Vicky has been raised to speak Baanglaa & Hindi, but now, to read & write, the entire emphasis is on English.
Which results in an added disadvantage while learning English - she has to simultaneously learn the meanings of words, while learning the spelling (or sight, in case of sight words), apart from the fact is English, written/printed in Roman script is not phonetic by even a far touch.
So, while I am struggling to teach her the 3 "to" "two" & "too" as separate (I did not choose to, she is a very curious child, & likes to "apply" her learning. She is getting confused upon hearing the words in context. She is already showing me "The" in all books ...), she is already recognizing "এ", "খ", & "ন", & it only remains to me to introduce her to reading words by putting them together into "এখন" ... How I wish life was simpler, but it is not, therefore this blog, simply to document the progress of a trilingual child over all 3 languages, (& perhaps other aspects of life), I hope this blog will help me keep track of her progress, & keep myself on track to set her the right goals.
Essentially, therefore, I am teaching my child English by the old method, "translation", rather than by the modern method "immersion". This is the only way for me, as I cannot stop using Baanglaa with Vicky, there is no one else she can practise it with.
However, I am aware of the superiority of the immersion method, which means that the learner should be completely surrounded by the language s/he is learning, & the ultimate aim is to "think in the language". Therefore, I will try to find as many real-life opportunities for Vicky to listen, speak, read & write English as possible.
We have subscribed to a Magazine : Highlights Genies which is a delightful age 2-6 magazine, & sometimes makes me wish English was Vicky's first Language :)
We have joined a Library, "Look a Book".
It was far more challenging to find reading material suitable for a 3-4 year old in Indian Languages. The Indian languages have been neglected by parents, & consequently, the market for Indian Language books in 3-4 yearis next to zero.
Baanglaa has for a century been a very literarily active language, & one generation ago, when I was small, we used to get eclectic books of stories & poems & rhymes by indigenous authors & illustrators, which has totally died out.
So, Thank God for Tulika Books & Pratham Books !!!
Which results in an added disadvantage while learning English - she has to simultaneously learn the meanings of words, while learning the spelling (or sight, in case of sight words), apart from the fact is English, written/printed in Roman script is not phonetic by even a far touch.
So, while I am struggling to teach her the 3 "to" "two" & "too" as separate (I did not choose to, she is a very curious child, & likes to "apply" her learning. She is getting confused upon hearing the words in context. She is already showing me "The" in all books ...), she is already recognizing "এ", "খ", & "ন", & it only remains to me to introduce her to reading words by putting them together into "এখন" ... How I wish life was simpler, but it is not, therefore this blog, simply to document the progress of a trilingual child over all 3 languages, (& perhaps other aspects of life), I hope this blog will help me keep track of her progress, & keep myself on track to set her the right goals.
Essentially, therefore, I am teaching my child English by the old method, "translation", rather than by the modern method "immersion". This is the only way for me, as I cannot stop using Baanglaa with Vicky, there is no one else she can practise it with.
However, I am aware of the superiority of the immersion method, which means that the learner should be completely surrounded by the language s/he is learning, & the ultimate aim is to "think in the language". Therefore, I will try to find as many real-life opportunities for Vicky to listen, speak, read & write English as possible.
We have subscribed to a Magazine : Highlights Genies which is a delightful age 2-6 magazine, & sometimes makes me wish English was Vicky's first Language :)
We have joined a Library, "Look a Book".
It was far more challenging to find reading material suitable for a 3-4 year old in Indian Languages. The Indian languages have been neglected by parents, & consequently, the market for Indian Language books in 3-4 yearis next to zero.
Baanglaa has for a century been a very literarily active language, & one generation ago, when I was small, we used to get eclectic books of stories & poems & rhymes by indigenous authors & illustrators, which has totally died out.
So, Thank God for Tulika Books & Pratham Books !!!