Sort posts
My son is 4 and in nursery here. At home I speak only Russian with him, my husband speaks English. He understands everything I say but he answers me always in English. My mother on video calls is sad because they cannot speak properly.
Did anyone manage to change this? Or is it too late?
Same with Polish! What helped us: Saturday Polish school, and summer with grandma in Poland where nobody speaks English. After 3 weeks he came back speaking Polish all the time. It faded a little but much better.
Italian dad here. We made it a game: I 'don't understand' English at breakfast. Silly but it works sometimes. Also cartoons in Italian only.
The cartoons in Russian is a good idea, he watches a lot. Why I didn't think about it?
Not too late at all. My daughter only started answering in Tamil at 6 after a trip to see family. Kids are flexible. Keep talking to him in your language whatever he answers.
Very important: don't make it a fight. My friend forced her son and now he refuses completely. Make it fun, songs, books, food, and video calls with cousins his age.
We speak Yoruba at home and English outside. The children answer in English but when they're tired or upset they switch to Yoruba. It's in there.
Thank you everyone. I feel better now. We will try Russian cartoons and I will look for a Saturday school near Ealing.
Log in to replyGuests can’t post on the forum — signing up takes a minute.
