tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290565396038752538.post5184077455143826245..comments2023-11-30T21:23:29.371-08:00Comments on Twintensity: TWINtensity....starting schoolTwintensityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10913449903223318760noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290565396038752538.post-10738741877594458722011-01-25T17:45:55.061-08:002011-01-25T17:45:55.061-08:00Is there a way to TRY for twins, Brenda?! 'Ca...Is there a way to TRY for twins, Brenda?! 'Cause we just got lucky the first time!<br /><br />And Peggy is going to push me, huh?! The bilingual thing is ONE of the TWO reasons I did NOT want to move here. (The other was distance from family in the USA and friends in Germany.)<br /><br />Although I can't say I grew up BILINGUAL - we spoke Germany when I was a child and switched to English when we moved to the USA - I grew up HAVING SPOKEN another language fluently and also AWARE that there ARE other ways to live. That there is MORE than the USA out there. I believe this is way I never became TOTALLY American, but I see it as a strength and opportunity too.<br /><br />My older two will retain the German. I have to be realistic that my younger two will most likely only know it as a SECOND LANGUAGE not as a bilingual one. I have met another German mom - who however speaks LESS German to her son that I do - and have spoken to the language teacher at school. I intend to speak only German with those two adults and with the kids in their presence. It's how we worked English group in Germany.<br /><br />Once we are set here we will look for the German community in Brisbane.<br /><br />And Ryan wants to start a German Club at school.<br /><br />The best I can do is keep it up at home - a bit - and get involved in the German clubs here - to EXPOSE the kids, make them AWARE......I agree with the advantages. (Although Ryan has had BIG problems being schooled bilingually, I believe MOST kids can do it.)<br /><br />I want the kids to retain their heritage, their pride, and that piece of themselves that DOES think in German (what I think I lost in the USA)....and yes, keeping them aware and open to other languages and cultures.<br /><br />It will be a SECOND language though, not a bilingual one....I have to be realistic. And also realize that the advantages of that second language - as you point out - are MORE than tha language itself.<br /><br />(And remember I hadn't spoken German in 25 YEARS when I picked it up again - fluently but with an accent most couldn't place - in Stuttgart.)<br /><br />EVEN if it IS German. I LIKE that. Yes, as hard as it is to believe in Europe, German is NOT a world language.<br /><br />Funny enough, now that the kids are in the school - and everyone is SO impressed that they speak German - they are willing to hear it more at home too! <br /><br />Will have to get a string going on this though - _ know Sabine's kids have switched to English in CA - even though both parents are German. ANd Erika - whose husband is German and whose two kids were born in Germany - is also in the USA. Be interesting to compare. <br /><br />Also know a bunch of French/American families living in Germany doing the TRILINGUAL thing.<br /><br />Showing that no matter how much money you have, or how thin you are...Twintensityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10913449903223318760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290565396038752538.post-79624758598227570762011-01-23T17:31:36.145-08:002011-01-23T17:31:36.145-08:00Hey, good and interesting post. Twins are fascinat...Hey, good and interesting post. Twins are fascinating.<br />So tell me, what are you doing to assure your kids will stay bi-lingual? It is a huge advantage and not to be lost. Even if it is German! Bilingualism has amazing effects on the brain. Did you know that? It makes kids/adults more open and - my favorite thing - broadens their horizons! <br /><br />So how are dealing with this?Peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01060344871665509838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290565396038752538.post-57450597873521890872011-01-23T14:49:25.141-08:002011-01-23T14:49:25.141-08:00And here I thought when I started to read this pos...And here I thought when I started to read this post that you were gonna announce that since you had survived one batch of twins you were gonna try for another.:)Plainlady's Ponderingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09526327124561246570noreply@blogger.com