going to be a mum - bi-lingual baby from birth?

[pixie100]

Hi there everyone,

I have just found out that we are expecting our first baby - due in November!

My partner is French (& speaks very good English). My French is holiday stuff level (not particularly great if I'm honest) but I am learning!

I am keen that our child is completely bi-lingual. Not just in language, but cultually also.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips?

Thanks for your time.

Pixie
x

ps - we live in North London, UK.

Hi waspsAnkles.
Congratulations on yr pregnancy.
Most people seemed to think it is a good idea to stick to one parent one language. That's what we're going to try. Especially when we are one on one.if we are in mixed language company then we'll both take that language. But when we need to say something personal to the child then it will be in our respective language. Many people also suggested having lots of books.toys.dvd.etc... in both languages...
Good luck with everything x
Pixie

Baby won't necessarily be confused, Wasp: I speak both languages and my dcs have always been able to keep them apart. (btw I have always spoken of the languages by their proper names, not as "mummys says this, what does daddy say").

But then again, you may not feel the need to swap: you may find that there are other ways of providing exposure to English and that you are fine as you are. Go with the flow: baby will learn both languages as long as there is enough exposure and a reason to use both.

Congrats on the pregnancy!

Wasp - go with what feels comfortable for you. OPOL isn't a religion although some treat it like one. If you're living in Germany then, with just one parent speaking English (especially dad unless he's staying at home with them) then English will fall far behind German especially as the kids get older. What is the normal language of communication between you and your husband? If you are comfortable speaking English to the kids, then an all English household is going to have a much bigger impact on keeping English somewhat balanced against German. At least, being in Germany, your kids will speak your native language even if you speak to them mostly in English.

thanks for the advice, guys.

I think you're right - we'll just have to wait and see how it all works out and what feels natural.

At the moment we speak a crazy mix of both languages, Aussie, which I think we need to stop as that will really be too confusing.

But lets focus on getting this little bilingual bean here for now :)

Yes, wasps.. I would recommend that you work on mixing a bit less between your partner and yourself.. We had that problem preDC too!!

I switched languages when my ds was 2.2 - had about 2 weeks of confusion when he definitely preferred his dad (still speaking English) and then he just seemed to accept it. I wish I'd started earlier though! With next baby will do so - we live in UK so I know they will acquire fluent English.