Thread: Teaching my daughters English

My daughters have asked about learning English, so I decided to go ahead and teach them.

For my youngest (8) I have bought a book with a 1000 English words. Each page has a picture, and then surrounding it are little drawings with the name of each thing in the picture. I teach her to pronounce the words, and then we do a little game where I ask 'where is/are...' and then she has to say 'there is / are...' by making it a game, she finds it exciting and interesting, So far this method suits her well, and I regularly change the question to some other format 'do you see / yes I see' etc. For now it is all very simple.

My oldest thinks this is too childish, so for her I've bought books like the gruffalo, from which I read a page, I tell her what it means, and then she reads the same page. Personally I think my youngest's approach is more structured, but if my oldest enjoys this more, at least she will be more motivated to keep this up. I think it is great that they understand the importance of language.

They'll not start learning English until high school normally (French starts in 5th grade), but this way they'll be so far ahead of the curve for English language that at least that will be one class they can just cruise through without effort.

I am glad that I live in a part of the world that I just got back from a 5,001 mile vacation/road trip and only had to speak one language.

Our education system here sucks. The teachers union stifles learning in such a way that we have fallen behind in just about every subject. I think it is commendable that you are able to teach your daughters a second (or third) language, being able to spend that time with them as well is a bonus.

Now there are two reasons for me to visit Bruno--making razors and learning English!

Originally Posted by Utopian

Now there are two reasons for me to visit Bruno--making razors and learning English!

Being from Minne-soda English IS a second language if it is learned at all.

It is a never-ending source of embarrassment to me that, in England and the rest of Great Britain, foreign languages are well down on the list of school subjects. I think a lot of that has to do with the historical power of the USA after the second world war - music plays a hugely significant part in the spread of English as a global language - and, of course, use in navigation for airlines has set the standard.

Perhaps, we should consider just how long it will be before Spanglish predominates.

Come on!!! we speaks good hear....

Originally Posted by guitstik

Being from Minne-soda English IS a second language if it is learned at all.

Yah shur!!!

Kudos Bruno!

Learning a second language (or more) as about much more than being able to speak another language. It will introduce different concepts, cultures, and ways to see the world. It is of course very useful when travelling or looking for certain jobs, but more than that it will enrich their worlds. I wish more kids shared their interest, and I wish more parents were as supportive as you.

Originally Posted by guitstik

Our education system here sucks. The teachers union stifles learning in such a way that we have fallen behind in just about every subject. I think it is commendable that you are able to teach your daughters a second (or third) language, being able to spend that time with them as well is a bonus.

I'm just curious. How has the union stifled learning so as to cause the students to fall so far behind?