Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
May 3rd 2012, 9:34 am
#1
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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Alicante, Spain
Posts: 175
Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Those of you with kids, do you worry about your child's english reading/writing skills suffering since they now do everything in spanish?
In our house, spanish is taking over and english is dying out. I am the only person my daughter speaks to in english! She spends all day in school speaking spanish, then goes to the park with her spanish friends, and has an hour to speak english with me before bed. Even at the weekends we are with our spanish friends and speak only spanish. Her english reading and writing is really suffering, while her spanish reading and writing is at that of an 8yr old native's level (she's just turned 6).
At the start of her school year, her teacher told me to make sure she reads only in spanish and watches tv in spanish as she came here with absolutely no spanish. But now im finding that I have to do the opposite! Anyone else have experience in this?
In our house, spanish is taking over and english is dying out. I am the only person my daughter speaks to in english! She spends all day in school speaking spanish, then goes to the park with her spanish friends, and has an hour to speak english with me before bed. Even at the weekends we are with our spanish friends and speak only spanish. Her english reading and writing is really suffering, while her spanish reading and writing is at that of an 8yr old native's level (she's just turned 6).
At the start of her school year, her teacher told me to make sure she reads only in spanish and watches tv in spanish as she came here with absolutely no spanish. But now im finding that I have to do the opposite! Anyone else have experience in this?
May 3rd 2012, 9:49 am
#2
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Posts: 17
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Hi
We are hoping to relocate to Mallorca in July next year and have a daughter aged 6 and a son aged 10. They are both doing really well at school here in the UK so I share your worry that as they are young and likely to pick up the language really well, their English will suffer and it will undo all the good work done at school prior to relocating.
Do you plan to stay in Spain long term? If so, and your daughter is advanced in her learning there then that should be a good thing right? I understand your worry if you wish to return to the UK though. That is my fear, that we go, and then want to return. Do you see a future for them in Spain?
My friend who is French and lives in the UK here has the same problem. Everyone speaks to her kids in English so she always talks to her kids in French, even in front of me, which is off putting sometimes but I understand. I feel very proud of her kids for her, speaking both languages fluently. I really am pleased for you that your daughter is doing so well with her Spanish. If you plan to return to the UK I would get a one to one tutor to polish up her English grammar (if finances allow). Sometimes not that easy though eh.
Anyway, am new to this forum and just wanted to share your thread as a worried Mum also.
gleni
In our house, spanish is taking over and english is dying out. I am the only person my daughter speaks to in english! She spends all day in school speaking spanish, then goes to the park with her spanish friends, and has an hour to speak english with me before bed. Even at the weekends we are with our spanish friends and speak only spanish. Her english reading and writing is really suffering, while her spanish reading and writing is at that of an 8yr old native's level (she's just turned 6).
At the start of her school year, her teacher told me to make sure she reads only in spanish and watches tv in spanish as she came here with absolutely no spanish. But now im finding that I have to do the opposite! Anyone else have experience in this?[/QUOTE]
We are hoping to relocate to Mallorca in July next year and have a daughter aged 6 and a son aged 10. They are both doing really well at school here in the UK so I share your worry that as they are young and likely to pick up the language really well, their English will suffer and it will undo all the good work done at school prior to relocating.
Do you plan to stay in Spain long term? If so, and your daughter is advanced in her learning there then that should be a good thing right? I understand your worry if you wish to return to the UK though. That is my fear, that we go, and then want to return. Do you see a future for them in Spain?
My friend who is French and lives in the UK here has the same problem. Everyone speaks to her kids in English so she always talks to her kids in French, even in front of me, which is off putting sometimes but I understand. I feel very proud of her kids for her, speaking both languages fluently. I really am pleased for you that your daughter is doing so well with her Spanish. If you plan to return to the UK I would get a one to one tutor to polish up her English grammar (if finances allow). Sometimes not that easy though eh.
Anyway, am new to this forum and just wanted to share your thread as a worried Mum also.
gleni
In our house, spanish is taking over and english is dying out. I am the only person my daughter speaks to in english! She spends all day in school speaking spanish, then goes to the park with her spanish friends, and has an hour to speak english with me before bed. Even at the weekends we are with our spanish friends and speak only spanish. Her english reading and writing is really suffering, while her spanish reading and writing is at that of an 8yr old native's level (she's just turned 6).
