Hi, I was wondering if you in an intercultural marriage, beside English
does your children speak the native language of yours and your DH
language?
To 'you', it is important that your children know their mom and dad
native language? Or just English is enough (especially if live in the
U.S)?
Do you mind share what languages do your children speak?--It is your native language or your DH native language? Or both?
If your trilingual (speak more than one native languages), how do you come to decission of which one to teach them?
Sorry, boring questions I guess, but if anyone can help answer my questions above I really appreciate it. Thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------
I'm Chinese/Vietnamese married to a Sierra Leonean.. My husband his
homeland (Sierra Leone, West Africa) it a small country with 6 millions
population. Children there when go to school English is the main
language taught and spoken in school, they speak their native language
at home.
..........
My husband with his family he speaks his native Sierra Leoean language
(the language that his ethnic group/tribe speak). This is the language
he speaks with his mom, dad (deceased) and his older sister.
Yes, he knows English.
He bilingual, but I'm trilingual.. I'm fluent in speaking reading and
writing Chinese, (Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese dialect because
I'm native Shanghai born).
And Vietnamese (due to my mother side, my mom is Vietnamese).
English is my third language.
If you were me, beside English, what native language would you teach the baby?
English is the worldwide language, plus we live in the U.S so ofcourse English will be baby main language.
I guess the second language it be Mandarin?
-----------
A friend help gave me input she said that for the second language, chose
a language that both mom and dad spoke in common. The thing is and my
husband we don't have a common language (beside English).
I definately don't know his native Sierra Leoean language (the language that his ethnic group/tribe speak).
And he doesn't know (my languages) Mandarin, Cantonese, or Shanghainese
dialect. Or Vietnamese.. Well, he does know a bit of Mandarin and
Vietnamese from me lol, just a bit.
Seem
like the baby will be trilingual if learn mom Mandarin, and dad native
language.. To me it is very important that the baby know where their dad
come from their dad culture and heritage. I just hope 3 languages isn't
too much for a baby.