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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Foreign nanny to teach baby to become bilingual?

32 replies

ChampagneLassie · 13/12/2021 18:41

This might be a crazy idea but would it be feasible to hire a nanny who speaks another language and ask them to talk to the baby in that with the hope that the baby becomes bi-lingual? Or am I just being daftly ambitious. Neither me or my partner speak anything other than English.

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EileenGC · 13/12/2021 18:46

If the nanny is native in that language, it should work. As long as you’re thinking about a long-term nanny and there are strict instructions for them to only use that language, no English, even outside the home. Even at the very beginning when the baby might not understand anything.

If the nanny will leave once the child goes to school, you need a plan on how to maintain the level they’ll have achieved. Saturday school or afterschool nanny in that language, holidays to that country… They should learn the basics of reading and writing too.

Figgygal · 13/12/2021 18:46

But what's the point if neither of you speak another language? What language do you pick if it is a completely random notion?
Genuinely interested

Kanaloa · 13/12/2021 18:48

Is there any reason why it would be necessary? I think in the very early baby years it would make more sense for the person who will be caring for the child full time to speak to them in the language they will speak most of the time.

I understand if the child will grow up bilingual but if the only person they will talk to in that language is the nanny is it a good idea for them to be speaking that language most of the day? There’s so much to learn already.

MrsFin · 13/12/2021 18:50

I think the Cambridge children's nanny has taught them Spanish.

ChampagneLassie · 13/12/2021 19:13

Yes if we did this my intention would be to continue this with lessons / school etc since posting this I've read a bunch of stuff and it all suggests learning languages are only good - even if that one isn't continued.
I'm fancying Mandarin - as I think it will be the most useful in the future and b/c I just came across a lovely sounding nanny who is native speaker. Just found there are two Mandarin nurseries in London which could be an option when older

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ChampagneLassie · 13/12/2021 19:17

@MrsFin

I think the Cambridge children's nanny has taught them Spanish.
Yes I heard that. Spanish might be an easier idea than the Mandarin. I've not run these ideas by my partner. He may not be quite as keen.
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Babyiskickingmyribs · 13/12/2021 19:21

Yep. This will work. It’ll be far more effective than any baby classes or anything like that just because of the the sheer number of hours involved. But the nanny will need to play along and only speak her native language to the child. And you may find the child starts to understand that language extremely well but is to speak it. And as past poster’s said, if you don’t follow up with some consistent opportunities to use the language once you no longer need a nanny the child will lose those language skills.

TheWayTheLightFalls · 13/12/2021 19:24

Can be a great idea but Chinese nannies are rather thin on the ground in the UK, so if you hire this one and she fucks off down the line you may struggle to find a replacement. If all languages are on the cards I'd choose Spanish, French; heck, even Welsh.

We're a bilingual family. It's bastarding hard work. Nannies in the minority language are a great help but you'll need to put the effort in too (playgroups, cartoons, resources etc).

lightand · 13/12/2021 19:30

Interesting thread.
Um, two posters here are mentioning that nanny would only be able to use their native language.
Maybe I am wrong, but would it really have to be all the time?
I know a household where mum's native language is not english, but dad's is. Mum alternates between english and her native language.
Baby is 6 months old. I have been wondering whether mum, or in this case nanny should be just using one langugage? Iyswim?

ponkydonkey · 13/12/2021 19:53

My son had a lovely polish nanny for 3 years from 4 months old

He doesn't understand a word of it now

So although your idea is great you'd have to employ her for 7 years at least

happytoday73 · 13/12/2021 19:58

George Clooney did this.. Italian nanny to his twins..his story is... They now talk and plot their naughtiness in Italian he says.. Parents are quickly trying to catch up.. 🤣

TheWayTheLightFalls · 13/12/2021 20:07

Um, two posters here are mentioning that nanny would only be able to use their native language.
Maybe I am wrong, but would it really have to be all the time?

Google One Parent One Language... doesn't have to be but it's a popular approach.

Nillynally · 13/12/2021 20:11

My 2.5 year old goes to a foreign speaking childminder who only speaks that language to her, has gone since 10 months old. Knows lots of vocabulary and understands every word CM says. It is amazing Smile

MadameFantabulosa · 13/12/2021 20:14

You need to continue with the second language until the child is at least 10, as they lose their second language really quickly under this age. So unless you are prepared to put in the commitment when they no longer need a nanny - eg Saturday or Sunday school, or a bilingual school, or, if French, the Lycee, don’t bother.

EileenGC · 13/12/2021 20:16

If the child knows they can speak in either language to the nanny, mum, etc, they'll default to the dominant one. That's why it's important there is clear boundary as to which person speaks each language.

