Teaching a second language to a two-year-old
Frank and I broke into laughter at Xavier’s tone of indignation. It happened many weeks ago, a Monday, which is English immersion day for Xavier at home. His daddy had just come home from work and he greeted Xav in this second language, to get into the game.
[I inverted the languages below for the English version of this post.]
F – Allô, Xavier, ça va bien?
X – No, daddy. “Hello, how are you?” Like that!
That day – it was the second or third immersion we were doing, I think – Xavier displayed a passing revolt toward this perversion of his routine communications. His mommy was not using the same sentences as usual and, the horror!, even went so far as to change the words to his favourite stories. Fortunately, this passed quickly, and he is starting to enjoy this new language game.
From the first experience, I discovered that my two years old boy could easily understand me, even if I was speaking a foreign language. Communication, at this age, is mostly composed to directives and simple sentences. By using demonstrative gesture and appropriate tone (joy, disappointment, pride, etc.) in familiar situations (favourite games, meal time, etc.), I can get my meaning across to Xavier without too much problem.
That is how I started: I spoke in English to Xavier, and he answered me in French. Lately, however, I have had a lot of success by going through his first linguistic knowledge, but in the second language : we have fun naming face and body parts, as well as zoo and farm animals from his Little People collection. It is funny, because Orléane, who will soon be a year old, is beginning these same learnings at the same time (face and animal sounds), but in French, for starting. Xavier, for his part, is answering the same questions in English, and he is that much prouder to point out her “nose” to his little sister!
I have to admit, however, that it is a little frustrating at the beginning – as much for the parent as for the child. It feels like a step back, communication wise: we have to go back to basics and start anew, in this new language. We are used to communicating faster and get into more and more complex notions with our little man. The temptation is great to jump to the familiar language to explain a situation or a complex thing at the moment it presents itself, and I sometimes do. I also use the mother tongue for urgent directives that must be understood immediately – “Careful of your sister!!” – or to remonstrate, if need be.
Overall, I anticipate success in the long term. We encourage Xavier, but we do not push him – best he sees it as a game. What’s more, since Xavier naps in the afternoon, and I let go of the English afterward, our immersion day is more of a half-day.
By combining these immersions, English television and, in a few years, appropriate literature, Xavier and Orléane should have a solid bilingual foundation. This is important knowledge that Frank and I value a lot.
Dernière charge! / Last charge!
Xavier à la barre / Xavier at the helm
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Orléane is now... 
Xavier is now...