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Original poster

DVDs in English for 2-3 yr olds?

50 replies

AuldAlliance · 07/03/2007 13:53

I have been wondering about using DVDs to provide a second source of English for DS (nearly 2), as he really only hears me speaking it, apart from odd visits from relatives.
This involves buying a TV, which I'd be prepared to do, in spite of a slightly anti-TV tendency in our house, if it would help his bilingualism. I'd probably not plug in the aerial, so use it just as a screen for DVDs rather than as a TV.
What do people reckon? I think he's still a bit young to be watching stuff (3 seems a more reasonable age to me) but I'll have to put scarce pennies aside for a TV, so need to plan in advance. Are DVDs a good language source? From what age? Any recommendations?
TIA

OP posts:

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Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 12:37

Moondog - you are ignorant and rude. I have masses of experience of bi and multilingualism, and language acquisition across the board. There is plenty of scientific consensus that you need multiple quality sources in order to become proficient in any language.

ernest · 09/03/2007 13:18

anna8888, I'm not quite sure what you mean by "No Ernest, all the DVDs I have bought from WHSmith and on Amazon.co.uk have etc etc etc ". Well, the ones you bought may have been so, but actually, yes, in fact, I was not lying or mistakes, the majority of dvds I have purchased in the UK have only got an English soundtrack, whereas the ones I have bought in Germany and Switzerland have multi language sound tracks. I'm not sure why you completely disagree with a point of fact. Also not sure why I give a shit. (Although I suspect it's becasue it my 3 yr old ds does it and it pisses me off. But then, he is only 3).

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 13:25

Ernest, the thread is about France, not Germany or Switzerland, and I am trying to clear up what happens here for children growing up bilingual in French and English. If you buy a DVD at FNAC (the major French retailer of DVDs) it is wildly expensive and only in French. Just trying to point AA in direction of cheapest source of multilingual DVDs when you are a resident of France.

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HappyasLarry · 09/03/2007 13:43

AuldAlliance, I use English DVDs to reinforce my los English language skills and am sure it really does improve vocabulary. I also think it means she is potentially "in touch" with what English children her age watch on TV and this could be important to her one day too.

To me, the useful thing re DVDs is being able to sit down with your lo and discuss what is happening in the programme. Then you can discuss things that are outside of your daily experience or have an excuse to bring up other age appropriate topics.

If you have family in the UK get them to collect the free DVDs that are often given in Sunday newspapers and the old programmes of all the popular DVDs. These are often to be found in the supermarkets foir a pund or two.

Moondog, I was surprised abour your reaction to DVDs. I have to say I have met a number of children who have not mastered their own mother tongue at all because their parents have favoured English language education in a country where neither English nor the mother tongue was used. So parental input alone is not enough (and this is also shown for example in the many immigrant groups worldwide where children learn only a passive understanding of their parents tongue because they choose to speak another language). Language is also a question of degrees to me. I know I can express myself very well in certain languages, but only on a functional (if superficially fluent) in others. I think language learners can never have too much input...

moondog · 09/03/2007 14:58

You're still talking bollocks Anna.

I am a multi-lingual speech and language therapist with an additional degree in Linguistics and French.

I know what I am talking about.

moondog · 09/03/2007 15:00

Additional input is great and very useful but certainly not essential.
We had a multi-lingual world well before Dora the Explorer and Angelina came on the scene.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 15:03

You must have very peculiar qualifications, moondog. I wouldn't send any child of mine to someone who held your position.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 15:05

Moondog - what did you think of Barbara Abdelilah-Bauer's book Le défi des enfants bilingues?

moondog · 09/03/2007 16:17

'Your daughter DEFINITELY needs multiple sources of English to learn and progress.'

Er....you are wrong.
Desirable but by no means essential.

It would be interesting to know what qualifies you to give such misleading and inaccurate advice.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 16:27

Many years in multi-lingual education, as a pupil, student and educator.
Many years outside the UK in a variety of countries.
Bilingual extended family.
First class degree (with distinction) in Modern Languages (including linguistics).
Bringing up bilingual child with many friends and family in similar circumstances.
Very broad reading on this subject.
And am of course bilingual myself (with quite a few other languages).