At the start of her school year, her teacher told me to make sure she reads only in spanish and watches tv in spanish as she came here with absolutely no spanish. But now im finding that I have to do the opposite! Anyone else have experience in this?
[/QUOTE]
May 3rd 2012, 9:53 am
#3
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
I wouldnt worry too much
The most important thing is that your child reaches a high level of education. Its better that it will be in Spanish if you plan to stay in Spain. They "should" have a high interest in English given their links to England so they can catch up in that later on - if they want to.
You might want to plan some visits back to England during the summer holidays e.g. staying with family or going to summer camps. This is what we are planning to do in a few years time so our little boy gets to experience something of the UK and can practice his English. He is still very young though
The most important thing is that your child reaches a high level of education. Its better that it will be in Spanish if you plan to stay in Spain. They "should" have a high interest in English given their links to England so they can catch up in that later on - if they want to.
You might want to plan some visits back to England during the summer holidays e.g. staying with family or going to summer camps. This is what we are planning to do in a few years time so our little boy gets to experience something of the UK and can practice his English. He is still very young though
May 3rd 2012, 9:56 am
#4
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Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Alicante, Spain
Posts: 175
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
[QUOTE=gleni;10039099]Hi
We are hoping to relocate to Mallorca in July next year and have a daughter aged 6 and a son aged 10. They are both doing really well at school here in the UK so I share your worry that as they are young and likely to pick up the language really well, their English will suffer and it will undo all the good work done at school prior to relocating.
Do you plan to stay in Spain long term? If so, and your daughter is advanced in her learning there then that should be a good thing right? I understand your worry if you wish to return to the UK though. That is my fear, that we go, and then want to return. Do you see a future for them in Spain?
My friend who is French and lives in the UK here has the same problem. Everyone speaks to her kids in English so she always talks to her kids in French, even in front of me, which is off putting sometimes but I understand. I feel very proud of her kids for her, speaking both languages fluently. I really am pleased for you that your daughter is doing so well with her Spanish. If you plan to return to the UK I would get a one to one tutor to polish up her English grammar (if finances allow). Sometimes not that easy though eh.
Anyway, am new to this forum and just wanted to share your thread as a worried Mum also.
gleni
Hi Gleni,
yes we are planning to stay here long term. I don't think i would have put my daughter in a state school if i thought there was a possibility of us returning as if that happened, she would be completely lost returning to the Irish school curriculum (we are from Ireland). I plan for her to go to university here like all her friends will be.
She was 5 when we moved here and though it took time, she is now fully fluent. Im sure your 6yr old will not have a problem, though your 10yr old may find it tougher. I know that the cut off age for a foreigner to become as fluent as a native is around 5/6yrs old so luckily we moved right on time. Though i know many 7/8yr olds who picked it up just as easy.
I am glad that her spanish is very advanced, it's just important for me that her english doesnt suffer. I know a few people who have moved here at the same age as my daughter and now can barely write or read in english, but are naturals in spanish. Thats what i dont want!
But obviously if i had to choose which language she would excell in, it would be spanish since thats what her future will include.
Good luck with the move!
We are hoping to relocate to Mallorca in July next year and have a daughter aged 6 and a son aged 10. They are both doing really well at school here in the UK so I share your worry that as they are young and likely to pick up the language really well, their English will suffer and it will undo all the good work done at school prior to relocating.
Do you plan to stay in Spain long term? If so, and your daughter is advanced in her learning there then that should be a good thing right? I understand your worry if you wish to return to the UK though. That is my fear, that we go, and then want to return. Do you see a future for them in Spain?
My friend who is French and lives in the UK here has the same problem. Everyone speaks to her kids in English so she always talks to her kids in French, even in front of me, which is off putting sometimes but I understand. I feel very proud of her kids for her, speaking both languages fluently. I really am pleased for you that your daughter is doing so well with her Spanish. If you plan to return to the UK I would get a one to one tutor to polish up her English grammar (if finances allow). Sometimes not that easy though eh.
