Man Tells His Bilingual Wife Not To Teach Their Twin Daughters Her Native Language
It's great to talk in different languages, right? Of course, I've been told that the language a person thinks with is their primary language!
Although English is my primary 'talking and thinking' language, I'm bilingual and often talk in my native language when I'm among people who understand what I'm saying.
It's great to be bilingual, but I'm very conscious when I flip the switch between English and my native language. You see, some words in my native language mean something nice, but in English, it means something worse!
For example:
- In Russia, "brat" means brothers or pals, but in English, you know what it means.
- The Danish word for speed or moving objects is "fart", which is ironic because...
- The next time you're in Romania, ask for "crap" - a fish sandwich. Everywhere else don't.
We already know how complicated the English language is, and being bilingual is the cherry on the cake. Nevertheless teaching your kids your native language shouldn't be a problem... or should it?
Redditor babybumps_ insists that her twin daughters learn to speak her native language along with English, but her husband refuses for them to speak anything except English. Interesting.
His reasons are clear. According to him, since every close family member speaks fluent English, there is no need for the girls to learn or have a second language.
His fear? That when they grow up, they'll talk behind his back. smh.
We'll let babybumps_ explain.
She's right, tbh. The more langiages a child learns, the better it is for them.
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But he disagrees and doesn't want his girls to learn their mother's native language.
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The girls will grow up trilingual, either way.
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This question was all it took for over 400 people to comment.
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Great point.
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He can learn her native language, too.
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True.
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Being bilingual will help them in the future.
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The twins and her husband should learn too.
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This is true.
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That's an awesome reminder.
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Wow, this is an eye-opener.
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Being bilingual is a huge advantage.
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If he's concerned, he should learn it too.
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Agreed.
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Yep, agreed.
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Give children an opportunity to learn a new language!
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LOL.
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This is right.
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What An Expert Thinks About Being Bilingual
Being bilingual is a blessing in disguise if you think about it. You might not realize it now, but as the kids grow, each language they speak will open up a unique set of opportunities for them.
That's wonderful, isn't it?
In an interview with Romper, researcher and language coach Ana Oliveira said, "If you have the means to raise your child bilingual, don't waste that opportunity. They’ll thank you later."
And she's right!
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Experts have not always been in favor of children being bilingual. A long time ago, experts and researchers believed that learning to speak two languages can affect a person's thinking abilities.
They believed that language could change a person's memories, values, and even personality. Therefore, speaking two languages could alter a person's character.
Until the 19th century, experts believed that learning a second language would not only confuse children but also prevent them from speaking any language fluently. They believed bilingualism would make a child a jack-of-all-trades and master of none; thereby resulting in lower IQ.
But all that changed when experts realized that learning a second language, at any age, could provide the mental stimulation a person needs to remain healthy. Ellen Bialystok, a psychologist at York University in Toronto says:
"Learn a language at any age, not to become bilingual, but just to remain mentally stimulated. That’s the source of cognitive reserve."
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I think babybumps_ should follow her heart, knowing that bilingualism will benefit her girls in the long run. As far as her husband is concerned, a polite in-depth conversation is all he needs to understand her point of view and for her to understand his.
What do you think about being bilingual? Let us know in the comments below!