I grew up trilingual and the minority language was only spoken at home. My parents were very strict about not allowing us to use the dominant languages when talking to them, even though they were both perfectly fluent in them, and is what they spoke at work, in the shops, when dealing with our schools... Even outside the home, unless having a conversation with someone else, we had to speak a specific language in the family. Of course as we got older things changed, between the siblings we very rarely spoke that language to each other, once we started school.

Most of my social circle is raising bi/trilingual kids, and from observing both their children, and remembering friends of my parents who were in the same situation as us growing up, it's definitely worth it being very strict on this. The minority language will get lost, accent muddled up, unless kids know they're expected to use it exclusively with certain people. It's not confusing at all, because kids are clever and able to understand that 'mummy speaks both French and English but I only speak French with her, and we speak English when we see my school teachers, or when we go shopping together'.

BingBongToTheMoon · 13/12/2021 20:19

This might sound stupid…how much time will the child be spending in the sole care of the nanny? Will the child end up more fluent in their language than in English?
As I said, I know that sounds daft, but you hear of families who basically just the nanny have free reign.

EileenGC · 13/12/2021 20:26

If the child lives in England, they will speak perfect English. Unless everybody around them tries to speak in 'bad' English to them - like you see happening in many immigrant families that are too scared for their children not to learn English.

I didn't speak a word of the local languages until I started preschool. They were the dominant languages within months and what I consider my mother tongues now. Because those are the languages I think in, and speak flawlessly, despite 2-3 years of only occasional exposure to them.

bevelino · 13/12/2021 20:40

My dcs grew up speaking Spanish but when they started school they only spoke Spanish at home with me and dgp due to our Spanish heritage. If parents don’t speak the language; and when children no longer need the nanny the second language will be quite tough to maintain at fluency level in the U.K. unless they attend lots of language related activities.

Melassa · 13/12/2021 21:00

But what's the point if neither of you speak another language?

Is there any reason why it would be necessary? I think in the very early baby years it would make more sense for the person who will be caring for the child full time to speak to them in the language they will speak most of the time.

The advantages of bilingualism go well beyond just speaking a language, it develops neural pathways in the brain that you don’t get with one language only. Bilingual/multilingual people tend to be better lateral thinkers as they are more aware of there not being only one way to do things, they are often more creative and flexible, plus more open minded, more empathetic and find it easier to relate to other cultures.

Melassa · 13/12/2021 21:01

But what's the point if neither of you speak another language?

Is there any reason why it would be necessary? I think in the very early baby years it would make more sense for the person who will be caring for the child full time to speak to them in the language they will speak most of the time.

The advantages of bilingualism go well beyond just speaking a language, it develops neural pathways in the brain that you don’t get with one language only. Bilingual/multilingual people tend to be better lateral thinkers as they are more aware of there not being only one way to do things, they are often more creative and flexible, plus more open minded, more empathetic and find it easier to relate to other cultures.

MrsFin · 14/12/2021 19:27

@lightand

Interesting thread. Um, two posters here are mentioning that nanny would only be able to use their native language. Maybe I am wrong, but would it really have to be all the time? I know a household where mum's native language is not english, but dad's is. Mum alternates between english and her native language. Baby is 6 months old. I have been wondering whether mum, or in this case nanny should be just using one langugage? Iyswim?

Usual advice is for each parent to stick to one language.

Botsicle · 14/12/2021 19:35

Following as we have a Catalan nanny who speaks Spanish to her baby (comes with her to work) and has been teaching my 3yo and 5yo some basics like greetings and counting. Unfortunately (for us!) she will have a Spanish teaching job from September so not sure how much effort to ask her to invest! I only have GCSE Spanish so not enough to carry it on...

Applesandpears23 · 14/12/2021 19:44

Think about how you will feel hearing the nanny and your child sharing a joke and having a chat in a language you don’t understand.

Melassa · 14/12/2021 21:17

@Applesandpears23

Think about how you will feel hearing the nanny and your child sharing a joke and having a chat in a language you don’t understand.
Really? You would be offended by that? How bizarre!

My DP doesn’t speak much English and couldn’t keep up with conversations I had with DD in English, but he wasn’t upset or offended, just happy that DD was bilingual and would have whatever advantages stemmed from that, in a competitive world. He was happy for his child, still is. Ditto when I was out and about and speaking English to DD in a sea of non English speakers. No one was offended, DD was told how lucky she was growing up with 2 languages by both friends and complete strangers.

No paranoia or insecurity whatsoever. It does seem to be a British thing this anxiety about not understanding what others are saying. Well, there’s a solution to that, make an effort to learn the language!

ChampagneLassie · 14/12/2021 23:44

Thanks all this is really useful. I really think it would be a good thing... but I'm thinking that Spanish might be a safer option in terms of ease of continuity. I guess I don't see any downside. I certainly wouldn't be bothered to not understand what they're saying to one another.

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