If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Are worried that they won't learn English? My 2 years old only (well, for the most part) communicates and speaks in Greek. My mom watches him everyday so he gets it for 8 hours a day and then I realize that I speak to him in Greek mostly as well. He speaks, understands, answers, asks questions, and even sings IN GREEK. He WILL LEARN ENGLISH RIGHT??? I mean when Chris talks to him or tells him something in English, he knows what he is saying but he just naturally responds in Greek. This won't be a problem, right? I feel so stupid asking because obviously I grew up in a Greek household and I have had no problems but being I never raised a child, I don't know HOW to teach him English. I just don't want him to feel excluded from the other little kids when he goes to pre-school and stuff.

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Yes he will get it! One of the peds in our practice (wh is the oldest one there and super knowledgeable) actually told us to focus strictly on another language during this time. Apparently there was some research that says that kids that learn another language exclusively will have higher language arts scores later on in life and have an easier time learning languages overall. I was born in this country and did not know a lick of english until age 5 when I learned it in school. I am focusing primarily on Spanish with my DD (she is 20 months) but she does know a few English words here and there. I wasn't sure what to do but the ped reassured me that the greatest gift we could give DD was fluency in another language since she will pick up English via TV, playdates and school.

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Posted by XcalystaX

Yes he will get it! One of the peds in our practice (wh is the oldest one there and super knowledgeable) actually told us to focus strictly on another language during this time. Apparently there was some research that says that kids that learn another language exclusively will have higher language arts scores later on in life and have an easier time learning languages overall. I was born in this country and did not know a lick of english until age 5 when I learned it in school. I am focusing primarily on Spanish with my DD (she is 20 months) but she does know a few English words here and there. I wasn't sure what to do but the ped reassured me that the greatest gift we could give DD was fluency in another language since she will pick up English via TV, playdates and school.

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Most of the kids in Ale's Spanish class come from exclusively Spanish-speaking households. ALL of them prefer to communicate in English. This was also the case when I lived in Spain - all of my English-speaking friends had children that were raised in primarily English-speaking households, yet they chose to speak Spanish themselves.

Children will naturally pick up the "environmental" language -- what is on TV, what other children speak, etc.

I think it's great that he responds in Greek. Ale won't speak to me in Spanish, even though she knows it.

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Athan will be fine!!!

Both my niece and nephew grew up like Athan (with Grandma watching them during the day and only speaking Chinese to them) and their mommy and daddy predominantly speaking Chinese to them and at the ages of 3 & 5 (in nursery & pre-K) both speak english perfectly and are doing great in school!

my mom only speaks Chinese with Frankie so he gets 1/2 Chinese from her, English from DH, and a mix from me.

Athan will learn english through just every day life, TV, you, Chris, and the rest of his surroundings. They really are just these little sponges that absorb EVERYTHING. The more he is exposed to, the better.

It is GREAT that he speaks Greek!!!!

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

I am in the same boat as you. Both Dh and I were not born in USA and we purposely only speak Russian to the kids at home and my son goes to a Russian Pre-K. However, while the play and interaction is in Russian, the formal classes are conducted in English, so I definitely see my son picking it right up. DH and I used to speak English when we wanted to say something to each other that the kids shouldn't hear. It doesn't work anymore-he understands the bulk of everything we say We also interacts with other kids on the playground and I hear him talking to other boys in basic English with no problems. It all started after he started pre-K and became more interested in other kids his age to want to understand them when they play together.

The greyest thing about kids at such young age is that they pick everything up like a sponge. If you don't give them your mother tongue now they will never learn it, but English will come naturally as soon as they start interacting with other kids, watching American TV and kids movies, going to Pre-K.

My daughter is home with me and we go to Gymboree 2x a week and she is already picking up words, and trying to form sentences in English at 2.5.

You will see that he will absorb English like a sponge when the time comes.. just make sure to slowly introduce it to him in small dosages.

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

THANK YOU LADIES!!!!!! I really appreciate all the feedback. I am so THRILLED that he knows Greek but had no idea on how to introduce English to him So odd. I will start throwing in an hour or so of Blues Clues or something else from Nick Jr at night and we do take him to My Gym once a week so I am hoping that helps too. Chris (a non-Greek) is all freaked out to that he won't be able to communicate with Athan either - good news is that HE is learning some words too - though Athan is FAR MORE ADVANCED

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Posted by 08BabySurprise

Chris (a non-Greek) is all freaked out to that he won't be able to communicate with Athan either - good news is that HE is learning some words too - though Athan is FAR MORE ADVANCED

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Posted by jambalady

Posted by 08BabySurprise

Chris (a non-Greek) is all freaked out to that he won't be able to communicate with Athan either - good news is that HE is learning some words too - though Athan is FAR MORE ADVANCED

Frank feels the same way. he's learned a bunch of Chinese words because of Frankie. he now knows how to say things such "milk, dirty, wet, and of course - BAD BOY!"

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Posted by 08BabySurprise

Posted by jambalady

Posted by 08BabySurprise

Chris (a non-Greek) is all freaked out to that he won't be able to communicate with Athan either - good news is that HE is learning some words too - though Athan is FAR MORE ADVANCED

Frank feels the same way. he's learned a bunch of Chinese words because of Frankie. he now knows how to say things such "milk, dirty, wet, and of course - BAD BOY!"

Chris is a pro at goodnight, water, milk, sleep, poop, up and down and CAR!

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

crashing....


When I was a baby, all I spoke was Spanish, it was my first language.

However, eventually as my brother was 3 years older and going to grade school, we started speaking English more.

I can comprehend and understand Spanish pretty well, but I do not speak it as great as I would like to.

Either way, I never had any issues learning English, even though Spanish was my first language.

Keep up with the Greek and the English! I wish I had been better about the Spanish, but I would always hear Spanish and answer in English and that's how I lost so much of it. Being bi-lingual is always a GREAT thing and kids absorb it so much easier.

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

I asked dh yesterday if Luce would be able to understand his cousins since we are talking to him almost exclusively in spanish...it does concern me a little from time to time, but I remind myself that outside of our home, spanish is the underdog, and needs all the help it can get.

so, hablamos in espanol. hopefully he will learn to speak as well as understand, b/c it is VERY hard once english is introduced to keep them up with the "native" language.

good luck!!!!

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

THANKS LADIES! We had Athan's 2 year wellness check up today so I asked the ped (who happens to be Greek American like I am) and he said what you all said - keep talking to him in Greek and he will learn English from TV, other kids, school, reading to him, etc. Now is the critical time to get the second language in so that's what I will keep doing. Efharisto!

Re: If your DC speaks another language BETTER than English...

Maria, don't worry. My ex's niece was taught solely Spanish and when she went to nursery school, she picked up English quickly! My ex was also like your DS taught only Greek as a toddler, and he was able to speak fluent Greek and English-you would be surprised how fast kids pick up languages! Maybe at home, read in English to him and speak to him in English. Either way, he will get it!