Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Original poster

Non English kids

225 replies

fyimate · 14/05/2010 14:03

Am I wrong in getting annoyed at non English parents for NOT teaching their kids English (even though they -the parent- can speak it)?
I've seen my DD confused by other kids because they dont speak English when playing with her, and then I hear the parent speaking another language to the child even though they (the parent) can speak English.
Why dont they teach their kids English?
It annoys me more because of the amount of money taxpayers have to fork out in translators which appears to be avoidable?

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 14/05/2010 14:05

I thought we were done on the BNP threads

Astrophe · 14/05/2010 14:05

Possibly the parents are ensuring their children know their mother tongue, before worrying about learning English, which they will pick up very quickly once the start school anyway.

RealityLovesYou · 14/05/2010 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

comewhinewithme · 14/05/2010 14:06

Why don't you just explain to your dd about different cultures and languages rather than bringing her up to be a bigot?

MadamDeathstare · 14/05/2010 14:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisyesterday · 14/05/2010 14:06

i think you are being a bit unreasonable for disliking it just because it confuses your dd. kids tend to rub along just fine even if they don't speak the same language

I think it's a shame for the children themselves if they have to start school unable to speak the language, it must be quite confusing and maybe a bit harder to make friends and stuff?

sarah293 · 14/05/2010 14:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

missorinoco · 14/05/2010 14:07

Yes.
You are wrong.

5inthebed · 14/05/2010 14:07

What Reality said

MadamDeathstare · 14/05/2010 14:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

choccyp1g · 14/05/2010 14:08

If you want your child to grow up bilingual in this country, the most effective way is to speak only the "other" language at home. Thye will learn English within a few months, once they start school or nursery. My cousin-in-law is French, and they try to speak French at home all the time.

BessieBoots · 14/05/2010 14:09

I have written so many responses to this OP but have decided against posting them in case I get into trouble.
So I'll just say:

Dos i gachu'r twll tin diawl, a rho'r gorau i swnio mor uffernol o gul!

lorelilee · 14/05/2010 14:10

My Mum's non-English and she taught me to speak English. Probably because we are both Scottish

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 14/05/2010 14:11

Oooh, Bessie, you naughty thing.

BessieBoots · 14/05/2010 14:13

ib · 14/05/2010 14:13

Yes you are wrong. And obviously have no experience whatsoever of bilingualism.

helyg · 14/05/2010 14:14

BessieBoots: dwi'n cytuno!

My childen aren't English, and nor am I. They are taught entirely through their home language at school, and I speak nothing but my home language at work. We all live in the UK.

Firawla · 14/05/2010 14:14

It's okay they will learn english from the environment, school, tv etc and they retain the mother tongue from at home, so they are giving their child an advantage. The speech and language therapists encourage people to do like that if they are bilingual. I think it's a good thing.
I'm suprised your dd is that bothered, kids usually are able to play dispite language differences? My ds was having a nice time yesterday playing with a little boy who kept talking to him in turkish, he wasn't bothered at all they can still race around together and understand some things by gesture. I am in favour of it, it brings more variety to society and they may pick up a couple of different language words from their friends then? It can only be a good thing if they learn to be accepting of different languages and differences between families and able to be friends with all. Tbh most of the kids I see seem to have another language, i feel bad for mine that we only speak to them in english mostly. Some are lucky enough to have three languages, one from mum, one from dad and english from society, which I think is great personally. Do you really think the dc will grow up with no english if they are going to school here in UK? I very much doubt it

RibenaBerry · 14/05/2010 14:15

Hhhm, I think you are getting a bit confused here.

I do think that there is a kernal of a point here. In that, if you live in a country for a long time, I think you have the responsibility to make an effort for your family to learn the local language (I was very at a relative who lived abroad for five years and learned about two phrases of the local language).

BUT

You're talking rubbish in general. If the parents speak English, they will very rarely not teach the child. That tends to be an issue if the parents don't speak English. (Then it can be very hard for the children, particularly if they have to translate at doctor's appointments, parents evenings, etc.)

Speaking the 'non local' language to your child is the best way for them to be bi-lingual.

Also, kids don't really care. I have a friend who regularly chats away to my youngest in Croatian. He understands not one word, but couldn't care less. When my brother was about 5, my mum went to collect him from a corner of the playground where he had been playing happily in the sandpit with another boy for best part of an hour. Went to say something to the mum and it turned out that they were French and neither spoke a word of English. Hadn't bothered the kids in the slighest.

heading4home · 14/05/2010 14:16

I think it is excellent for children to learn that different people speak different languages. A great opening to learn about different cultures.

scurryfunge · 14/05/2010 14:17

BessieBoots just put your comment in Welsh through an online translator and it came up with "Go I shit ' group hole bottom devil , I go he ' may give group choirs I he may murmur so infernal he narrow!"

Can you translate that?

mrsbean78 · 14/05/2010 14:17

What Riven said, plus a sigh.

BritFish · 14/05/2010 14:18

why dont you teach your DD this other language, after all she's probably confusing her classmates.

seriously, why dont you?

i await the answer il never get.
you're an idiot.

LynetteScavo · 14/05/2010 14:18

YABU.

My DD also plays with children who don't speak English when playing with her. She has never been confused! But then, as the other children have done a year at nursery, and nearly a year in school, they can pretty much speak English as well as she can. So it doesn't look like they will ever need a translator.

AMumInScotland · 14/05/2010 14:19

I think it very unlikely that taxpayers would have to "fork out for translators" for small children who are being brought up with a firm grasp of their parents traditional language. As soon as they go to school, they will quickly pick up English and be bilingual.

I know children who were brought up speaking French in the home, and they had no problem in picking up English at school.

Also, if you were to go and live in another country, surely you would want your child to be able to speak fluent English, in order to be able to keep up good relationships with your wider family. Would that not be the same thing, or is English somehow "better" than everyone else's languages?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9