Year Four Update | Raising Bilingual Children

I've been on this path as a second language parent for over 4 years now. Raising my two sons bilingually in my non-native language of French for 4 years now has been a crazy journey, but one of the most rewarding challenges of my life. We also added in Spanish unexpectedly which has been a success!

Every year, I like to create a record celebrating how far we've come and documenting our progress.

These are my favorite videos to post. They're a lot of work, but I love looking back on all we have learned over the year. I hope you feel inspired about how you can raise a bilingual child, even if you aren't a native speaker of your target language.

#bilingualkids #bilingualchildren #trilingualchild #nonnativeenglishspeaker

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Year Two Update Video

Year Three Update Video

Saturday School and Why We Left

music credit: Blue Dream by Cheel

[amandahenderson]

Thank you for your update, I am in the process of teaching my daughter armenian. It is my second language and my husbands native language. It has been really hard and long-term hope she has the same success.

[gurbanaarongulman]

Teachings kids several languages is definitely possible . I spoke 4 languages as a kid : English, Talysh(a dialect of Persian), Turkish and Russian . I still speak all 4 but I also learned Spanish a bit as a teenager and French in the UK as a kid though I am Canadian and I lived in the US it was funny that the place where I learned French was the United Kingdom lol the coolest thing is that because I was raised a polyglot I speak appx . 8 languages but I understand a lot and I mean a loooot more languages. Keep up the great work !! This is simply awesome !! I hope I'll be able to achieve what you have achieved, absolutely astounding !!

[TitaTx]

Wow. How is it a four yr update?!?! 😅 love seeing these update. They are doing so good! ❤

[mikaylaw-c]

Ahh, I love these annual updates! Thanks so much, you're doing a great job and the comments on these videos are always such an inspiration.

[mariegomez]

I was super looking forward to this update! Seeing your success makes me SO EXCITED to raise kids in a multi-lingual household!

[ohlalafrenchcourse]

Hi ! That's really impressive and inspiring what you've done with your child. I'm curious, what was your level in French when you started to talk to your first child? Thanks 😊

[hendikaf]

Loved your video. Did you introduce French and english alphabet in same time, did you use the phonic way or just the sound of the letters. Joyeux Noel

[kylastearns]

I'm so happy to see its all worked out so well! I'm pregnant with my first right now and am planning on doing Spanish and English

[anisam]

I love your journey and dedication to help your children be trilingual! Your update was so through and gave a great idea about what it takes to attain fluency in 3 languages. Maybe you can ask your older son to speak in French with your younger son? Some kids are motivated to be the "teacher" haha

[andrewoliver]

I'm also worried about the dominant language in my community (which is also my wife's only language) "infiltrating" the house to an extent that it will make my own efforts all the more difficult. Hoping this is something you're able to mitigate in the future.

[stacystewart]

This is absolutely inspirational! Thank you for sharing! I am looking forward to more videos with helpful tips!

[ter]

I have a few friends who only allow say Russian or Polish or Romanian to be spoken at home.That includes siblings speaking to each other! One mother told me she would take away their favorite game or what have you and it has worked. Once outside? They only speak english!

[Gregusse]

I would strongly encourage you to send your child to the French Saturday school again (I assume it is part of the réseau FLAM). At my son's school in London I see a lot of non-French-native speakers' children or the children of native speakers but who clearly show minimal interest in speaking French due to the dominance of English.
What is important is that the child associates positive feelings towards the language which you already have.

[mayra]

So great to see an update. They’re doing so well in all three of their languages. Immersion school sounds like a great opportunity. Since you said it’s a lottery to get in; what happens if he doesn’t get a spot? Can your try again another year? Dual immersion schools around here require the child start in kindergarten and you can’t join later on.

[Peru-fcbi]

Always love your videos! So interesting and motivating. Thank you ! :-)

[edenschannel]

"Whats your favourite activity?"

"Who wants apple sauce?"

So cute😂😂

[Mac_an_Mheiriceanaigh]

Welcome to the area!! Clever to move in-boundary. And you can always apply to other schools via lottery if you want to increase your transportation budget 🤣

[sophiemcmanus]

Thanks Stephanie!! What was your French level? Do you live in the USA?

[nomadicvibesofelle]

Love this. Although I am starting late with my daughter (she is 7) I am hoping that we can become fluent in Korean together.

[dejaajedvu]

Will you eventually teach your children Japanese?