Raising Multilingual Children

As the most common request last week was for me to discuss how I have successfully raised my sons to be multilingual, I share my thoughts and experience in raising them to know 7 languages thus far. Since I could not take any questions in this video lecture, I propose to do a follow-up question and answer video to the same topic next week based on the questions or requests for clarification or further information that I get in the comments section to this one.

[@kastrelo]

I am glad you're back professor. One of my most admired polyglots I have ever come across, and the one who got me started unintendedly on this unlikely path of becoming proficient in a multitude of languages.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the kind words of appreciation.

[@jrdking1]

Appreciate the personal insights. Below is what I extracted for this session👍 A future video on the actual routine globally will be greatly appreciated. Interesting stuff: - your sons acquired several languages growing up (English, French & some Korean) and exposed a little to several others - your sons studied 4 languages simultaneously over many years (German, Latin, Spanish & Russian) - 60 minutes daily (30 minutes per language), 7 days a week - alternate language set (every other day) - main-study activity is reading/listening - Read things of interest, keep the stress low - strong foundation, if in an immersed situation, the kids will flourish speaking

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@gruu]

I'm glad you're back on youtube again Profasar! I love your content!

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@FranzLisztFerentz]

Glad to see you back, Professor! Greetings from Brazil

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@carolvang4904]

Thank you! I was very curious about your sons' education. This was so inspiring, as all of your videos are. I love the idea of alternating days on different languages; I found that this seemed to be a manageable approach for me too. Good luck with the trip to Korea! Let us know how it goes for the boys' Korean.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@user-gx4wp4mp6t]

13:50 !!!!!!!!!!!! Prof laughs for the first time ever!!!!!!!!!

[@raulvillasenor9505]

иван иван Watch the vídeo where they interview him about his language learning schedule. He throws in a smirk and laugh as well.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@VictEnthiq]

Thank you very much Professor Arguelles! It was particularly interesting for me to hear about just how important reading has been to your sons' language acquisition/learning. I think that my partner and I will have to try and emulate your success in that area. Though I do wonder if needing to read Chinese characters may prove an extra obstacle. I suppose we'll have to wait and see!

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@skudwilkins3619]

So good to hear you again.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@The_Lord_Of_Confusion]

fascinating talk, I hope more is to come. Děkuji

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@nicolas1248]

That was very interesting though!. I think it's good to make children getting even more interested in learning foreign languages as they could give them many opportunities of knowing other cultures. I'm currently learning English, Swedish, Dutch and German by myself, though with native speakers, which it's worth doing if you want to achieve some knowledge and speak it fluently . I think the expose you have towards a language is the key to get succeed. Thanks for sharing! Greetings!.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@AnAmericanlinguist]

Thank you for the video. I have a few questions: 1. With your keen interest in literature and languages, do you sometimes feel that aspect of your teaching is over represented in their education? How do you present and work with teaching STEM, or sports/exercise? 2. Does the language education help with developing musical talents at all? Has this become an interest in your household? I know you used to play the flute, are you able to continue with this? 3. You spoke about the importance of a balanced life and working towards that now, as opposed to a foreign language focused lifestyle that you were able to lead in the past. Can you talk about what a balanced lifestyle is for you? What aspects are most important for you and how do you prioritiz/manage your time and schedule now?

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@ahmadaltaweel4981]

Thank you professor

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@ryanboothe9205]

Thanks for the video Dr. Arguelles. I have noticed that kids often don't want to speak the language of a parent because it embarrasses them. They don't want to stand out in that way. Do you speak French to them in public if your wife is not present? Also, do you think your international life has possibly rid them of this desire to blend in? Given their beautifully mixed ancestry, I imagine they can't help but stick out anywhere but the USA or Brazil.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@brucetepke8150]

You mentioned Latin. Ancient Latin and Greek were covered less thoroughly in your old book review videos. I'd love to hear your opinions on these.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@davexhayter]

You said you don't push too much for more German since it doesn't really interest them, but rather than drop it altogether, do you keep it as an important language for polyglots? And a follow-up, do you have a proposed sequence of new languages to teach them? Persian perhaps? Or is your "introduction to polyglottery" complete? Finally, are either of them drawn to particular fields to pursue in higher education in the coming years, and what advantage will their language knowledge provide?

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@Spiraculumvitae]

Thanks Professor Arguelles. It would be great to hear you speaking of ancient greek. Thanks

[@ProfASAr]

You are welcome.

[@danielcook4176]

Hello, Professor! My son will be born sometime in the next couple of weeks. I know a little Spanish, but not enough to be able to teach it to him. Do you think it would be sufficient to hire a Spanish speaker to spend a few hours with him weekly (we have many native speakers in the area, but we don't have any foreign language daycares or schools)? Are there any other methods you could suggest, if this endeavor is even possible? Thank you! I really enjoy and appreciate your videos.

[@pauldavies9360]

you can learn Spanish by the time your son is 2. speak what you know to him for the time being. he won't mind if you make mistakes ;) first year is only going to be single words anyway, Perro, gato, papa..

[@Meelany261095]

I would've loved to help in exchange of english time for my daughter but we are In another country . I hope your son is doing great ours is not as we excepted, she isn't making full sentences and she's already 3 years old.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@danielcook4176]

@@Meelany261095 same situation with us. Our son is now 3 and isn't speaking that much. Going to start speech therapy soon. Has your daughter begun speaking yet? Hopefully so. Some kids are just late speakers

[@Phd366]

Omg. I’m teaching my son (2) English and Spanish and same as you, he has a little speech delay. He says little words in English and little in Spanish. I wonder if i am the one causing the confusion. Do think that could be possible? They always tell me I am configuring it and now I’m doubting myself in teaching him.

