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Categories > Your Questions — General > TEACHING READING ~ ANY IDEAS?
 
 


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RF
  Posted   Reply with quote  #1 
Hello. I am a Greek woman, living in the UK & expecting my first child. My husband’s British but he’s currently learning Greek, as well.

We have already decided to go OPOL in order that our child grows up bilingual in Greek and English.

My query regards learning to read. I was taught to read Greek (in Greece, where I grew up) using the Doman method. I could read by 18 months. It helped me enormously in my education and I’d like to do the same for my baby.

But the question is: do I start him/her reading Greek or English?

On the one hand, English is the language s/he will use at school, so there is sense in teaching that language first.

On the other hand, I’m going to be the parent speaking to him/her in Greek. The dad works full time so he won’t have enough time for daily flashcard practice, etc. in English.

So what do I do? Teach English first? Greek first? Both at the same time? Anyone tried this?…

Bear in mind, please, for those of you not aware: English is far harder to read than Greek. Greek is quite hard to spell, but reading it (passively) can be learnt very easily. And of course a reminder that we use the Greek alphabet.

I’d welcome your advice. If you need to contact me privately, you can reach me at [email protected]

Many, many thanks!

RF
 
Helena
  Posted   Reply with quote  #2 
I asked the Doman institute the same question a couple of years back and their recommendation was to teach both at the same time.  I guess their logic is that the earlier you start, the easier it is to learn so why wait with either language?
I think your baby will readily distinguish that although your language is Greek and that is the language you use to speak, text can be in more than one language and you are simply showing this
 
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