(cross-posted in multi-cultural families)
We use the OPOL method at home. We speak an additional language between us parents, so that language is learned passively by our children, too (to some extent).
The environment language is my dh's language, mine the 'minority' language, BUT equally important :-)
Ds1 (5,5) is absolutely bilingual and now has two main tongues. I wish to keep a both languages on an equal balance where possible, also when environment language will more and more start to be dominant.
At the moment his level of mother tongue may be slightly better than father tongue because am a sahm and read them lots of books.
Next year ds will start primary school and learn how to read/write in the local language, in European alphabet which is slightly different than the basic European alphabet (has some extra letters and lacks some other).
He now goes to local language (father-tongue and environment language) Kindergarten where they do some primarily reading/writing preparation, mainly just letters as far as know. And they add some (very basic) English teaching (I assume alphabet and words, mostly auditory, though these lessons are not a big deal).
He also goes to Kindergarten in his other mother-tongue language 3h/week, there they kids familiarised with basic letter recognition/writing too at the moment, they may continue with a little more advanced lessons in January. He enjoys this school environment the most.
I have been dealing with reading, to and with my children, we have a lot of (children's) books, have done letter recognition and some word copying (not by writing, by letter blocks/tags) together, and mom and dad are readers (not always books but they see us read on a daily basis).
I am wondering what other parents do regarding (starting) teaching their children the basics of reading/writing a language, when it's their mother tongue they are passing on in an other-language environment. If you have the time for it and are willing to work on this, and of course if your children enjoy this too, or otherwise worded: in a way children enjoy the teaching and see it as play and connection rather than as 'obligatory' and/or 'boring' lessons.
Do you start teaching reading/writing basics in your own language BEFORE they learn basics at school in the other language? Simultaneously? After they got familiar with reading n the other language at school?
What are your experiences?
My personal idea is that my child will probably be best taught right now with me at home in a playful way before the 'obligatory' part of primary school starts next year, to be really able to give him the basics of his mother's tongue.
I fear next year it also may be 'too much to handle' or learning simultaneously may mix up some things in both language learning (eg the slightly different alphabet) ?
We use the OPOL method at home. We speak an additional language between us parents, so that language is learned passively by our children, too (to some extent).
The environment language is my dh's language, mine the 'minority' language, BUT equally important :-)
Ds1 (5,5) is absolutely bilingual and now has two main tongues. I wish to keep a both languages on an equal balance where possible, also when environment language will more and more start to be dominant.
At the moment his level of mother tongue may be slightly better than father tongue because am a sahm and read them lots of books.
Next year ds will start primary school and learn how to read/write in the local language, in European alphabet which is slightly different than the basic European alphabet (has some extra letters and lacks some other).
He now goes to local language (father-tongue and environment language) Kindergarten where they do some primarily reading/writing preparation, mainly just letters as far as know. And they add some (very basic) English teaching (I assume alphabet and words, mostly auditory, though these lessons are not a big deal).
He also goes to Kindergarten in his other mother-tongue language 3h/week, there they kids familiarised with basic letter recognition/writing too at the moment, they may continue with a little more advanced lessons in January. He enjoys this school environment the most.
I have been dealing with reading, to and with my children, we have a lot of (children's) books, have done letter recognition and some word copying (not by writing, by letter blocks/tags) together, and mom and dad are readers (not always books but they see us read on a daily basis).
I am wondering what other parents do regarding (starting) teaching their children the basics of reading/writing a language, when it's their mother tongue they are passing on in an other-language environment. If you have the time for it and are willing to work on this, and of course if your children enjoy this too, or otherwise worded: in a way children enjoy the teaching and see it as play and connection rather than as 'obligatory' and/or 'boring' lessons.
Do you start teaching reading/writing basics in your own language BEFORE they learn basics at school in the other language? Simultaneously? After they got familiar with reading n the other language at school?
What are your experiences?
My personal idea is that my child will probably be best taught right now with me at home in a playful way before the 'obligatory' part of primary school starts next year, to be really able to give him the basics of his mother's tongue.
I fear next year it also may be 'too much to handle' or learning simultaneously may mix up some things in both language learning (eg the slightly different alphabet) ?
