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

[twinklegal19]

I would teach English because my viet is so dodgy let alone be taught. It depends what nash my partner is though

[taylorswiftlove]

I'm half Indian, a quarter French and a quarter Brazilian so I've been brought up with a lot of languages around me lol!
I can understand Hindi, French and Nepalese (I was born in Nepal) but I sound like a retard speaking it so I can't really speak any of those languages, and I can only understand bits and pieces of Portuguese :\
I'm definitely going to make my children learn Hindi and French so they can at least talk to my parents haha, and like others have said, they'll learn English as they get older.

[Drongoski]

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.

Mundia

They will pick up their English in no time flat. Once they become accustomed to communicating in English, they'll have less motivation learning an alien language. So they should 1st acquire punjabi/urdu before it is too late. Once that critical 1st 4-yr is lost, it becomes irretrievable. Believe you me.

[RivalryofTroll]

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.

Yeah, most viet, chinese, etc. kids tend to appreciate Korean and Japanese hobbies more such as K-Pop, Korean Drama and Anime. I'm a perfect example.
Though, I'm not ashamed to be Viet or anything (because Viet food is da best).
I'm perfectly happy to be Viet.

[funnytomato]

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.

I think this is actually quite sad because not only would they lose the ability to speak another language(and/or appreciating their cultural heritage), nor would they be able to communicate to their parents well enough when they grow up (just guessing, I could be totally wrong about this part )


but I think , eventually, we're gonna be assimilated anyways

[jnney]

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.

That is very true.

However, I am very proud to be Chinese.

[iRuler]

Mundia

They will pick up their English in no time flay. Once they become accustomed to communicating in English, they'll have less motivation learning an alien language. So they should 1st acquire punjabi/urdu before it is too late. Once that critical 1st 4-yr is lost, it becomes irretrievable. Believe you me.

+1 to this and your previous post.

[Bored_of_HSC]

I'll try them to be at least functional in my parents native tongue.

But if they can't, then it really isn't any loss tbh.

[mirakon]

Mundia

They will pick up their English in no time flay. Once they become accustomed to communicating in English, they'll have less motivation learning an alien language. So they should 1st acquire punjabi/urdu before it is too late. Once that critical 1st 4-yr is lost, it becomes irretrievable. Believe you me.

Ok

[Demento1]

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.

Very true, it's quite unfortunate to see the number of Chinese people having absolutely no pride or interest in Chinese culture. I myself regret not knowing more about Chinese history and I would wager probably 95% of the new generation of Chinese kids know nothing about Chinese history.

[RivalryofTroll]

Very true, it's quite unfortunate to see the number of Chinese people having absolutely no pride or interest in Chinese culture. I myself regret not knowing more about Chinese history and I would wager probably 95% of the new generation of Chinese kids know nothing about Chinese history.

K-pop and K-drama has taken over the Asian World.

[deliciouscake]

PIG LATIN

YAYAYAYAAY

[Drongoski]

But if they can't, then it really isn't any loss tbh.

Loss is absolute when you do not feel the loss.

[DavDav]

I feel there's more than enough content said on this thread to write an essay on belonging to one's culture.

Not that I would want to go back to the mess that is the HSC.

[Bored_of_HSC]

Loss is absolute when you do not feel the loss.

I'm apathetic to this subjective notion of loss.

I'd hope more that they are rational, clear minded individuals.

[SayWut]

i'm gonna teach my kids russian because it's fucking bad ass

[Caten]

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?

Considering how bad I am with Vietnamese, I'm probably going to teach them young kids english first because it'll be easier for me and my future partner :L
But they'll definitely learn more of the other languages (depending on my partner's nash) than english as they hang around more with our parents and then in-laws, as well as our relatives !
And as they grow up, i would probably force every single vietnamese word into them from my vocabulary, until they go into Saturday Vietnamese School. muhahaha

[Drongoski]

And as they grow up, i would probably force every single vietnamese word into them from my vocabulary, until they go into Saturday Vietnamese School. muhahaha

Won't work. Too late. They'd be so Anglo in outlook and identity that they won't give a damn. You don't need to teach them English. Growing up here they'll take to English like duck to water. Do you think you would be able to speak Vietnamese today if circumstances did not require you to learn to speak it as a kid?

[Demento1]

PIG LATIN

YAYAYAYAAY

What exactly is that?

[Caten]

Won't work. Too late. They'd be so Anglo in outlook and identity that they won't give a damn. You don't need to teach them English. Growing up here they'll take to English like duck to water. Do you think you would be able to speak Vietnamese today if circumstances did not require you to learn to speak it as a kid?

I totally agree with you Drongoski ! I would probably not learn it as efficiently as if i wasn't brought up with that particular language. But there are some circumstances when well grown people are able to fully learn 2nd or maybe 3rd languages when they try very hard to get it. I hear it from my parents all the time as motivation to learn vietnamese more in the future. :L

[Ealdoon]

I won't even be having any kids haha!

[jnney]

What exactly is that?

You take first letter of a word, move it to the end and add 'ay'.

E.g. hello in pig latin would be ellohey. Haha.

[iRuler]

You take first letter of a word, move it to the end and add 'ay'.

E.g. hello in pig latin would be ellohey. Haha.

more like ellohay

[Riproot]

ENGLISH

The only language that counts.

[Ealdoon]

Ellohay everyoneway