Which language would you teach your kids to speak first? Why?

[Rixon]

Sorry to hear that mate

IS THAT SOME KIND OF SICK JOKE OR WHAT HOW DARE YOU

[kat-]

My parents are offering to teach my kids Chinese while I teach them English

[iRuler]

Afraid of being beaten?
(me too)

Yes, don't think I could live if it happened

[cheezcake]

Yes, don't think I could live if it happened

Is it sad that this is an actual concern in my life?
because I'm pretty sure the chances of me marrying an indian girl are pre slim

[muhahahahahaha]

Both arabic and English at the same time. Probs more Arabic though cos its a more difficult language. They'd be able to pick up English pretty quickly with school and all.

[Shadowdude]

Umm... English. Because I will expect my children to be well-read and literarily... adept. And stuff.

THEY SHALL BE BEACONS OF ACADEMIC... PROFESSIONALISM

[iRuler]

Is it sad that this is an actual concern in my life?
because I'm pretty sure the chances of me marrying an indian girl are pre slim

If you're being srs, then yeah it kind of is lol. You got Plenty of time man. If it comes to it, as in you can't find one, there's always an arranged marriage haha.

Or if you don't want one then I guess it's too bad lol get disowned or listen

[planino]

I know this may be pretty far away for me and many of us. But for the people who usually speak another language other than English at home. Would you teach your kids english as their first language? or not?

But then, what if your parents aren't fluent in english then they won't be able to communicate?

Also, I'm pretty sure I'll be speaking english with my partner.

Ahh... I really don't know.

What about you guys?

Well English is the only compulsory subject in the HSC (for many, including me, the hardest as well) so I'd want to start my little bubba on it early. That way while s/he's scribbling down essays during his/her HSC he/she'll be thinking about setting, plot, context and not the correct 'your' or 'you're' to use

[Rixon]

people have been speaking english their whole lives and still can't tell the difference between you're and your

[animeiswild]

I think I'd teach my kids Canto first. Our kids would learn English from school and they'll eventually speak English with their friends anyway, so I don't think there's a need for me to teach them English first. Also in a competitive world like this, I think knowing an extra language would help so teaching them a language other than English would be better.

[fishrushed]

I'd teach them chinese... if i weren't so bad or fob at it
learning an extra language nowadays is invaluable

[jnney]

I don't even know if I'm even going to have kids, let alone teach them languages.

ifeellikeimtooyoungtobemakingthesedecisions.

[planino]

I don't even know if I'm even going to have kids, let alone teach them languages.

ifeellikeimtooyoungtobemakingthesedecisions.

I've already given mine names :L

[DavDav]

people have been speaking english their whole lives and still can't tell the difference between you're and your

Your absolutely right! It's a mockery of you're education!

[4025808]

I'd love to have my children learn Mandarin and English at the same time (Y)

[iRuler]

Your absolutely right! It's a mockery of you're education!

Not sure if you did that on purpose or if you were mocking yourself.

[planino]

Not sure if you did that on purpose or if you were mocking yourself.

Pretty sure it was on purpose

[Rixon]

Umm... English. Because I will expect my children to be well-read and literarily... adept. And stuff.

THEY SHALL BE BEACONS OF ACADEMIC... PROFESSIONALISM

what children

[Shadowdude]

what children

The children I shall have in future.

[Magical Kebab]

Arabic cos its cute

[jnney]

I've already given mine names :L

i remember doing that as a kid. i wanted to name my *future* daughter ella. LOL. and then after that it was crystal.

[Demento1]

Would teach English first before Cantonese because that was the method my mother used.

[JayCakie]

I would teach them English, as it was my first language and the main language here in Australia. I would also try to teach them either French, because I learnt French when I was young and found it interesting.

If my (future) children are not interested in learning another language other than English, I wouldn't force them to learn it. I think speaking different languages would be slightly beneficial e.g. future job prospects or if they want to travel overseas, communication doesn't have to be a large barrier.

[Drongoski]

Would teach English first before Cantonese because that was the method my mother used.

If you want your kid to be able to speak cantonese, it should be taught 1st. English being universal here will present no difficulties.

I've seen many Chinese migrant mothers speaking to their young kids in their 2nd-rate English. Children growing up here usually have no pride in their Asian heritage. If they are not given the vital start in their heritage language, then they can kiss it goodbye - i.e. if they give it a damn. The Korean kids mostly can speak Korean. They are proud to be Koreans. The Chinese usually are not so proud of their roots, from my observation.

[mirakon]

i'd teach them english first and my parents will teach them urdu/punjabi.

It's important to preserve your culture imo, but also to be prepped for society, so whilst i'd prioritise english, I'd like them to learn the language of their culture too.