Our language journey continued and, as those of you who have been reading my blog or book would know, it ultimately took us to France. Not to holiday, but to live. Undoubtedly, there was no better way to reinforce the learning and give it some sense. Of course, there were other reasons, yet, again, I cannot tell you exactly the detail or timing of our very first 'let's go and live in France' discussion.
The practicalities of getting there were not easy and not quick, so in the meantime we kept doing what we had started. For those of you who are doing the same thing, or interested in trying - here is another snippet of our (one-sided) early conversations.
On se lave? Bathtime ?
- Qui sait qui va prendre son bain. Le bain est prêt. Viens mon coeur. D’abord on se déshabille.
- On enlève le pull, le pantalon, les chaussettes, le t-shirt et la couche et voilà, tu es tout(e) nu(e), tout(e) nu(e), tout(e) nu(e).
- Tu as les mains toutes sales. Un bon bain va te faire du bien.
- Regarde, maman a mis tous les jouets. On va bien s’amuser. D’abord je te lave. Ne bouge pas comme ça, tu vas glisser.
- Attends, maman regarde si l’eau n’est pas trop chaude. Oh si! C’est trop chaud. Attends je vais mettre de l’eau froide. Voilà. C’est bon. Je vais te mettre dans l’eau et d’abord on va se laver.
- Alors, où ai-je mis le savon? Et le gant de toilette?
- Où sont tes jouets? Tu me montres la balle jaune? Le petit canard? Tu remplis les petits réservoirs? On fait des bulles? Tu veux que je t’arrose avec le petit canard?
- Allez, on tape dans l’eau. Maman va t’arroser. Et doucement. Tu vas en mettre partout. Petit(e) coquin(e), tu as arrosé maman. Je suis toute mouillée.
- Regarde maman va faire des bulles. Tu les attrapes.
- Allez, je vais te laver les cheveux. Un peu de produit/shampooing. On rince, on rince et voilà. Ca ne te fait pas mal aux yeux.
- Tu es tout(e) propre. Allez, l’eau est froide. On va sortir maintenant.
- Regarde je vais t’enrouler dans cette bonne serviette bien chaude afin que tu ne prennes pas froid. On fait un petit câlin avant de se mettre en pyjama.
- Je retire le bouchon. Tu vas voir. L’eau va s’en aller et ... elle est partie. Plus d’eau.
- Allez, on va dans ta chambre mettre une couche, un pyjama et te sécher les cheveux.
- Où est-il, le petit séchoir à cheveux?
Jumping back to the present ...
I admit to not reading to him in French still every night, but when we get the chance, we zig-zag from Le Club des Cinq, through to Les grandes questions des tout-petits, passing by Le journal d'un dégonflé on the way. Always, at Christmas, we count down with our 24 histoires pour attendre Noël.
I don't sing 'Fais dodo' to him at night anymore either, but he knows his (adapted) nighttime song and it is recalled often enough in conversation for me to know that it is special.
If you would like any of the other chapters of language hints to use with your baby (mealtime, dressing etc.) then please don't hesitate to contact me.
I think that once he plays with other kids, his French will take off. I speak to our kid only in English. Husband, a native French speaker, speaks only in French. At first our kid was better in English, result of spending all day with me. But from age 3 on, French dominated. Our kid, now an adolescent, is fluent in English, but doesn't enjoy reading or writing it, compared with French.
ReplyDeleteMy father was born in the U.S., but his parents, and everybody in the neighborhood of immigrants, didn't speak English. He had to repeat first grade, because he didn't speak English, but quickly learned, with a native accent. Kids are incredible sponges.
Yes, in the early days being with other French-speaking children (at his pre-school and playgroup) did help, but, as we lived in Australia until he was six, his skills in comprehension outpaced his skills in language production. When we arrived in France, his ability and his preparedness to speak French caught up. With me; however, he maintained the pattern that we had fallen into in Australia (me speaking to him in French and him answering in English). My husband and I were using a one parent, one language approach. I just wasn't insisting that my son do the same. Now, at 12, and once again back in Australia, he is completely comfortable in both languages, with the occasional slip-ups, as mentioned in the blog. Actually, I love it all - even the slip-ups, as they are little glimpses into the way that his brain is processing both languages. Thanks for your comment.
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