Anyway, am new to this forum and just wanted to share your thread as a worried Mum also.
gleni
Hi Gleni,
yes we are planning to stay here long term. I don't think i would have put my daughter in a state school if i thought there was a possibility of us returning as if that happened, she would be completely lost returning to the Irish school curriculum (we are from Ireland). I plan for her to go to university here like all her friends will be.
She was 5 when we moved here and though it took time, she is now fully fluent. Im sure your 6yr old will not have a problem, though your 10yr old may find it tougher. I know that the cut off age for a foreigner to become as fluent as a native is around 5/6yrs old so luckily we moved right on time. Though i know many 7/8yr olds who picked it up just as easy.
I am glad that her spanish is very advanced, it's just important for me that her english doesnt suffer. I know a few people who have moved here at the same age as my daughter and now can barely write or read in english, but are naturals in spanish. Thats what i dont want!
But obviously if i had to choose which language she would excell in, it would be spanish since thats what her future will include.
Good luck with the move!
May 3rd 2012, 9:57 am
#5
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Alicante, Spain
Posts: 175
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
I wouldnt worry too much
The most important thing is that your child reaches a high level of education. Its better that it will be in Spanish if you plan to stay in Spain. They "should" have a high interest in English given their links to England so they can catch up in that later on - if they want to.
You might want to plan some visits back to England during the summer holidays e.g. staying with family or going to summer camps. This is what we are planning to do in a few years time so our little boy gets to experience something of the UK and can practice his English. He is still very young though
The most important thing is that your child reaches a high level of education. Its better that it will be in Spanish if you plan to stay in Spain. They "should" have a high interest in English given their links to England so they can catch up in that later on - if they want to.
You might want to plan some visits back to England during the summer holidays e.g. staying with family or going to summer camps. This is what we are planning to do in a few years time so our little boy gets to experience something of the UK and can practice his English. He is still very young though
How old is your boy? And is he in a similar situation?
May 3rd 2012, 10:02 am
#6
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Those of you with kids, do you worry about your child's english reading/writing skills suffering since they now do everything in spanish?
In our house, spanish is taking over and english is dying out. I am the only person my daughter speaks to in english! She spends all day in school speaking spanish, then goes to the park with her spanish friends, and has an hour to speak english with me before bed. Even at the weekends we are with our spanish friends and speak only spanish. Her english reading and writing is really suffering, while her spanish reading and writing is at that of an 8yr old native's level (she's just turned 6).
At the start of her school year, her teacher told me to make sure she reads only in spanish and watches tv in spanish as she came here with absolutely no spanish. But now im finding that I have to do the opposite! Anyone else have experience in this?
In our house, spanish is taking over and english is dying out. I am the only person my daughter speaks to in english! She spends all day in school speaking spanish, then goes to the park with her spanish friends, and has an hour to speak english with me before bed. Even at the weekends we are with our spanish friends and speak only spanish. Her english reading and writing is really suffering, while her spanish reading and writing is at that of an 8yr old native's level (she's just turned 6).
At the start of her school year, her teacher told me to make sure she reads only in spanish and watches tv in spanish as she came here with absolutely no spanish. But now im finding that I have to do the opposite! Anyone else have experience in this?
for the first few years maybe you make sure eveything is in Spanish & eventually you realise that their English spelling at least is suffering - that's the time to maybe 'encourage'
her a bit more to read & write in English - although it doesn't always suffer - my 2 girls spell in english at least as well as their aussie cousins (although that might say more about education in OZ than about my dds' spelling )your child will never forget how to speak English as long as you continue to do so at home - but if you want her to be truly bi-lingual all you need to do is leave magazines & books in English & Spanish lying around & encourage her to read/watch TV/videos / use the internet in whatever language she fancies
May 3rd 2012, 10:08 am
#7
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Oh very young, only 7 months 
We are bilingual at home as my OH is Spanish and we speak both depending on the circumstances
Its very early but it seems like he is more atent to Spanish at the moment, and his first sounds all have the Spanish vowel sounds Papá, mamá, babá etc.
My parents are worried that he wont speak English very well as he grows up, but I think he'll be fine. I have nephews who are fluent in Spanish, Catalan and Swedish (the fathers language) at 4 years old and they haven't made any special provisions.
