Story time with my babies
Raising bilingual children has been a struggle: one I didn’t expect. I thought that just because I’m a native English speaker, my kids would naturally and effortlessly pick up the language, no matter what country we live in, and no matter what language surrounds us.
I always thought English would be their first language. I thought their accents would sound like mine. I thought it would be effortless. I was wrong.
I always thought English would be their first language. I thought their accents would sound like mine. I thought it would be effortless. I was wrong.
My kids are 4, almost 3, and 1 (all born here in Croatia, where we currently live). The older two speak Croatian fluently, but their English is still a work in progress. My youngest just turned one, so I’m not sure what language she’s babbling in, but time will tell :)
I feel an incredible amount of pressure to get them all speaking English natively while they’re still young enough, and their brains are still able to work that incredible magic.
I know that English is there, bubbling in their brains. They follow every story I read to them, they follow multiple-step verbal directions, they can spout out the English equivalent to just about any Croatian word.
They understand everything I ask them in English. But their replies? Always in Croatian. ALWAYS.
I feel an incredible amount of pressure to get them all speaking English natively while they’re still young enough, and their brains are still able to work that incredible magic.
I know that English is there, bubbling in their brains. They follow every story I read to them, they follow multiple-step verbal directions, they can spout out the English equivalent to just about any Croatian word.
They understand everything I ask them in English. But their replies? Always in Croatian. ALWAYS.
Little Croatian fans
It makes sense, though. They go to a Croatian preschool/kindergarten, their friends speak Croatian, the kids at the park speak Croatian, the people at our grocery store speak Croatian. They are (obviously) surrounded by a Croatian environment as soon as they walk out the front door every day.
But, “What language do your kids speak?” is still a question I get asked quite often. The answer is: they don’t speak English (yet), and I feel a lot of pressure and guilt because it. Let me explain...
We’re using the “one parent, one language” approach, meaning each parent only speaks their own native language to the kids.
This way, our children hear each language as it’s meant to be spoken, and they will associate each language with the corresponding parent, and then will speak to that parent in their native language.
Easy, right? Wrong. IT’S HARD. It’s not working for our family. And I’m about to throw this approach out the window. Here’s why...
Ivan speaks Croatian to kids, the kids speak Croatian back to him, and they also speak Croatian to each other when they play, since it’s their dominant language.
Then I switch to Croatian because when that’s all I hear, my language transitions without even noticing, and before I know it, we’re all speaking Croatian. And then I feel guilty because I’ve just robbed them of a few more minutes of hearing English at home.
I’m their only consistent source of English at this point in their lives.
And that leaves me feeling the pressure. It’s up to me for them to become native English speakers. It’s up to me to make sure they’re going to have a “natural” accent. It’s up to me to make sure I read them enough stories, talk to them about a thousand different subjects and expose them to as much English vocabulary as possible at this young age.
It’s overwhelming.
Since the rest of the world around them is in Croatian, it’s not abnormal that it’s become their dominant (and currently only spoken) language. But I think we might be on the brink of making our home an “English Zone” and abandoning the one parent, one language system (at least for now).
This way, we can be consistent in conversations, really give them more exposure to the language at home, and encourage them to reply in English since we’ll all be speaking it.
Also, Ivan and I tend to speak a weird mix of Croatian and English to each other at home, and our conversations float between the languages in an oddly natural way. It’s probably not helping the situation when our kids are around and listening in.
Any other bilingual homes do the same?
But, “What language do your kids speak?” is still a question I get asked quite often. The answer is: they don’t speak English (yet), and I feel a lot of pressure and guilt because it. Let me explain...
We’re using the “one parent, one language” approach, meaning each parent only speaks their own native language to the kids.
This way, our children hear each language as it’s meant to be spoken, and they will associate each language with the corresponding parent, and then will speak to that parent in their native language.
Easy, right? Wrong. IT’S HARD. It’s not working for our family. And I’m about to throw this approach out the window. Here’s why...
Ivan speaks Croatian to kids, the kids speak Croatian back to him, and they also speak Croatian to each other when they play, since it’s their dominant language.
Then I switch to Croatian because when that’s all I hear, my language transitions without even noticing, and before I know it, we’re all speaking Croatian. And then I feel guilty because I’ve just robbed them of a few more minutes of hearing English at home.
I’m their only consistent source of English at this point in their lives.
And that leaves me feeling the pressure. It’s up to me for them to become native English speakers. It’s up to me to make sure they’re going to have a “natural” accent. It’s up to me to make sure I read them enough stories, talk to them about a thousand different subjects and expose them to as much English vocabulary as possible at this young age.
It’s overwhelming.
Since the rest of the world around them is in Croatian, it’s not abnormal that it’s become their dominant (and currently only spoken) language. But I think we might be on the brink of making our home an “English Zone” and abandoning the one parent, one language system (at least for now).
This way, we can be consistent in conversations, really give them more exposure to the language at home, and encourage them to reply in English since we’ll all be speaking it.
