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Original poster

My child's spoken English is terrible

26 replies

manicmama · 26/06/2007 19:47

My 5 year old keeps coming home saying:

I done that

He teached me this

Yeah, those two mens done it

He also says everyFing, Fankyou.

It is driving me nuts. His teacher says that he is no worse than the other kids in his class but I don't find that very comforting.

The weird thing is he is very good at reading.

How good is your 5 year old's spoken English?

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NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:47

How good is your spoken English?

Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 19:50

Mine is very good

Just got to put my son to bed, back in a few mins

OP posts:
NoodleStroodle · 26/06/2007 19:51

He must be hearing somewhere to be picking up on it.

My advice is correct him at all times. Dull but it will change.

hana · 26/06/2007 19:53

he's only mirroring what he hears around him (kids at school?)
I would hate it too
fank god dd doesn't do this!
lol

tweetyfish · 26/06/2007 20:07

My son is like this too, just finishing his reception year (he is 4 though) I keep correcting him, over and over. Sometimes now just a look is enough to get him to say the word properly, but it's hard work! His favourite is "He flied..." he doesn't seem to believe me that flew is a word!

Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 20:13

I correct him all the time and he is obviously picking it up from the other kids.

This might not be very pc to say but he has told me that another kid is teaching him a different language. Fine, if he could speak English properly but I am not happy about it.

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Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 20:52

bump

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Rachmumoftwo · 26/06/2007 20:57

I wouldn't personally correct my children
too much, but model good English at all times. The English langage has very complex grammar, and it is quite common for young children to get confused, and to explore/play with language. Most grow out of it if they have a good example of spoken English set at home.

Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 20:59

ok, maybe I am worrying over nothing

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auburnmum · 26/06/2007 20:59

DD (4.8) makes similar mistakes. I have been told (by speech therapist friend) just to repeat back what they have said (but with correct grammar) in an interested tone of voice, i.e. kind of like a question to confirm what they have just said. Has worked with some things, but DD perists in saying 'look of that' instead of 'look at that'. It's a bit annoying

madmarchhare · 26/06/2007 21:03

ds says 'I catched it mummy'

I say in interested voice 'You caught it?'

ds 'yes, I caught it'

Starting to work very well

RosaLuxembourg · 26/06/2007 21:04

I blame school (other kids obviously, not the teachers)- the f for th thing is increasingly common (not that it hasn't always been common, obviously). As Noodlestroodle said, just keeping picking up on it and they will eventually stop. I keep correcting them when they say floor instead of ground, as I just can't stand it.

Rachmumoftwo · 26/06/2007 21:06

madmarchhare- that's what I meant by modelling rather than correcting, but your way was clearer I think.

Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 21:09

Yes, I meant modelling when I said correcting. My son was referred to a speech therapist when he was younger and so I am aware of this.

His teacher seems to think that he needs to be referred to a speech therapist again. Will this help?

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Whizzz · 26/06/2007 21:12

I do madmarchhares method if ds comes out with something incorrect. He had a phase of saying F for TH - which I took great pains to correct as I thought he would struggle with spelling if he was mispronouncing words

Aloha · 26/06/2007 21:14

I think this is really normal. If you model correct speech that is what he will pick up in the end. Lots of children make mistakes. My son is five, is very bright, but will make mistakes transferring rules in the past tense.

madmarchhare · 26/06/2007 21:14

How come the teacher says he is no worse than the other kids, but then says he needs refering?

1dilemma · 26/06/2007 21:17

Sarf London?
Sounds like ours are at the same school

slayerette · 26/06/2007 21:18

It sounds really normal to me - DS (4) has a lot of difficulty with the past tense and I just use modelling. It's slow but we make a little progress each day - keep going!

Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 21:18

I don't know. That is why I am a bit confused.

I think she means his pronunciation is poor but his level of grammar is similar to the other children.

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Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 21:19

Yes it definitely is South London!

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1dilemma · 26/06/2007 21:24

I'm sure being a good reader will help.

Original poster
manicmama · 26/06/2007 21:25

Thanks for the tips. Off to bed now (ds3 is only 10 weeks old so I need my sleep)

Bye

OP posts:
1dilemma · 26/06/2007 21:27

sleep well (for the next few hours ) and when you're up late just remember how quickly this time passes.
Congrats on the new baby

frances5 · 27/06/2007 14:42

Has he been tested for glue ear. If a child cannot hear the difference between the "f" sound and the "th" sound. Often hard of children will leave off "S" in words because they can't he the ssss sound.