Non English kids

[fyimate]

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?

Moving to a foreign country might not be such a bad idea, you know...

Because OPOL means that you speak only your language to your child all the time. It's one of those fundamental principles.

Why should they speak English in the playground? I can understand them needing to speak it in class, but surely it's nice if they can speak whatever other language in the playground. I went to school with girls who spoke Hindi, Punjabi and various other languages and I'm glad I had the exposure. I never learnt very much and I've forgotten virtually all of it now, but I remember it was fascinating finding out how similar some words were to English and French.

Btw, it's also possible if the children and their parents are fluent in both languages, they don't notice themselves moving from one to another. DP occasionally starts talking to me in Russian without noticing, and I bet a child would do that even more.

I would have it deleted too,it makes you sound like a bigot

Please remember that its not only the "English" who speak "English".

We live in Glasgow and though I speak "English" (though some may disagree ) I am not, and never will be, English!!!

My kids spoke English with us at home, started learning Ghaidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) at nursery and are now totally bilingual as they are educated in Ghaidhlig. Its amazing how fast kids pick languages up!

Cost of translation services is a complete red herring in terms of the OP though - since you say the parents speak perfectly good English.

By the time children are nursery / reception they naturally start to speak English to their English-speaking friends, any younger than that & they wouldn't need a translator as they would be with their parents who can translate for them.

Really don't think children are disavantaged by playing with children with other mother tongues, quite the opposite in fact.

Ok now I take it I cant delete this thread?

ooh those bladdy forriners coming over here they should learn our language and dress our way and integrate into our culture innit..

what would be the point in one country=one language. really? just so its easier for YOU?

and being a translator is an excellent and worthy job. my friend is one and she mocks me for forgetting everything she teaches me immediately i dont care if we have to pay for them in court, it makes sure thecourt is fair doesnt it?

"Teach basic English" - HOW???

Have you ever tried to teach a second language to a child? Let me tell you, it is not so easy as "teach a bit of the language when in the playground".

It is just as hard as when they are learning to speak the first time. Unless you speak it day in and day out to them, you can't teach a language to a kid. Even then, it will be "basic" for a good many years anyway, and this is mother tongue.

DS1 spent a couple of hours on the beach in France playing with a French lad of the same (6) without having a word of French. DH and I translated where necessary and DS2 (2) chipped in in Arabic as that is currently his main language as DH is his main carer. All the kids had great fun.

Just goes to show that kids have to learn xenophobia

oh no your poor darling darling DD can't understand every single child in the playground! what a tragedy, what horror, how dare people speak so your kid can't understand them? How unreasonable is this world?

This is why we need an immigration SAS so these dreadful creatures who refuse to speak English could be carted off to far off places so as never to confuse English speaking DD's again.

FFS!

I do hope you never take your poor DD anywhere forrin on holiday - she's going to be mighty confused by people all speaking different languages. However will she cope?

same age

Seriously most of you are attacking me unnecessarily.
I probably should have proof read my post before posting it but a lot of you are taking this way out of context.
Consider this post finished.

Why would you want to get this thread deleted?

I think you should be reading exactly why we think you are being unreasonable.

No most of you are taking it out of context. I've read and understand the more proactive comments but I'm not going to pay attention to childish attacks.

My mum is Armenian and speaks English, Greek,Turkish and Armenian, I would have loved to have learned Armenian which is my mums mother tongue but my English dad said that it would confuse, as was thought in the past. Its really sad because i could not communicate with my grandma as much as I would have liked to and my other Armenian relatives. Now, I dont know its harder as adults to learn languages I think.

My dc's school has an 80% non-white intake. I'm amazed and impressed at how the vast majority of children from non-English speaking backgrounds there appear to be fluent in English as well as their own language.

British people can only weep and hang their heads in shame at their own complete crapness at learning other languages. We are put to shame by the brilliance of bilingual 4 year olds from other countries....

fyimate, what is childish about challenging comments made in AIBU? The most sensible thing you have said is that you should have read your post before posting. You cannot change your comments into, "you are taking it out of context"...just what exactly were you trying to say then?

We are trying, fairly politely for the most part, to explain to you why your assumption in the OP is wrong. And trying to explain to you how bilingualism works for many families, and why it is unlikely to be a problem either for your child playing with other children, or for taxpayers in the future.

No reason for you to take a huff, or try to get the thread deleted. We disagree with you, and are explaining why. It's called a discussion.

When I was studying child development, they said that it is better for a very young child to learn one language from one person and a second say English ,from another source.
YANBU to suggest that a non-English speaker in an English speaking country is a t a huge disadvantage, but I don't think the child's parents ARE NECESSARY THE BEST PEOPLE TO LEARN IT FROM.

What is the context then? I don't understand. Your DD doesn't understand that children can have different mother tongues. You can explain that to her. My DC understand that.

okay, i have read the whole thread, but i don't have anything to add that hasn't already been said.

i'm just posting cos i found a better translation of Bessie's welsh sentence....

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

Go to seize hole tin devil, and enter the best sounds so incredibly narrow!

from stars21