[@tv-br4zd]

교수님 안녕하세요. 저 주찬이에요 이주찬. 기억하시는지요? 세상에나~유튜브채널에서 교수님을 뵙게 되다니...너무 신기하고 반갑고..정말 놀라웠어요. 막연하게나마 교수님의 언어적 은사와 지식, 경험 등을 여러 사람들과 유튜브로 나눌 수 있게 되면 정말 좋겠다..는 생각을 아주 막연하게나마 가끔 했었거든요.(채널을 찾아볼 생각도 못한 채..) 그런데 이미!!채널이 개설되어 있었어요!!! 교수님~~세월은 너무도 빨리 흘렀는데 교수님은 그 옛날 20세기 청년 아겔레스, 그대로시네요!항상 자기관리에 철저했던 교수님의 습관이 세월마저 극복을 하신 것 같아 감탄했어요. 교수님~지금 미국 계신건가요? 근황이 궁금합니다. 어디 계시든 늘 건강 가운데 평안하시길 기도할게요. 언제나 응원할게요!! 교수님 화이팅!! P.S. I think you should make a lot more videos for everyone, Prof. Arguelles!!♡♡

[@ProfASAr]

추찬아! KZbin가 20년 후에 서로를 찾을 수 있다는 것이 멋지지 않습니까? 물론 한동대학교 학생들을 좋아했던 기억이 납니다! 언젠가 다시 만날 수 있기를 바랍니다! 예, 나는 미국에 다시, 그리고 예, 나는 더 많은 동영상을 만들고있다!

[@TheFiestyhick]

Interesting stuff.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@AnAmericanlinguist]

How did the Korean immersion experience in November go?

[@ProfASAr]

It really stimulated their interest in learning more.

[@hglundahl]

22:33 Confirmo. Antes de llegar a Irún desde Hendaye, hube muy poco estudiado el Castellano, dos cursos de tardes y un libro (en castellano) de la historia phonética desde el Latín - _peró mucho más el Francés y el Latín_ - y pude orientarme bastante bien, preguntando al camino al hostal de peregrinos ...

[@ProfASAr]

Gracias por comentar.

[@hglundahl]

@@ProfASAr Olvidé que también hube leido El Oso Paddington y partido de una novela por Chesterton, sin olvidar un Condorito mejicano. O dos o tres.

[@giantprocedure4891]

I think i am find myself close thinking so close someone touched my mind

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@Meelany261095]

Anyone interested to improve their Spanish so that I can improve my English for our childrens' benefit

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for commenting with a suggestion of collaboration.

[@dylane1278]

Hola AMS JV! Soy un hablante nativo de inglés. Estoy aprendiendo español y me encantaría mejorar mi español contigo. Podemos practicar y mejorar su inglés también Let me know if you’d like to connect! :)

[@ngotri1995]

Hi, i am raising my kid bilingual too. how to get over the awkward feeling when u talk to your kid using the language that is not mother tounge language

[@ProfASAr]

Practice, practice, practice.

[@jeffreylee2993]

Curious about one other thing - becoming more naturally fluent in any particular language requires a lot of peer group experiences. Otherwise, their acquisition of the language might not appear entirely natural. I suspect that this is something difficult to recreate if you live in a community or go to a school where those peer group linguistic experiences are limited.

[@ProfASAr]

Right you are.

[@hglundahl]

8:55 What exact French Bible? Crampon or Segond? (Obviously there are others ...)

[@ProfASAr]

My younger son has La Bonne Nouvelle Pour Toi; my older son is away at college now so I can't check his version just yet. I am wondering why you are wondering this...

[@hglundahl]

@@ProfASAr Crampon is Catholic, Segond is Protestant - the most known of each, except recent often international ones, like NIV or Jerusalem.

[@hglundahl]

Thanks for the info ...

[@hglundahl]

Ah, an international Bible society's filial in Switzerland ...

[@MissionsInYourHands]

From this video it is clear that you don't mix the languages when teaching/practicing with your children. Is that something that you do intentionally for some reason or just happened to be that way? My son is 3 years old and he is in contact with the Indonesian and Javanese languages through his mom and country of residence. I speak in English and Portuguese to him, and introduce some words and short phrases in Spanish as we go about our day. So, when we walk around the neighborhood and he sees a white dog he says in English, "white dog...", and then I ask him in Portuguese to repeat after me, "cachorro branco" and "perro blanco". Do you think that is an effective way of teaching him the language or should I stick to only one language per activity? When I am alone with him I speak in Portuguese, English at home, and Spanish with the help of bilingual books. What did you used to do when your children were toddlers in terms of language learning?

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@Phd366]

Hi, I’m teaching my son Spanish and English. He is 2 yo. I am wondering how your method worked for your son?

[@hglundahl]

15:11 En otros palabras, no Español, peró Americano ... tinto y bocadillo = black coffee and pastry (it means something else in European Spanish) ...

[@ProfASAr]

Gracias por comentar.

[@adventureguy4119]

Jesus Christ willing I will be multi lingual

[@ProfASAr]

Study as well as pray and you will have a better chance of getting there.