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Original poster

How to introduce a new language to 4 yr old

12 replies

Polishmum1983 · 15/01/2022 11:15

Hi, I have 2 daughters. 1 &4 years old. I really want them both to be bilingual and speak polish (it's my native language). I speak english & polish. My partner speaks english (his native language). Unfortunately I haven't teach my 4y/o polish from birth. I have been teaching her on and off when she was 3 years old with a little success. I'm not sure how to aproch this now as is like to use OPOL to my 1 years old. It's quite difficult as I need to use 2 languages to speak to both of my children every day. Different language to the oldest with a bit of polish. Only polish to my youngest if that makes sense. Don't have any support. Is anybody in the same situation here? Any advise? Thanks x

OP posts:
Guacamole001 · 15/01/2022 12:06

Why don't you speak Polish to both of them and your partner English to them.

So far as I know that is the way to go.

perimenofertility · 15/01/2022 12:16

For the 4 yr old, if you haven't used the language from birth, start now by saying everything in both languages. Sometimes say English first followed by Polish, sometimes speak Polish first followed by English. Say everything in both languages.
Also talk to yourself out loud in Polish, for example when you are cooking "let's switch the oven on, how long does this take to cook", when the phone rings "I wonder who this is", etc. All of this will help make it familiar and not something "different".

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 15/01/2022 12:19

Do you have access to any Polish children's cartoons, or familiar cartoons dubbed into Polish?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Behaviour & development General education
Original poster
Polishmum1983 · 15/01/2022 12:28

Oh i see. I didnt know how to speak to them both as they have a diffetent needs at this moment. I will definately try that method. Thank you so much! Can i ask what's the chances for my 4yr old to learn polish? How long does it take? Also, is it going to be much different between her and her sister in the future?

OP posts:
Original poster
Polishmum1983 · 15/01/2022 12:29

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Do you have access to any Polish children's cartoons, or familiar cartoons dubbed into Polish?
Yes I do have for example netflix that I can switch to polish audio:)
OP posts:
premiumfeet · 15/01/2022 12:36

I think you should concentrate on just Polish and speak to them in one language and your partner in English and be very consistent. A lot of bilingual parents I know prefer speaking only in their native language as English is a easy language to learn compared to their native language and they leave the English to be learnt in a nursery/school setting and concentrate on their native language.

Make them watch Polish cartoons, introduce them to more Polish settings. If you can, visit Poland and spend time there during the holidays so they get to play with Polish children and family. Children learn easily but the later you leave it, the harder it will be for them to learn. Do you know any childrens activities, Polish community events in your local area where you could take them? Do you have any Polish friends you can arrange play dates with their children?

My mother did this to me and my sibling despite her only speaking her native language to us and she tried to expose us to those settings as much as she could as she could as she knew we would eventually speak more English but she wanted to make sure we were also on top of her native language as well. Today me and my sibling both speak two languages as native speakers and can switch back and forth, dream in the language we prefer, translate, write etc. It won't be very difficult but you need to be consistent and stay on top of it. They always say a child can learn a language very easily just even being in the playground with other children that speak it.

Original poster
Polishmum1983 · 15/01/2022 12:46

@premiumfeet

I think you should concentrate on just Polish and speak to them in one language and your partner in English and be very consistent. A lot of bilingual parents I know prefer speaking only in their native language as English is a easy language to learn compared to their native language and they leave the English to be learnt in a nursery/school setting and concentrate on their native language.

Make them watch Polish cartoons, introduce them to more Polish settings. If you can, visit Poland and spend time there during the holidays so they get to play with Polish children and family. Children learn easily but the later you leave it, the harder it will be for them to learn. Do you know any childrens activities, Polish community events in your local area where you could take them? Do you have any Polish friends you can arrange play dates with their children?

My mother did this to me and my sibling despite her only speaking her native language to us and she tried to expose us to those settings as much as she could as she could as she knew we would eventually speak more English but she wanted to make sure we were also on top of her native language as well. Today me and my sibling both speak two languages as native speakers and can switch back and forth, dream in the language we prefer, translate, write etc. It won't be very difficult but you need to be consistent and stay on top of it. They always say a child can learn a language very easily just even being in the playground with other children that speak it.

That is amazing what your patents done. I'd love to do the same with my kids. It gives me a hope that it might be not too late for my oldest one. She already has established her language. She knows words, phrases but it's basic.
OP posts:
Bunce1 · 15/01/2022 12:53

It’s not too late! Not at all!

Concentrate on Polish in the home environment. As your older dd will have lots of English exposure. Obviously use polish//English to translate initially and then start to move to a more OPOL system as she begins to understand more.

Do you know other Polish families in your community for play dates and so on?

Being bilingual is SUCH an advantage!

Original poster
Polishmum1983 · 15/01/2022 13:49

@Bunce1

It’s not too late! Not at all!

Concentrate on Polish in the home environment. As your older dd will have lots of English exposure. Obviously use polish//English to translate initially and then start to move to a more OPOL system as she begins to understand more.

Do you know other Polish families in your community for play dates and so on?

Being bilingual is SUCH an advantage!

I don't have any polish community. I have a couple polish friends with a small children who don't speak yet. Do u know any perhaps games or activities which are good to use it to teach them language?
OP posts:
Bunce1 · 15/01/2022 13:59

Simple games like bingo, pairs, lotto. Orchard Toys are great for games like that.

Also look at a company called Mantra Lingua that does loads of dual language books.

premiumfeet · 15/01/2022 14:07

Do you also have anywhere you can buy Polish story books from where you can read to them? You could try Amazon or even ask family or friends to post them to you from Poland or buy them during your next visit? These help as well.

Original poster
Polishmum1983 · 15/01/2022 14:16

@premiumfeet

Do you also have anywhere you can buy Polish story books from where you can read to them? You could try Amazon or even ask family or friends to post them to you from Poland or buy them during your next visit? These help as well.
About the polish books. I have some, yes. I'm not sure if I'm reading them the way I should do it . I read the sentence in polish then I translate it into english. It's because my 4 yrs old won't know what im saying.
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