4Real Forums: Teaching 2nd Language to New Reader

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Topic: Teaching 2nd Language to New Reader

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dsauclair
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Joined: March 26 2006
Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 29 2007 at 5:03pm \| IP Logged

My dilemma -- should I continue to teach my 5-year old beginning reader how to read in a second language (Tagalog, largely phonetic, something she can comprehend and has heard me speak in the house since she was born)?

I am hoping that starting her off at the same time she's learning to read English will make the learning more natural for her.

I've made a booklet for her with word families and short poems using those words, and left her blank pages to scribble or draw. She likes it enough to read it, and the challenge is to keep up with her. I am fortunate to have a mother who's a writer in the vernacular and she's been providing me with raw material.

My gut tells me that as long as she likes it, I'll keep going. Still, I would love to hear from others who have tried teaching their children to read and write in another language at the same time they're starting to read in English (the primary language.)

Thanks for all your help!
Diane in VA

florasita
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Joined: April 06 2007
Location: Canada
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Posted: April 30 2007 at 8:21am \| IP Logged

Yes Diane for sure . Everyone I know who speaks a second and even three languages has told me they wished thier children had learned . Most often it is a result of one parent only speaking the second language so both parents are not communicating . My dh is like that .He is just now re-learning his french . It has been interesting journey to watch h9im re-gain his fluency but he struggles with speaking .Comprehension is no problem .
Our dd partner is from Germany and he learned 3 languages in school .
Is there a philipino community where you are ? We have a huge one here my ninang ( did I spell that right

) is from the philipines .
They offer classes to children on weekends to learn the language .The chinese community does this as well .
You could look into it as it may offer her some playmates as well

Much Lov , Rox

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Christine
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Joined: March 23 2006
Location: Washington
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Posted: April 30 2007 at 1:27pm \| IP Logged

Definitely! My little nephews and nieces who live in Switzerland speak French and English, and the eldest (age 5) is learning to read and write in both languages.
Yes, I am a little bit jealous.

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dsauclair
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Joined: March 26 2006
Location: Virginia
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Posted: April 30 2007 at 6:22pm \| IP Logged

Thanks Christine and Rox! I have just volunteered to teach at a Filipino School that's starting up this fall. It is a project of the Filipino Ministry and the format is just like CCD classes (2 hours every Sunday afternoon at the local Catholic school). We'll be covering the basics--greetings, songs, dances, games, etc.

I know my girls will not learn to read and write there so I will have to keep up with my home-made lessons. But what will really be neat is for them to hear all the other parents speak to their kids in Tagalog. Then my girls won't think that I'm the ONLY parent who does that and they won't feel so "different."

The monthly Filipino Mass that we do attend has reinforced the idea to them that there are Fil-Am kids out there. They happily sing the Filipino hymns now with gusto!

Thanks for reminding me that there are children being raised bilingual. I'll stop worrying now.

--Diane in VA

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