Tuesday, April 6, 2010

"Raising Bilingual Children" Lecture Series

"How did you raise your kids to be bilingual?" My Korean friend, Soyeoun, asked me this question during one of our interesting conversations. She's a mother of a precarious and adorable two-year-old daughter who's learning new words everyday.

She was quite impressed that my sons can speak English fluently without having to go to special English Academy which is a common practice in Korea where people have begun to recognize the importance of learning this international language. She wanted to know the "secret" how my sons can confidently speak English like native speakers despite being raised in the Philippines where it is only a second language.

My answer is simple: Use English in daily conversation. You're probably thinking, "easier said than done." And it is true especially if you're living in a country where most people don't normally use English in common conversations.

A lot of Korean mothers are eager and willing to do this but are hesitant and shy because they think their English ability is not good enough to help their children. And this concern is understandable because you were not raised accustomed to the language. Your mothers didn't give you English instructions and now that you want to do it for your own children, it feels like an unfamiliar ground that you're about to  tread.

I have learned from her that buying books with English expressions for raising kids are very popular in Korea. Moms memorize dialogues to teach their children. And we both agreed that this is one of the good ways to learn English.

Memorizing dialogues, however, is not the most effective because it is better to speak with spontaneity than using rehearsed lines. We have to totally grasp the usage of the English language so we can apply it properly to daily situations.  Without an instructor, you might not gain enough confidence to use those expressions you learned from books.

An English tutor will guide you on the faultless usage, correct pronunciation, proper sentence structure and most of all build up your confidence by constant  practice through regular lessons. English classes will give you a venue to try out your newly learned vocabulary and actually enjoy the use of this colorful language. And this is something you can pass on to your kids.

Because of this conversation with Soyeoun, I started a new course entitled, Raising Bilingual Children. It  is a series of lectures which teaches you English expressions that you can use with your children in daily life. Every session tackles common situations such as "changing baby's diaper", "cleaning up with your daughter", "a busy morning when your kids don't want to go to kindergarten" and a lot more! This class will truly help you speak English naturally in everyday life whether you're talking to your baby or even to your husband.

I have been getting positive responses and I'm encouraging more mothers out there to try this class which you can take for 25 minutes before you go to work or while your baby is at school. You will absolutely find this very helpful in creating an English-speaking environment at home.

You can send an email to english.notes311@gmail.com to get a free lesson for 20 minutes or drop me a message at skype id: daphne703. Try it and make it!








Sample:

I. Putting on a Diaper


기저귀 차야지~  You must wear your diaper.
바닥에 쉬야하면 어떡해. You might pee on the floor.
어여 일루와~ Come to mommy, sweetie
기저 귀 차자. Let's put on your diaper
여기 누워볼래? Will you lie down here?
차기 싫어? Oh you don't want to wear it.
그래도 차자~ However, you have to.
누 웠구나, 착하네. Lie down, good girl.
가만히 있어봐 Please don't move
엄마가 발 들게 I'll lift your feet up
엉덩이 쑥 들자. And raise your bottom
보송보송 새 기저귀 아래 깔구 place a fresh diaper under your bottom
이렇게 테이프 ? 붙이구 Tape the flaps to the front.
움직이지마~ Don't move.
다원이 잠시만~ Wait a second.
아 다됐다! All done!.

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I'm a reader,a mother, a spirited watercolor painter, a coffee lover and a passionate learner of life, love and Web 2.0. For questions regarding ESL lessons, you can send an email to: english.notes311@gmail.com.