Q about ESL situation.

I have noticed several times over the years instances where parents were born in another country, now live in NY, speak fantastic English, but only speak their native languages at home so that their children first learn English in Kindergarten.

Now, I COMPLETELY understand that a parent would want their children to know their own language. I understand the importance of keeping that language alive, especially if they visit family and want their children to communicate. I know it firsthand with my own family.

However, what I don't understand is why the childs first exposure to english is in kindergarten. The family has been here, settled here and plans on remaining here. Wouldn't learning English be a priority, too?

Can someone please shed some light on this? I see children in need of ESL with perfect english speaking parents and it confuses me tremendously.

Re: Q about ESL situation.

I teach ESL. A lot of times what happens is that the parent wants to make sure the child is fully able to speak the "native" language. Once a child starts school, be it preschool or kindergarten, English will immediately take precedence, because the child wants to fit in. Many of my students will not even speak a word of their other language in a school setting. Many of my students can speak fluently in their native language, but cannot read or write in it.

It's also very hard to make a child fully bilingual on your own. I've seen my friends with children attempt it. One, a native spanish speaker who speaks fluent English, attempted to speak to her daughter in both, but to her, Spanish felt more natural because her family was helping babysit, and her own mother only spoke spanish. For practical reasons, it was easier in that case to speak Spanish to the baby. Once she gets to preschool, she'll pick up English immediately.
The other woman, also a spanish speaker, but NOT native, purposely spoke only spanish to her second child. Her daughter spoke ONLY spanish until she went to preschool, where she learned English (she will now only speak in english. Speak in Spanish to her, and she'll answer in English, despite being fully bilingual).

I think parents feel that their kids will learn English in school, and they want to maintain ties to their culture, but also make a solid foundation in their native language.

Re: Q about ESL situation.

Because they are more comfortable in their native language at home. This happened to DH. His family only speaks Spanish at home, since it's how they can express themselves and be comfortable. DH credits Kindergarten and Popeye (cartoons in general) with learning English.

On the opposite side, I want DH speaking Spanish to our children and although Spanish is his first language and he is fluent, he is more comfortable with English.


i have often thought of the opposite situation. If we moved to Spain, I would only be speaking English at home.