Re: Teaching 2 Languages

[S Gaissert]

My brother-in-law married a woman from Colombia. They have two children,
ages 2 and 4. What's worked for them is having the husband primarily
speak English to the children, while the wife primarily speaks Spanish.
They also have both English- and Spanish-speaking friends. The kids seem
very comfortable with both languages. They use English with people like
me, who only know English, but easily switch to Spanish when asked or
when speaking to a Spanish-speaking friend.

Susan G.

[Chris]

I have no bilingual experience but I've been told by at least two bilingual friends that it is difficult to relate to someone in their non-native or intuitive language.  I once asked my friend whose parents spoke primarily Italian why she didn't speak Italian to her own children and she told me that she thinks and feels in English so it is difficult to relate intimately with her children using Italian.  

When my first child was born, I asked my bilingual SIL to speak only Spanish to him in hopes that he might pick it up more easily and naturally.  She was on board with the idea but couldn't follow through because English was her first language and her thoughts and emotions were in that language. It was more important to foster a close bond and relationship than model a second language.  I would imagine though, that if one parent speaks one language natively and the other parent speaks another language that they could speak to their children in their native tongues and the kids would grow up understanding both and choosing whichever language which with they feel most comfortable in different situations.

My 17 yo unschooled son has decided that he wants to learn Spanish now, as he's quite linguistically inclined and he's considering future college requirements.  So, I dug out our old Rosetta Stone from our more curriculum driven homeschooling days (six years old) and crossed my fingers that it would work on my much newer operating system.  It does!  I plan to learn alongside him with the slight advantage of two years of high school Spanish -- 26 years ago!

Chris

Radically Unschooling in Iowa

The Unzone

[Tracy]

I'm wondering in anyone has experience unschooling with a child with
autism. If so, I'd love to chat off list.
I recently took a job at a public school (probably a big mistake) and
am working with a delightful autistic child. I've been told things
like 'this child well to punishment'... I have very little
experience with autism, and would like to talk with someone outside
of the 'mainstream educational think' one encounters at school.

Thanks.
Tracy

[k]

A child in school can't really be unschooled and I'm sure you know that.  However for some people who might shed a little light on educational choices that are about unschooling and deal with other learning styles and abilities, try ShineWithUnschooling.  You can search their archives for unschooling thought about autism etc.

~Katherine

[Nicole Willoughby]

Well I currently unschool a child with aspbergers who is going to school next year because she is sick of getting drug to all her brothers appts. I also have a son who is severly autistic.

 

I dont totaly fit the profile but do tend to think outside the box soooo feel free to e-mail me.

 

Nicole

---

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Paige Parr]

*********************************************************************************************************

Tracy,

Feel free to email me off-list.  I have four daughters, and my youngest two are on the Autism spectrum.  They've both spent a little time in public schools. My youngest daughter, Loryn (6 in *9 Days*) is fairly non-verbal, but back in February we pulled her from a school program when she cried before school and said, "No school.  Sick.  Scary".

Sheesh.  I NEVER want to hear that from my daughter's mouth again.  We pulled her the next day, and she's a changed girl since being home. 

In my experience, parents of Autie kids often succumb to pressure from others.  We did, and we (mostly Loryn)  paid dearly for it.  Never again.  Our girls are happy, healthy, and *whole* here at home, learning in their own time, in their own way.

Paige, in Virginia

--
Check out my NEW blog, in which I write about unschooling, and how it has enriched all the relationships within our family.

http://www.xanga.com/autodidactsanonymous

An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life. ~Author Unknown