We are bilingual at home as my OH is Spanish and we speak both depending on the circumstances
Its very early but it seems like he is more atent to Spanish at the moment, and his first sounds all have the Spanish vowel sounds Papá, mamá, babá etc.
My parents are worried that he wont speak English very well as he grows up, but I think he'll be fine. I have nephews who are fluent in Spanish, Catalan and Swedish (the fathers language) at 4 years old and they haven't made any special provisions.
May 3rd 2012, 10:15 am
#8
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Location: Mallorca
Posts: 19,367
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
To be fluent in as many languages as possible is a huge advantage for any child. Particularly English, since it's spoken almost everywhere. Fluent Spanish will always be a positive.
We know people who speak 7 languages fluently. I wish I could do that!
We know people who speak 7 languages fluently. I wish I could do that!
May 3rd 2012, 10:17 am
#9
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Thread Starter
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Location: Alicante, Spain
Posts: 175
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
yep - that's the way it goes.....
for the first few years maybe you make sure eveything is in Spanish & eventually you realise that their English spelling at least is suffering - that's the time to maybe 'encourage' her a bit more to read & write in English - although it doesn't always suffer - my 2 girls spell in english at least as well as their aussie cousins (although that might say more about education in OZ than about my dds' spelling )
your child will never forget how to speak English as long as you continue to do so at home - but if you want her to be truly bi-lingual all you need to do is leave magazines & books in English & Spanish lying around & encourage her to read/watch TV/videos / use the internet in whatever language she fancies
for the first few years maybe you make sure eveything is in Spanish & eventually you realise that their English spelling at least is suffering - that's the time to maybe 'encourage'
her a bit more to read & write in English - although it doesn't always suffer - my 2 girls spell in english at least as well as their aussie cousins (although that might say more about education in OZ than about my dds' spelling )your child will never forget how to speak English as long as you continue to do so at home - but if you want her to be truly bi-lingual all you need to do is leave magazines & books in English & Spanish lying around & encourage her to read/watch TV/videos / use the internet in whatever language she fancies
Speaking english is not an issue as the child neevr shuts up 
Oh very young, only 7 months
We are bilingual at home as my OH is Spanish and we speak both depending on the circumstances
Its very early but it seems like he is more atent to Spanish at the moment, and his first sounds all have the Spanish vowel sounds Papá, mamá, babá etc.
My parents are worried that he wont speak English very well as he grows up, but I think he'll be fine. I have nephews who are fluent in Spanish, Catalan and Swedish (the fathers language) at 4 years old and they haven't made any special provisions.
We are bilingual at home as my OH is Spanish and we speak both depending on the circumstances
Its very early but it seems like he is more atent to Spanish at the moment, and his first sounds all have the Spanish vowel sounds Papá, mamá, babá etc.
My parents are worried that he wont speak English very well as he grows up, but I think he'll be fine. I have nephews who are fluent in Spanish, Catalan and Swedish (the fathers language) at 4 years old and they haven't made any special provisions.
You have a great advantage having a spanish OH! I'm sure your son will grow up speaking both perfectly. My friend is english, married to a spaniard...and their 3yr old speaks perfect in both languages with no effort! Though on saying that I have another friend, married to a spanish woman, and their children refuse to speak any english and only talk in spanish!
May 3rd 2012, 10:18 am
#10
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Location: Alicante, Spain
Posts: 175
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
And here I am struggling with 2!!!
May 3rd 2012, 10:25 am
#11
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Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Thanks Pixieve,Cricketman, Lynxxa!
It really does seem from what you say that its a matter of going with the flow and encouraging the use of English language when appropriate. Good idea re their fave mags etc.
By the sounds of things a state school would suit my 6/7 year old girl.
However, I have been advised that as my son will be 11 yrs when we make the move, he should go to an International school. My gut feeling though is he should go to a state school aswell as my daughter to learn Catalan quicker (he will be learning here for a year prior to relocating so will only really have the basics). It will be his year 7 (when the kids here start senior school).
Any recommendations out there for Mallorca? I would really rather he had some English speaking friends at school if he went to a state school. I am worried to hear that alot of the English kids are bullied. Any recommendations of schools would be really appreciated as I need to get on and register. I am off there twice in July to have a reckie. I can check them out then.
gleni
It really does seem from what you say that its a matter of going with the flow and encouraging the use of English language when appropriate. Good idea re their fave mags etc.
