth it. Have you considered improving your Hebrew, so that there could be more familial time spent only in Hebrew? This would also demonstrate to your daughter the importance of Hebrew in your lives and you would provide a good example for her. In short, you seem like you are both doing a lot of necessary things for the child to be immersed in Hebrew, but there are more things you could be teaching with your own behavior which supports the Hebrew instead of supporting the English which she seems to have picked up fine. I don’t mean to sound critical. It is always easy to provide a window-view of situations, and less easy or less transparent are things when you are there and doing. My daughter is 6 yrs. She still speaks Latvian wonderfully, fluently, and voluntarily; however, there are a lot more needed prompts these days (me-Latvian; her father-English). Her father could definitely take a more active role in supporting her Latvian development, but I do not try to fault him for not having that in his consciousness. I think her going to (American) school and my working so much work against her language development, but all of my effort with her is in Latvian all the time. I am homeschooling her in reading, writing, vocabulary, and folklore, but only when we find a few hours every few weeks. It is not enough, but the important thing is to just keep at it and talk to them in the desired language. (Besides the English at school, she is in a Chinese immersion environment five days a week for 1/2 a day. So, she really has the message that different is good.) One final point, and I think I’ve rambled, I would say that it is never too late to adjust, to change, to rethink and redo. I think that is true for most things. I have a few girlfriends in my life with children who spoke no Latvian despite their parents best (but mixed) efforts. In two separate instances, the children are beginning to use Latvian in a social circumstances, starting to use some words, but more importantly understanding (ages 6 and 3). This is always wonderful. Good luck to you and your family, and may you all enjoy this adventure!!!
Annika
Posted 1326302130
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#3
Hi![email protected]
Jodi
Posted 1326364272
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#4
Two quick suggestions:
annika
Posted 1326437907
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#5
Hi Jodi,[email protected]
