Bilingual Baby: An Update

A mouse saved her young from a ferocious cat by barking 'bow wow'. After the cat ran away, the mouse said to her offspring 'See, children, it pays to know a second language'

-After Efstatiadis

I wrote of my desire to raise Brixton bilingually in this post, written two months before he was born.  I wasn't really sure how it was going to go.  German isn't my first language and I speak it imperfectly, plus it's a lot easier to just say things in your own language (duh).  It was a slow start.  I had to retrain my tongue, my throat, my lips, my brain.  I had to start thinking in German.  I had to stop translating everything and just start talking.  

Within a few weeks, with my German dictionary in close range, I was speaking quite a bit of German to Brixton each day.  On good days, I would speak mostly in German to him.  Some days I wasn't motivated, but all it took was pointing out a few objects in German and I was off and running.  I wasn't willing to give up something that is so important to me just because I lacked the motivation.  

We have a small collection of German books, generous gifts from friends, and we read them each day.  I have German music, which plays in my car more than I'm willing to say.  I also started a German Playgroup in our area and we've met about 9 other moms with children that also speak German.  

Brixton is starting to respond to language, whether it's English or German.  I'll ask him in German where his elephants are and he'll start looking for them.  I ask him if he wants his bottle in German and he gets excited.  So something is happening, his brain has filled in the gaps in my own understanding to make it possible for him to comprehend. It's a magical process really, something beautiful to watch unfold.

Still, many days I wonder if I've done enough.  It's a daily struggle, a daily battle to slip over to my German-side and let the words flow.  I have to say though that the more I do it, the easier it is and more natural it feels.

Some tips from me to you:

• Make friends with other moms in your target language.  It's good for you and for your child to hear and speak the  language, plus other speakers might have different dialects or vocabulary that you wouldn't be able to introduce.  

• Just start talking!  The more you practice, the better you'll get and it won't feel odd to you to be speaking another language out and about. Even if you are just able to string a few words together, your child will learn them.  I taught an 18 month old to respond to me saying 'Where is your nose?' in German by pointing to her nose.  It took one day.  Kids learn fast.

• Don't know a word? Look it up!  In the early days I kept a list of words I couldn't remember or didn't know--for example, I never knew the word 'diaper' in German.  I use it now all the time, but if I hadn't taken the time out to look it up I'd still be using the English word for it.  Peppering in  English here and there is bound to happen, but I feel like it makes it more likely to trigger a 'switch' back to English.

• Get your hands on all the books/cds/dvds you can!  Incorporating a second language is a lot more fun for you and your child, when it's actually presented as fun!  Not only can you and your child learn new vocabulary from books, but the more you read the books out loud, the better your intonation and accent will become over time.  I also translate the simple English children's books (think 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see?') into German in my head and just recite it the same each time.

•  Get some practice yourself!  Read a book in the second language, write an email, listen to music.  Anything that immerses yourself in the language will trickle down to help your child as well.

Relax!  If you have a bad day (or string of days) where you don't speak the second language at all, realize that your baby will still be able to learn.  Even using the language for 30 minutes a day will help baby hear the sounds and intonations of the language.  

• Don't Give Up!  It's going to take a looong time.  You won't see instant results, but if you let it all simmer for a good year and a half or two..well, imagine that day when your child says their first word in the second language.  That was all you (so seriously, use that to negotiate for something..a new purse?  A spa day?  You are amazing, after all!)

Are you raising your baby bilingual?  If so, I'd love to hear from you and get any tips you might have!