So I do have quite a perspective on how one acquires language.

moondog · 09/03/2007 16:30

Not quite a broad enough perspective though.

As is apparent.

I've got all of that and more.

moondog · 09/03/2007 16:32

Although at the last count there were four mother tongues being used in my immediate family whilst residing in four different countries.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 16:35

moondog - I think you just like being contrary and difficult. This is not a race to see who has more experience.

Though judging from your written English, your mastery of your mother tongue leaves quite a lot to be desired.

moondog · 09/03/2007 16:36

moondog · 09/03/2007 16:37

Admit defeat and slink off Anna.
Just lay off with the amateur advice while you are at it too,there's a dear.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 16:43

I shall carry on bringing up my daughter to speak decent English and French and just feel slightly worried that there are such misguided and arrogant people calling themselves professionals out there.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 16:44

I can't imagine why you think being so rude lends your arguments to professionalism credibility.

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 16:45

I can't imagine why you think being so rude lends your arguments to professionalism credibility.

Original poster

AuldAlliance · 09/03/2007 17:13

Just got back from work to find that this has gone a bit wild.

I am working full-time, which means that DS (he's a boy, I'm not trying to add to the general friction or criticise anyone, I just find it weird reading about my daughter...) spends a lot of time with French-speaking DH and minder, as well as living in a French-speaking environment.

I thought about DVDs to vary the sources (and accents, types, etc.) of English, give him some knowledge of what kids in the UK watch so he doesn't feel out of it amongst his cousins, and provide an enjoyable context for extended contact with the language. I'm sure they're not indispensable, but could be fun and introduce vocab I personally wouldn't use in our daily conversations.

Sorry it caused such strife.
Enjoy your weekend...

OP posts:

Anna8888 · 09/03/2007 17:19

and you're absolutely right to do so AA. The more English he hears (and in due course reads and writes) the better he'll get at it.

Othersideofthechannel · 09/03/2007 19:16

DS surprised when walking over a rope bridge the other day with 'this is a 'rickety old bridge' isn't it Mummy'. Straight from Thomas the Tank Engine.
Thomas DVDs definitely help him play with his English cousins when the train set comes out.

malaleche · 10/03/2007 18:14

Came here from the CC threads hoping for some calm, helpful interchange of info....
I think reading with your child is far more linguistically enriching than using DVD's, whether you speak one language or 20, but DD1 does come out with vocab i would never use that she's picked up from a dvd so i think they have their place. I also think they are good for understanding different accents. The point someone made about having some kids' culture in common when interracting with other children in the ml country is important. When DD1 sees her cousin in Scotland, and they both know that episode of whatever, it is obvious that it adds extra enjoyment to their friendship and play.
Visits to a country where the language is spoken will do more to motivate a child who is not speaking the language as much as you would wish than any amount of other input.
Have to go, baby needs her bed...will be back

Othersideofthechannel · 19/03/2007 06:10

I've just realised no one has mentioned Kipper. We watched it yesterday for the first time in ages and I'd forgotten how lovely it is.

maomao · 19/03/2007 07:05

I would be happy to send copies of English DVDS (along the lines of Kipper, Percy the Park Keeper) in exchange for ones in French! I think the drawback is that mine will only be in English.

PollyLogos · 19/03/2007 07:11

Of course they are not essential. I agree wholeheartedly with Malaleche with regard to the cultural aspect. For exactly the same reasons - that when we came to the UK they knew what their cousin and other friends were talking about.They get exposed to different accents , also listening skills without face to face contact. (After 22 years I still find talking on the phone the most difficult aspect of my second language)

DS2 (12 yrs old) comes out with some amazing phrases and comments that he has picked up from watching DVDs in english.He is a huge fan of the simpsons so I also find myself having to point out differences between Am. eng and Brit. eng

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