I actually think LB's German has nothing to do with my partner and me being linguists, and everything to do with her just being a spontaneous language geek. ;) Just as you say, I have various linguist friends whose kids understand two or more languages but are only willing to speak English, and when LB started to talk (and her friends at daycare started to talk) I kept expecting her to balk at using German. But instead, she's really into it -- the only time she ever uses English with her father is when she doesn't know a German word and has to ask what it is. Often at dinner she will tell one of us something in one language, and immediately turn to the other parent and translate. It's really cool to watch.
I'm with you on wanting to parent in my native language, though. Sometimes I feel guilty for not doing more Japanese with LB (we do some, but more as play) -- but I like to speak English with her! On the other hand, my partner is having a blast making himself use German all the time, so more power to him. It still could be that at some age, she'll decide she's had it with German. But for now, it's definitely fun.
On our trip this summer, LB once turned to me with a huge smile and said, "We're in Germany! That's why everyone is speaking German!" The one thing she didn't seem to understand was that there are some people who speak only German, since all the German speakers she sees at home speak English too.
How neat for your friend's kids! I bet having same-age cousins is a really big motivator.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2019-09-21 01:57 am (UTC)I'm with you on wanting to parent in my native language, though. Sometimes I feel guilty for not doing more Japanese with LB (we do some, but more as play) -- but I like to speak English with her! On the other hand, my partner is having a blast making himself use German all the time, so more power to him. It still could be that at some age, she'll decide she's had it with German. But for now, it's definitely fun.
On our trip this summer, LB once turned to me with a huge smile and said, "We're in Germany! That's why everyone is speaking German!" The one thing she didn't seem to understand was that there are some people who speak only German, since all the German speakers she sees at home speak English too.
How neat for your friend's kids! I bet having same-age cousins is a really big motivator.