By the sounds of things a state school would suit my 6/7 year old girl.
However, I have been advised that as my son will be 11 yrs when we make the move, he should go to an International school. My gut feeling though is he should go to a state school aswell as my daughter to learn Catalan quicker (he will be learning here for a year prior to relocating so will only really have the basics). It will be his year 7 (when the kids here start senior school).
Any recommendations out there for Mallorca? I would really rather he had some English speaking friends at school if he went to a state school. I am worried to hear that alot of the English kids are bullied. Any recommendations of schools would be really appreciated as I need to get on and register. I am off there twice in July to have a reckie. I can check them out then.
gleni
May 3rd 2012, 10:34 am
#12
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Thanks Pixieve,Cricketman, Lynxxa!
It really does seem from what you say that its a matter of going with the flow and encouraging the use of English language when appropriate. Good idea re their fave mags etc.
By the sounds of things a state school would suit my 6/7 year old girl.
However, I have been advised that as my son will be 11 yrs when we make the move, he should go to an International school. My gut feeling though is he should go to a state school aswell as my daughter to learn Catalan quicker (he will be learning here for a year prior to relocating so will only really have the basics). It will be his year 7 (when the kids here start senior school).
Any recommendations out there for Mallorca? I would really rather he had some English speaking friends at school if he went to a state school. I am worried to hear that alot of the English kids are bullied. Any recommendations of schools would be really appreciated as I need to get on and register. I am off there twice in July to have a reckie. I can check them out then.
gleni
It really does seem from what you say that its a matter of going with the flow and encouraging the use of English language when appropriate. Good idea re their fave mags etc.
By the sounds of things a state school would suit my 6/7 year old girl.
However, I have been advised that as my son will be 11 yrs when we make the move, he should go to an International school. My gut feeling though is he should go to a state school aswell as my daughter to learn Catalan quicker (he will be learning here for a year prior to relocating so will only really have the basics). It will be his year 7 (when the kids here start senior school).
Any recommendations out there for Mallorca? I would really rather he had some English speaking friends at school if he went to a state school. I am worried to hear that alot of the English kids are bullied. Any recommendations of schools would be really appreciated as I need to get on and register. I am off there twice in July to have a reckie. I can check them out then.
gleni
May 5th 2012, 6:27 pm
#13
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Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Its common for children to pick up the native language faster than the adults. From my own experience some of the boys and girls from the Philippines who came to the UK and nursed improved their English skills but...their children who went to local Schools picked up English (and Welsh) very quickly and English became the primary home language as the children became truly fluent.
May 6th 2012, 3:33 pm
#14
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
Its common for children to pick up the native language faster than the adults. From my own experience some of the boys and girls from the Philippines who came to the UK and nursed improved their English skills but...their children who went to local Schools picked up English (and Welsh) very quickly and English became the primary home language as the children became truly fluent.
That is the challenge faced by British children in the expat areas. Their parents, the TV, the radio, even the bars and shops they may go to speak English, so the only chance they get to speak and hear Spanish is at school
Obviously this depends on the choices the parents (and later the children) make. It is entirely possible to hardly ever hear a word of English in the same areas
May 6th 2012, 3:58 pm
#15
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Joined: Jun 2004
Location: my paradise - Jávea
Posts: 13,330
Re: Spanish language taking over, English language dying out???
well the Spanish language has taken over in our house this evening
dd2 has a test tomorrow - she has to name all the 19 tenses (including imperativo) & know all 6 conjugations of each
she can actually recite & use them all, simply becuase she uses them all the time - it's naming them she (& her classmates) have trouble with
but that's how she'll be tested - the teacher will say something like 'subjuntivo pretérito pluscuamperfecto' & they're expected to recite it
dd2 has a test tomorrow - she has to name all the 19 tenses (including imperativo) & know all 6 conjugations of each
she can actually recite & use them all, simply becuase she uses them all the time - it's naming them she (& her classmates) have trouble with
but that's how she'll be tested - the teacher will say something like 'subjuntivo pretérito pluscuamperfecto' & they're expected to recite it