https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:11:32 +0000 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:46:03 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.05 360 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=34020 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1064511&title=language#1064511 Author: High9
Subject: 34020
Posted: 15 June 2010 at 5:46pm

That's cool! I learnt Japanese throughout college and had to teach myself 7th form due to a time table mix up, been to Japan a couple of times now, and even went to school there for a bit, although I'm a bit rusty with it now

We're both reading to her at night in Samoan, I've learned my pronunciation so doesn't sound too off! Guess time will tell how she goes although I know she will definitely be more fluent in English.
Her nana and poppa are keen to babysit her, even for the night which isn't a bad idea if we want her to speak it... ]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:46:03 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1064511&title=language#1064511 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1064460&title=language#1064460 Author: Stogglebox
Subject: 34020
Posted: 15 June 2010 at 4:59pm

I have spoken English to my daughter and my husband has spoken Japanese to her - she can understand most of both (now nearly 17mths), can speak a lot more English than Japanese (I guess cos she has more exposure to English) but can also do some baby sign language to fill the gaps! I would definitely do all langs from the start.]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:59:41 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1064460&title=language#1064460 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1063020&title=language#1063020 Author: High9
Subject: 34020
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 3:48pm

I know a fair bit of Maori too from school, was made compulsory in primary for us until I got to year 9.

My friend can speak 3 dialects of Chinese but she was speaking a dialect her parents didn't even speak! (She picked it up quickly due to her grandma's weekly visits). Her English isn't that good though tbh... ]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:48:57 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1063020&title=language#1063020 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062815&title=language#1062815 Author: KitKat
Subject: 34020
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 1:40pm

a friend of mine has kids who speak 3 languages, it blows me away, and they flit between them... funny thing is they have cracker kiwi accents lol
They have been speaking 2 of those languages from birth- well, yknow- its always been around.]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:40:23 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062815&title=language#1062815 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062746&title=language#1062746 Author: MissAngel
Subject: 34020
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 12:50pm

Thomas can speak lots of Maori :P And thats just from what he's seen on kids programs and at kindy! ]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:50:10 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062746&title=language#1062746 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062417&title=language#1062417 Author: sem
Subject: 34020
Posted: 14 June 2010 at 8:48am

I agree Bee. Kids will be exposed to english from so many others sources (TV, friends etc) that it is less important to speak it at home.]]> Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:48:18 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062417&title=language#1062417 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062309&title=language#1062309 Author: Bee2010
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 10:12pm

I'm German as well and only talk German to my lil boy.
DH is Samoan and only talks Samoan to him.

For us it is important that he can speak German and Samoan. He will learn English on the way .]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:12:36 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1062309&title=language#1062309 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061977&title=language#1061977 Author: High9
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 5:33pm

Nic I've heard babies apparently pick up sign language really really well and often before they learn to speak!!

Interesting what everyone has said, DP knows a little Samoan, and I can pronounce it so can read stories etc to her, her great Nana and Poppa only speak Samoan and little English so she constantly hears it whenever we go to the ILs (they're neighbours). But because in our house we speak English, she'll probably be better with English... ]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:33:00 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061977&title=language#1061977 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061880&title=language#1061880 Author: hils10
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 4:07pm

Yeah my german has improved since DP has been speaking it to the baby (lots of repetition is good!). Still a way to go before we can speak it full time at home though!]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:07:50 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061880&title=language#1061880 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061807&title=language#1061807 Author: sem
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 2:13pm

I'm also German and my DH speaks it a little bit. We are planning on me to only speak german to the baby from when she is born. Am also hoping this will improve DH's german and ideally we would love to only be speaking German at home or in front of baby.

Children will start to talk a bit later when they are brought up bi-lingual and it can be very hard on parents as you have to be very strict to stict to only one language (specially once they get older and understand but will reply in english) but for us it is something very important so we will try our best at it!]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:13:42 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061807&title=language#1061807 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061798&title=language#1061798 Author: hils10
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 2:03pm

My DP is German and always speaks German to our DD who is 4 months, in the hope that she'll grow up bilingual. We have quite a few german friends and her grandparents in germany don't speak any english so she has a reasonable amount of exposure to it. It will be interesting to hear what she comes out with when she starts to speak!

I heard that it can take bilingual children a bit longer to start speaking, and to sort out the 2 languages, but in the long run they have better language skills. And starting them with 2 languages right from the start is definitely the easiest way to do it, especially if one language is consistently coming from one person, and the other language from another (I think this helps them recognise that its 2 different languages)]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 14:03:53 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061798&title=language#1061798 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061738&title=language#1061738 Author: fire_engine
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 1:18pm

Can't remember much about bilingualism (uni was a few years ago now ) but if both languages are being spoken all the time at home, then they will pick them up easier and switch easier than if they're being taught a language for the sake of it. ]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:18:39 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061738&title=language#1061738 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061708&title=language#1061708 Author: Raspberryjam
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 12:40pm

I taught Milla a little spanish when she was just learning to talk, but from the reasearch I have done I think its better once they have an understanding of 1 language first, so I will try again in a few months
I guess it depends which school of thought you go with , but I must say Milla did pick up very quickly some words were for Mummy and some for daddy so I probably should have perservered

Probably easier if lots of people around her are speaking both languages]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 12:40:34 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061708&title=language#1061708 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061691&title=language#1061691 Author: ALittleLoopy
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 12:16pm

we plan to teach charlotte baby signing if ya count that!?

will have to let you know how it goes lol]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 12:16:55 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061691&title=language#1061691 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061652&title=language#1061652 Author: High9
Subject: 34020
Posted: 13 June 2010 at 11:31am

This is just a quick question.

DD is 1/4 Samoan, and we've been told if she can learn another language from an early age it will be beneficial for her.

We are in the process of teaching her Samoan as well as English.

My question is, does your child learn more than one language?

Oh and how are they doing with it? ]]> Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:31:37 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34020&PID=1061652&title=language#1061652