Before I started pursuing the FS, I assumed that FS children are of course multilingual, since they live abroad for most of their lives. Then I started learning more, and now I'm wondering.
I learned that most families send their children to English speaking schools, since their schooling would be seriously disrupted if they attended a school in a new local language every 2 years. So I would assume most of the children's friends are also English speakers. And if you are living in a country for 2 years, speaking English at school and home, this doesn't allow a lot of time/opportunity to become fluent in the local language. I have also learned that it can be difficult in some countries for State dept children to attend school with the local elite's children, as they are often quite wealthy and elitist and may not be friendly to my children.
That's about all I know. If anyone is reading this, I'd love to hear more about your children and language acquisition.
It's really important to me that my children speak at least one other language, and hopefully more. I've done a lot of research on raising multilingual kids, and I know that I will have to be aggressive in finding opportunities for them to learn. Hopefully, if we serve in multiple Spanish speaking countries, that will allow for more time to learn the language. We are also interested in learning Arabic which opens us up to many different postings in the Middle East (of course, I must add my disclaimer: we will go where State sends us!). But I want my children to be truly fluent- in reading, writing, etc. Not just able to carry on a conversation. Any thoughts? How has it worked for your kids? thank you!
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I have had different experiences. The first, when I was 17 my family moved to Moscow, Russia. We went to the American School there, and all of my friends spoke English. I did learn Russian, however, and used it everyday. I never learned it fluently.
Second, I lived in Germany with my parents for a few months when my husband was in training, and my sisters went to a German public school, English was the primary language, but they had more exposure to German. They were able to get by, again, not fluent.
It depends on where you assigned. Many countries you can attend local schools with no problems, some it is a different story. Security can be an issue in some countries.
It all depends on what you want out of the experience and what is best for your family.
This probably didn't help much, every post is unique, with different advantages and limitations. Especially when it comes to kids and education.
Our kids are young and go to a local pre-school - they are learning tons of Spanish and every single day I am amazed at how much they are soaking up. However, I have an FS friend who has four children - the three oldest go to an English-language school. She is disappointed that they are not learning Spanish (although she speaks Spanish) - she is planning on sending them to another school next year. I think so much depends on the posting, the language, kids' ages and the educational situation. I speak fluent Spanish so I can reinforce that in my children. If we were in Thailand, for example, it would be another story. At the same time, I think it's fair to say that FS kids who spend their whole lives living in foreign countries will almost certainly be at least bilingual by the time they go to college. Our neighbor girls (again FS) are teenagers and speak great Spanish - they have had tons of Spanish speaking posts, but always gone to Eng. lang. schools. As always with this life...just boils down to the famous words "it depends." : )
Just found your blog! We're in a race to the register (although I'm pretty sure you'll beat me to it)!
We lived in Iceland for 3 years while my husband was the RSO. Our younger daughter went to a leikskola (Icelandic preschool) as that was the only option. We were not sure what to expect, as Icelandic is extremely difficult by anyone's standards.
She became fluent within 8 months (grammar is very tricky, each word has 20 plus endings), which seemed about standard, since we were not speaking much at home (as much as we could, but, again, a tough language). Unfortunately, she lost a lot when she transferred to kindergarten at the International School. Now, she really doesn't have any at all, but supposedly just the experience helps with future language acquisition.
Our older daughter attended the international school the entire time. She took Icelandic, but primary lessons were in English. While we certainly want her to acquire other languages, I guess we felt even if she did not become fluent, the overseas experience would still have much influence.
I wish my older one had learned more, and that the younger one retained more. However, there's always the next post...
Congratulations, by the way!
thanks for the comments, everyone!
Honestly, I am starting to love the "it depends" answer. I like an unpredictable life. I guess it will be up to me to make language fluency a priority...I can do that, I already am and it will be a lot easier abroad!
Hey, Thanks for the comments on my blog. I just found yours. I'll follow along. Best of luck.
It seems that most kids learn a smattering of each language from each country, things like "please" "thank" "you where is the bathroom" "how much does that cost? You know the important stuff. You We are on our 2nd tour (Jakarta and now Frankfurt) and only the oldest of my boys speaks any Indonesian and then only "taxi" and "bargaining", the youngest used to baby talk in Indonesian and English but he has lost pretty much all of it. Now all four boys take German at school, but none of them are fluent and of course we are getting ready to move again to a new country where German isn't spoken. My husband and i would very much like the boys to learn a foreign language but which one and how to ensure continuity? Perhaps we need to learn a language as a whole family.
I don't have much to say that is different from what is said above. Our boys go to an English speaking school but they get one hour a day of Spanish class. My oldest is a little frustrated with it and has no desire to learn it, but my youngest loves it. He tries to use it wherever we go. I'm sure they both will lose it once we move to a non-spanish speaking post, but I like to think that when it comes time for them to learn it again, it will be quite easier on them...even if it isnt' until High School. I don't feel they will lose it 100% since they are learning it so young. Just my thoughts on it!
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