Also, Ivan and I tend to speak a weird mix of Croatian and English to each other at home, and our conversations float between the languages in an oddly natural way. It’s probably not helping the situation when our kids are around and listening in.
Any other bilingual homes do the same?
Croatian - English Dictionary
One of my biggest motivations for them to learn English as soon as possible stems from guilt.
I feel guilty that my kids can’t (yet) have conversations with my family in Canada and the States. My background is not Croatian, so no one else on my side of the family can speak or even understand what my precious babies are telling them.
Our video calls consist of me translating what they say, and then they add a few words or an occasional sentence in English here and there. It works, but it’s not ideal.
Language learning is always a work in progress, no matter how old you are, and no matter what language you’re learning. I know my babies will get there, but it definitely doesn’t happen by osmosis (which I naively thought would be the case).
Their Croatian is skyrocketing on the daily and I’m seriously SO PROUD of them for how much they’ve developed their skills so far (in both languages). They’re amazing, and I’m fascinated by them.
They’re doing superbly well in every aspect of Croatian, and they fully understand English. It’s incredible what their young brains are capable of.
It’s still a bit strange, though, that their first language isn’t my first language. I know this ultimately doesn’t matter, but it’s just something I didn’t expect.
I also don’t want to get so wrapped up in them learning English, that I don’t enjoy the most precious moments of their bilingual beginnings. Some examples:
I’m trying to soak up this sweetness because when they do master English, they’ll naturally stop doing much of the above.
Our kids have a huge advantage by growing up in a bilingual home. They’ll eventually master both languages and have two mother-tongues, but having the English-learning load all on my back, feels a bit heavy.
There isn’t anything easy or instant about it. Language learning takes time, dedication and patience (and it’s a never ending process). For now, they’re native English listeners, and native Croatian speakers. But we’ll get there.
Anyone else currently raising (or have already raised) bilinguals and feel the same? Would love to hear your experiences!
- Sarah
If you’re interested in reading a few of our other posts about Croatia:
I feel guilty that my kids can’t (yet) have conversations with my family in Canada and the States. My background is not Croatian, so no one else on my side of the family can speak or even understand what my precious babies are telling them.
Our video calls consist of me translating what they say, and then they add a few words or an occasional sentence in English here and there. It works, but it’s not ideal.
Language learning is always a work in progress, no matter how old you are, and no matter what language you’re learning. I know my babies will get there, but it definitely doesn’t happen by osmosis (which I naively thought would be the case).
Their Croatian is skyrocketing on the daily and I’m seriously SO PROUD of them for how much they’ve developed their skills so far (in both languages). They’re amazing, and I’m fascinated by them.
They’re doing superbly well in every aspect of Croatian, and they fully understand English. It’s incredible what their young brains are capable of.
It’s still a bit strange, though, that their first language isn’t my first language. I know this ultimately doesn’t matter, but it’s just something I didn’t expect.
I also don’t want to get so wrapped up in them learning English, that I don’t enjoy the most precious moments of their bilingual beginnings. Some examples:
- When I ask them to repeat something I simply didn’t hear, they think I didn’t understand their Croatian, so they try to find the English word for it to “help” me understand
- My 4 year old rolls her r sound when pronouncing random English words
- Did you know animal sounds are different in every language? My 4 year old’s first word was “vau-vau” which is equivalent to a dog’s bark, “woof woof!” They do every animal sound in both languages
- They mix a word or two of English into their otherwise perfect Croatian sentences
- When they really want something, they’ll try to string together an English sentence to ask for it, in order to charm me into giving it to them - I absolutely take advantage of these situations to encourage them to speak English
I’m trying to soak up this sweetness because when they do master English, they’ll naturally stop doing much of the above.
Our kids have a huge advantage by growing up in a bilingual home. They’ll eventually master both languages and have two mother-tongues, but having the English-learning load all on my back, feels a bit heavy.
There isn’t anything easy or instant about it. Language learning takes time, dedication and patience (and it’s a never ending process). For now, they’re native English listeners, and native Croatian speakers. But we’ll get there.
Anyone else currently raising (or have already raised) bilinguals and feel the same? Would love to hear your experiences!
- Sarah
If you’re interested in reading a few of our other posts about Croatia:
- Croatia’s Best 20 Beaches: Sandy, Pebbly & Hidden Gems
- Croatian Culture, Etiquette & Social Norms: A Complete Guide!
- Is Croatia Safe? Read Our 20 Useful Safety Tips for Tourists
- 5 Reasons Croatian Grannies are Cuter than Kittens
- 8 Reasons You Should Never Swim in the Adriatic
-
Top 10 Day Trips From Zagreb, Within 1hr Drive
Croatian Money: KN or EURO, Exchanging $, and Daily Costs - How I Learned to Speak Croatian as an Adult (in 7 Steps)
- Driving in Croatia (A Helpful Guide With Practical Tips)
- 38 Local Tips & Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Croatia
- Travel to Croatia With a Toddler or Baby (From Experience!)
- Tipping in Croatia: A Complete Guide With Suggested Amounts!
