I'm an American, my husband is a Swede, we're living in England. He doesn't want to teach our son Swedish. Since I only know English all I can do is sit back and respect his choices. I really wish he would teach him some Swedish since I hate being the 'ignorant american' that only knows one language. Then again with only learning English he's already supposidly 'behind' on his language development according to the dr's... oh well he'll develop at his own pace.
a doctor actually said that? That sounds ridiculous to me. The mind of a child is a wonderful thing. It is far more simple for a child to learn new languages than an adult because the paths of their minds are not yet set. They can easily accommodate all the new information.
I don't mean to be too nosy, but I do think it's a shame your husband doesn't want to teach your son Swedish. My parents both speak Spanish fluently but never taught us. I was lucky in that my grandparents would watch me after school and so I learned from them. But my youngest sibling doesn't know much Spanish at all, and she wishes she did. It's a part of our heritage. We're not typical Hispanics in that the culture was never huge in our home - but I think that's part of the problem. I wish we had had a stronger sense of where our family comes from. Not only that, but being able to speak several languages allows one to more easily connect with others, with the world. :] Sorry, I'm very passionate about these things. ^^
No, not a dr persay, our medical place gave us these forms to fill out to say how his progression is on developmental tasks (so they can screen for developmental delays and get them treated asap). And sure, he's a bit behind as he's not talking as much as normal kids his age, but since he's ahead on so many other areas I'm not worried about it. Plus he's a boy and a first child, both of which are factors in the speed of a child learning language.
I wish he would teach him swedish as well. But all in due time. I at least made sure we got him both passports so when he is old enough he can make the decision to where he wants to live, where he wants to go to school, all of that. Plus I'm hoping once he's schoolage my husband will start teaching him. He just thinks that teaching a child two languages from birth is confusing to the child. (Partly based on how one of his younger brothers was raised.)
Ah I see. :] I think it's great to grow up in an "international" family - to know from very young that there's a whole world beyond your doors and that so many options lay open to you. I really, truly, think that's wonderful. ^^ I say your son is lucky to have great parents like you. :]
And I have no doubt he will catch up, though I don't care for the term "catch up". Each child has their own pace that they go at; there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. :]
We're the first international family on my side of the family in many many generations, maybe 6? So I think it's quite interesting and a great opportunity for our son.
He was a very early walker (9 mths) so as I like to think of it, all of his energy has been going into his physical development.
:] I'd say my family is very similar to yours then. My grandparents were from Mexico and Puerto Rico, but no one from this side of the world since my great great great grandparents from Spain. :] I too am the first since.
He sounds very active. :] Maybe you'll have yourself a little soccer player? :D :D hehe
Omg...that's HORRIBLE! I'm 23 and a dual citizen of the US and Denmark. My dad refused to teach me Danish my whole life (he claimed "only 5 million people speak it it's a useless language because they'll rather be in the US anyway) until brilliantly, at 16, I had to move to Denmark because of his job and suddenly lived in my own country like a foreigner. And I didn't want to come to the US - but because I wasn't perfectly fluent in Danish I was barred from getting into the educations, etc., I wanted...nor could I get good jobs. It took 3 years of blood, sweat and tears to learn that damn language and I've remained resentful of my dad for this reason. It's pure laziness and if you ask me, PATHETIC when parents don't teach their kids their native tongue.
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I don't mean to be too nosy, but I do think it's a shame your husband doesn't want to teach your son Swedish. My parents both speak Spanish fluently but never taught us. I was lucky in that my grandparents would watch me after school and so I learned from them. But my youngest sibling doesn't know much Spanish at all, and she wishes she did. It's a part of our heritage. We're not typical Hispanics in that the culture was never huge in our home - but I think that's part of the problem. I wish we had had a stronger sense of where our family comes from. Not only that, but being able to speak several languages allows one to more easily connect with others, with the world. :] Sorry, I'm very passionate about these things. ^^
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I wish he would teach him swedish as well. But all in due time. I at least made sure we got him both passports so when he is old enough he can make the decision to where he wants to live, where he wants to go to school, all of that. Plus I'm hoping once he's schoolage my husband will start teaching him. He just thinks that teaching a child two languages from birth is confusing to the child. (Partly based on how one of his younger brothers was raised.)
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And I have no doubt he will catch up, though I don't care for the term "catch up". Each child has their own pace that they go at; there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. :]
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He was a very early walker (9 mths) so as I like to think of it, all of his energy has been going into his physical development.
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He sounds very active. :] Maybe you'll have yourself a little soccer player? :D :D hehe
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