Well, "reading" may be too generous a description. Here's a quick video of Griffin at almost four years old telling his sister the names of the fruit on each page of a French board book.
So cute! I'm new to your site, but I'm in a similar situation (non-native French speaker, French teacher turned SAHM, speaking French and English with my 1-year-old daughter). It's so encouraging to see Griffin speaking French so well! I am working my way through your archives, but in the meantime, I wondered how often you speak French with Griffin? I suppose I'm wondering if I'm providing her with enough input.
Bienvenue, Lindsey! It's always cool to meet a kindred spirit in the blogosphere.
I have spoken exclusively French to Griffin since his birth, except when singing/saying rhymes with him at library storytimes and music class, when repeating the teacher's directions word-for-word in swim class (for consistency and safety in the very loud indoor pool complex), and when I got very frustrated during his especially stubborn period (basically age three). (In fact, my occasional hollering in English was my cue that it was time for a "Maman time-out"!)
Research tends to indicate that to develop fluency, people need to be exposed to the language for at least 1/3 of their waking hours. I don't know how much French you have been using with your daughter, but every bit counts, and it's not too late to begin barraging her with more, especially since she's starting to talk now!
Does your partner speak French? (Mine doesn't.)
You might want to check out "German in the Afternoon," about Kate, a non-native speaker of German, who uses both German and English with her son:
http://germanintheafternoon.wordpress.com/
Keep us posted on what you're doing linguistically with your daughter!
That is so great!!! Amazing!!! I would like to do the contrary when I have kids, speak English to them (I'm French) ... but I am just so afraid to make mistakes....and that it would not come so natural... i don't know. Your kid's french is really impressive! I would be glad to help you if you need anything in French! Just discovered your Pinterest, just so you know (maybe you already do), for the famous easy cartoons in French here are: Petit Ours Brun, L'âne Trotro and Tchoupi, these last less than 5 minutes and are cute!
Salut Marioneti! Yes, when I saw your name here, I wondered if you were the same person I started following on Pinterest.
Griffin loves Tchoupi, but unfortunately, the clips are no longer available on YouTube. (They had been removed last year for copyright reasons--but I should check again to see if someone else has reposted them.) We have books and magazines with Petit Ours Brun, but I haven't seen any cartoons. And someone else recently recommended L'ane Trotro, so that's the next one I want to investigate. Thanks for the suggestions!
Yes, speaking your non-native language with your children doesn't feel natural--at first--but now I can't imagine doing anything else with G&G. I still make lots of mistakes (and have an American accent), but I'd rather have my kiddos speak a second language imperfectly than only be able to speak one language!
Thank you for your kind words about Griffin and your offer to help. I'll let you know if I think of anything!
So cute! I'm new to your site, but I'm in a similar situation (non-native French speaker, French teacher turned SAHM, speaking French and English with my 1-year-old daughter). It's so encouraging to see Griffin speaking French so well! I am working my way through your archives, but in the meantime, I wondered how often you speak French with Griffin? I suppose I'm wondering if I'm providing her with enough input.
ReplyDeleteBienvenue, Lindsey! It's always cool to meet a kindred spirit in the blogosphere.
DeleteI have spoken exclusively French to Griffin since his birth, except when singing/saying rhymes with him at library storytimes and music class, when repeating the teacher's directions word-for-word in swim class (for consistency and safety in the very loud indoor pool complex), and when I got very frustrated during his especially stubborn period (basically age three). (In fact, my occasional hollering in English was my cue that it was time for a "Maman time-out"!)
Research tends to indicate that to develop fluency, people need to be exposed to the language for at least 1/3 of their waking hours. I don't know how much French you have been using with your daughter, but every bit counts, and it's not too late to begin barraging her with more, especially since she's starting to talk now!
Does your partner speak French? (Mine doesn't.)
You might want to check out "German in the Afternoon," about Kate, a non-native speaker of German, who uses both German and English with her son:
http://germanintheafternoon.wordpress.com/
Keep us posted on what you're doing linguistically with your daughter!
Awww... And what a great accent (the non-French speaker says...)
ReplyDeleteOh I love this! What an amazing bond this is!
ReplyDeleteAww, how cute is that? What a wonderful moment.
ReplyDeleteoh yes, he is ready for school :)
ReplyDeleteWow!! Fantastic. What a great clip. Griffin is a real credit to you - what a wonderful little boy with a fabulous accent :-)
ReplyDeleteShucks, y'all! I'm blushing.
ReplyDeleteInternational children helping international parents bring up international babies! Parfait!
ReplyDeleteThat is so great!!! Amazing!!! I would like to do the contrary when I have kids, speak English to them (I'm French) ... but I am just so afraid to make mistakes....and that it would not come so natural... i don't know. Your kid's french is really impressive! I would be glad to help you if you need anything in French! Just discovered your Pinterest, just so you know (maybe you already do), for the famous easy cartoons in French here are: Petit Ours Brun, L'âne Trotro and Tchoupi, these last less than 5 minutes and are cute!
ReplyDeleteSalut Marioneti! Yes, when I saw your name here, I wondered if you were the same person I started following on Pinterest.
DeleteGriffin loves Tchoupi, but unfortunately, the clips are no longer available on YouTube. (They had been removed last year for copyright reasons--but I should check again to see if someone else has reposted them.) We have books and magazines with Petit Ours Brun, but I haven't seen any cartoons. And someone else recently recommended L'ane Trotro, so that's the next one I want to investigate. Thanks for the suggestions!
Yes, speaking your non-native language with your children doesn't feel natural--at first--but now I can't imagine doing anything else with G&G. I still make lots of mistakes (and have an American accent), but I'd rather have my kiddos speak a second language imperfectly than only be able to speak one language!
Thank you for your kind words about Griffin and your offer to help. I'll let you know if I think of anything!