What do you think?

[happychappy]

My 6 year is having trouble learning to read and write in Italian. I don't do anything with him in English at the moment. I have been waiting for him to be confident in the abient language before moving on. Last week he went to a specialist who said he's having confusion because of his bilingualism. The school system here is not patient and want to fail him the year.

A friend made a suggestion and I wanted to know what you all thought. The suggestion is to start him with English. Her theory is that perhaps he need to learn how to read and write in his first language (english) before he can move onto a second.

WHat do you all think. All comments welcome.

Can I ask what your background is? English/Italian? Do you live in Italy or the UK? Do you speak and read to him a lot? A 6 year old should be quite proficient in at least 1 language. It really is up to the people surrounding your LO to speak with him as much as possible, read, write & explain to him. If you live in Italy & he doesn't need English to get through his day I guess I'd shelve the idea of teaching him yet another language which will confuse him even more. It might be best for your DS to speak only Italian to him to get him up to speed.

We are an English family speaking English at home. Our thinking was the same but he is having so much trouble with the Italian a friend suggested possible starting him with his first language to get the division into context.

Snook, an extremely ill advised idea to panic and switch languages with a child who is struggling a bit.It will only make things worse.

I'm a at a bit of a loss at what to do with him. Because there is no educational problem, he cannot get extra help. A tutor will cost a fortune I don't have and the school have little understanding or patience fo him or his difficulties. My only option is to try and find a more understanding school. My friends thinking was it might help clarifythe differences for him and then he can move on. I was seeing if anybody had any other ideas that might help it click fo him.

The thing that drives me crazy is that the school seem to think by giving him more homework than the rest (italian kids get tons of homework) somehow this will resolve the problem. My observation is that an already tired child is less than positive and overworked!