tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post8770416687528292091..comments2024-01-26T02:50:31.892+01:00Comments on Turning Dutch: Bilingualism in Kids, Government Clinics and CodswallopAmanda van Mulligenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17328016562973171711noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-43774965292603427592012-04-25T10:22:13.988+02:002012-04-25T10:22:13.988+02:00I really identified with this post. Our kids were...I really identified with this post. Our kids were born in the UK to a Dutch father and Scottish mother. Since birth papa has spoken Dutch with the boys but it was only when we moved here, when they were 2 and 3 that they started to actually speak Dutch. They now show a strong preference for speaking Dutch and usually even speak Dutch to me although I continue to answer back in English. It is always a relief when we have visitors from the UK or have been home for a holiday to hear them switching back to English! DS1 is trying his hardest to remember to speak English with me, so I hope as they get older switching between the languages will become easier! I think raising kids with 2 languages is a great gift to give your children and comes with many laughs along the way. My sons were playing at a friends the other day and DS2 said 'wauw, wat is het hier toch een mes' the mother was panicking thinking he had found a knife but of course he had finished the sentence with the English meaning of 'mess' ;-)Charlie and the Boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691376780010797500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-40835344630613669562012-02-26T12:24:08.387+01:002012-02-26T12:24:08.387+01:00Hey Amanda, I enjoy reading your blog and strongly...Hey Amanda, I enjoy reading your blog and strongly identify with you! We are an Australian/Dutch family and migrated here three years ago. Our kids were then 9,7 and 4 and none of them spoke a word of Dutch upon landing. We have never visited the consultatiebureau but all our children are immersed in school and have of course visited the school huisarts. The school was/is very supportive of helping our children learn Dutch and extra help was very necessary for dutch spelling! Our eldest is now 12 and is fluent in both reading and writing in both languages but continues to have problems with dutch spelling, I would say his moedertaal remains English. Our middle child is now 10 and she is fluent in Dutch reading and writing but her 'woordenschat'is below average for her age, she can read Enlish and she speaks English but if she has to write English it is very average. I would say her 'moedertaal'is now Dutch. Our baby is now 7, she has struggled the most and continues to mix the two languages together eg: Mama,can I logere bij Oma tonight? She has learnt to read Dutch at school and I am teaching her to read English at home but worry for her it is confusing. As for what her 'moedertaal'is I have no idea! The kids speak English with me and Dutch with practically everybody else. This is how it will remain in our house, I am happy to speak Dutch outside of my home and manage very well in our community. However, in the privacy of my own home English will always be my language of choice!!Aussie Abroadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01279138575822504624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-70781186241650225772012-02-08T13:23:26.855+01:002012-02-08T13:23:26.855+01:00Great that you already have big plans for bilingua...Great that you already have big plans for bilingual kids!! Good for you and good luck with the preparation for a move to the Netherlands - if you want any tips or info just give me a shout!Amanda van Mulligenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328016562973171711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-63681162489426698732012-02-08T13:21:42.890+01:002012-02-08T13:21:42.890+01:00Tiffany, congrats again and glad to hear how much ...Tiffany, congrats again and glad to hear how much you are loving your new role! I learnt French and German (and a tiny bit of Italian) in school but it's all very rusty now - so the chance to bring my kids up so that speaking at least two languages is as natural to them as brushing their teeth is a fabulous opportunity. Totally agree that bilingualism or even multilingualism is excellent for everyone! Thanks for your comment and hope this blog provides some help along the way - if there are topics on your mind let me know!Amanda van Mulligenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17328016562973171711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-39113979766409186052012-02-07T10:00:13.169+01:002012-02-07T10:00:13.169+01:00Amanda congrats on your blog. It is really helpful...Amanda congrats on your blog. It is really helpful. I am not a mother yet, but I am planning to live in the Netherlands beginning September 2012. So, as far as it concerns bilingualism, I would like my kids to speak both Dutch and Greek and I intend to raise them (when the time comes) that way!Tasouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03465171722522709451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-87760327509663291712012-02-06T20:57:16.390+01:002012-02-06T20:57:16.390+01:00Thank you Amanda for writing about your positive e...Thank you Amanda for writing about your positive experiences with the consultatiebureau here in the Netherlands. I really wonder where the article of Radio Netherlands Worldwide based their information on.<br />Personally I believe raising your kids bilingually is a great gift you can give your children. I am an adult third culture kid and I was raised bilingually in Africa (English and Dutch). In this "global age" I would say parents go for it!<br />Have you ever visited this website: http://www.multilingualliving.com/ Lots of information on this topic there.DrieCulturenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02967917534503254138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798372697599428727.post-8698925596070079122012-02-05T19:42:14.640+01:002012-02-05T19:42:14.640+01:00I've also found the consultatiebureau to be ex...I've also found the consultatiebureau to be extremely supportive of our decision to raise Kleine Munchkin bilingually. They're already giving us tips and advice and telling us the advantages, and Kleine Munchin's only 8 weeks old! I, personally think bilingualism is excellent for children (and adults too!) and wish I'd had that same opportunity. Great blog! And perfect timing for me as a new mother :)<br /><br />Tiffany, <a href="http://migratingyankee.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">The Migrating Yankee </a>Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03887961977833459654noreply@blogger.com