Is it a good or bad idea to teach an infant two languages at once

generally that infant will start to speak a little later than the norm, but no harm done long term

good idea

My daughter is 12 and speaks fluent French in addition to usual standard English. Hasn't done her any harm.

v good idea

I was aprendizaje up dos lenguas nowt wrong with it.

no problem - kid's brains are very plastic and can learn more than one language at a time

it may even have spin-off benefits:

http://www.healthjockey.com/2009/04/17/bilingualism-may-benefit-an-infant-even-before-they-can-talk/

Johnny Mustang - did you teach you daughter English first then french or did you start teaching her both from day one?

Redrich - started teaching her when she was around three. Used to travel to France quite a lot and she picked it up really easily. Is now a better stndard than me!

*standard (see what I mean)!

Hoolio geordio springs to mind.

Wish my parents had taught me a different language from a young age then

Totally agree with you. But yes, I think it's a good idea and I'd encourage you to do so if you get the opportunity.

Some people might make a meal of it buts ithry talk psychological** Too many 2 language parents have had no issues speaking their own lanhuage to their kids from birth

I was taught to speak two languages as an infant and I didn't have any problems. However, there appeared to be some difficulties when I started reading until it was discovered that I'm just a bit thick.

I'm English and Mrs Topkat is Spanish.

We've each spoken to both our kids (now aged 7 and 5) in our own native tongues since birth.

They both now speak and read both languages, and switch from one to the other quite happily. They are both on target with English at school, so no detrimental effects there.

At a very early stage they did mix the two, but that stopped a long time ago. I don't understand how, but they just "know" when to speak which language (e.g. when with in-laws) and don't get them mixed up.

Bilingualism is a gift that you can give them at no cost to yourself: go ahead and give it.

They drum languages into kids in Scandinavia as soon as they start primary school.

The lack of language skills in this country in comparison to other European ones is quite frankly embarrassing.

Child in my wifes class (5/6 year olds) spoke 4 languages 'fluently' (for a 5 yrd old) and another one quite wel. They were hard languages too like russian and chinese of some sort (parents nationalities - dad was an interpreter)

I agree Banquo. A national disgrace.

I am teaching myself 2 languages at the moment. Not easy, but both European languages whch makes it slightly easier.

If I can master one I will be very pleased.

What languages, Dave?

I taught myself Spanish for a while and I can now get by on it. It's pretty easy to pick up. I'll probably go back to it when I get more time on my hands. I'd also like to learn French.

the brain gets hard wired from an early age - teching more than one language young will be very beneficial - imagine breezing thru all languages at school later on - it means one third of the schooling will be a doddle
do it - do it big time
include the wfitten word in both languages

Not completely true, kids start learning English at 8 years old in Denmark - but yes, the Britsh school structure should be changed to teach languages at a younger age.

French and Italian. I considered Spanish, but I have no desire to lve there (too many English people!) whereas I'd love to live in France.

on of the reasons scandinavian children have such excellent english because none of the imported american tv shows are dubbed; they are all subtitled.

*one of

HRH, children don't start school in Scandinavia until 7/8.

I'm the same, Dave: always wanted to live in France for some reason.

Funnily enough I'd been there a few times and didn't really like it. Then went agan this Summer, and loved it. Would move there at the drop of a hat if I had the opportunity, and was confindent could speak the language.

I feel utterly ashamed when seeing English abroad sometime!

Banquo - my kids are in school in Denmark! They do a nursery year from 6-7. They have just turned 8 in their first 'year proper' and will start English in the spring.

Well, that's the point that I was making - that the kids in Scandinavia (not just Denmark) are taught languages when they first enter education. When you compare this to our system (well, the system when I was there) of it not being taught until kids reach secondary education, you start to see where the problem lies.

Couldn't agree more. Definately better to teach them with keen young minds before their brains are filled up with the distractions and stresses of adult life!

I studied French and Spanish then when it got to GCSE time, they encouraged those who were struggling to drop languages. Obviously to massage stats.

The annoying thing is, now, over 10 years later I thnk they are probably easer to pass. Certanly much easier than History or RE that I studied instead.

One of my many regrets!

BAD IDEA

yes das bon

back in the 80's we knew a Chilean family who were over for 3 years.

the only language they all spoke was Spanish when they came over.

Within a few months their daughter was fluent in English ......... well she appeared to be so ... maybe it took a bit longer and maybe she had had some English lessons previously ... I think she was about 8 or 9 at the time. They also had a son of about 16 who picked English up at a much slower rate.
The parents only spoke a few words ........... the husband picked up a few by going to the pub with me while I learnt a few Spanish words from him. Apparently racka which literally means slice is the word they use for bum.

A relative is being brought up by a German father and Peruvian mother ...... he is now 7 and switches between the 2 languages without problems ......... he also picks up English quickly when he comes to stay with us .......... which suggests to me it helps to learn other languages as well.

the sooner the better

I used to work at a groupage company in London.

We had an old bloke there named Max. He had been with them for donkeys years, and was well past retirement age. He was kept on and amused himself learing how to use a PC, send emails and make tea, but the real reason he was there is that he was born and brought up in Switzerland, and as a child he was taught English, German, French and Italian.

There used to be some surreal conversations between him and European drivers in the yard when they couldn't understand each other. He used to translate Italian to German or French instantly, and vice verse.

I used to walk up to him and ask him a question in English while he was doing it, and with no faltering whatosever he would change to English and answer me, then go straight back to German/Italian/French chatting.

I agree that it's good and that it takes a little longer (simply because there's less repetition). We're doing German & English with ours. They get a bit mixed up sometimes, but it sorts itself out. The advantage is that they learn the "foreign" sounds early (e.g. the two sounds of "ch" in German for example) which means they get it right.

Yes you do that ,no problem at all .You might aswell Put a violin in its hand and teach it that while you are at it

I Have been to Schools in Kyiv,Ukraine where the children speak Russian and Ukraine and learn English, Ages 5 -11