[Marzapan741]

Okay I know I'm young but I do plan on marry the guy I am dating now.

We want to have about 2 kids.
Him and I both speak different languages

He speaks Chinese and I speak Jordanian (a few other languages but its not important)

Would it be possible to teach them Those 2 languages including english with out confusing them?

If so, how?

We both grew up to be bilingual but all I know is my parents used to speak to me in both languages.

[firmbeliever]

I grew up in my own country(so I know my language very well) and I do not remember not knowing English(it is the medium taught in school).
I also learnt Arabic reading and writing.

Later on I learnt Hindhi and French as part of my schooling.

I do not think it is difficult, as long as both of you keep talking in your individual languages and have a common language like English.

[Marzapan741]

That's really cool.
What was your original language?

You mean say something in our language then repeat it in english.
I just don't want to confuse the baby LOL.

Wow I plan ahead way to early.

[Wondergirl]

Of course they can--and more power to you for giving them more than one language!

You don't have to explain that one is Daddy's language and one is Mommy's. Just talk naturally as you would in your own country/culture. The kids will figure it out.

My g'parents were German and spoke that language at home. Outside the home, they spoke a mixture of German and English. When their son (my father) learned to talk, he learned German at home and then English in school. Later, when he was a minister, he preached in German as well as in English (different church services).

Learning a language at home is much better than in school. The more languages your children are comfortable using, the better off they will be in this very wide-open world.

[firmbeliever]

Pros and Cons; Multilingual Children's Association

Here's a link that might help you in knowing the pros and cons.
I have also heard that children with more than one language are sometimes better at certain things.
And I also read that in the US, children are being enrolled in language schools to make them more intelligent!

[Wondergirl]

In fact, in the U.S. there are tons of videos and DVDs under the Baby Einstein series label that are supposed to teach languages and all sorts of other skills to babies. They have been booming for the last few years; the library where I work has stacks of them and they are always checked out. There's some debate right now, but the evidence is leaning toward teaching preschoolers and kindergarteners how to speak foreign languages (and not waiting until high school). Young children quickly pick up foreign languages.

[Marzapan741]

Thank you- that is a good sitre :) and great familky history aha, that most of been cool.
I didn't understand the Cons too much :/

[firmbeliever]

A pleasure as always!

I agree with wondergirl.
Learning languages in High school was harder,hence my French is limited to reading and writing which I seem to be forgetting as I do not get much chance to practice it.

And translating each word is not important,kids will pick up languages just by listening to you speak, as wondergirl mentioned.

[Marzapan741]

I just don't want our children being confused to here me speak Jordanian and Engish and to here Hun speak Cantonese and english,

[firmbeliever]

Well in most communities at this present day, it is hard to keep kids away from TV.
And they hear their parents speak their mother tongue and the TV speaks English to them.:)

Many schools have English as a first and/or second language.

The earlier kids start hearing languages, the easier it gets for them to understand it.

[Marzapan741]

Oh haha I forgot all about TV.

Thanks guys :D

[shygrneyzs]

Being tri-lingual would be a blessing I think. The world is so open to other cultures and languages. My own parents spoke German and English and my Grandparents spoke German, Russian, and English. My Great Grandparents, on my Father's side, also spoke French. It all got lost when it came to my generation. You have to understand that schools were not tolerant of any other language besides English. Students were penalized for not speaking English.

So I think your idea is great. English is not the ONLY language in the universe.

[Marzapan741]

:)
Yay!
I do understand that means we would have to spend even more time with our kids but were fine with that.
I want them to be tri-lingual because I dotn want an of us to throw away what we learned.
Its going to be so confusing for them though :-P
Bah!
Only...
10 or 7 more years till were married so we have a lot of time to figure out how were going to teach them Chinese, Jordanian and English xD

[N0help4u]

I have heard it is easier for babies to grow up learning two languages than for people that learn one and then try to learn more. Distinquishing them seems to come natural for them. I have known kids who were raised in two language homes and it came natural to them.

[Marzapan741]

Yea bi lingual is normal but its going ot be so confusing because I speak Jordanian and my boyfriend speaks Cantonese.

How were going to pull this off, I don't know but won't hurt in trying

[firmbeliever]

Don't worry too much about it,when the time comes things have a way of working out:)

[Marzapan741]

:)

[N0help4u]

Kids seem to have a natural way of distinguishing the different language.
You and your guy will have to speak all the languages throughout the day.
You will have to figure out how you are going to break it up to speak both or all three languages so that it seems normal and not like a teaching session.
Although a teaching session would also be good to set a time each day to do as well.

[Marzapan741]

That sounds like a good idea :)

I think Through this He will began to understand Jordanian and I will began to understand Cantonese.

[firmbeliever]

Why not enroll your kids in a class, maybe one month to learn basics of one language and another month for the other.

It will be exciting for the kids too.

We sound like you already have kids!:)