幼兒交外傭照顧 語言遲緩高七成

Teresa

港聞
A06  明報   陳佩儀
2005-08-04

--------------------------------
特 稿
幼兒交外傭照顧 語言遲緩高七成
--------------------------------

現時不少小朋友皆由家中外傭照顧，牙牙學語時「又中又英」，甚至夾雜一點菲律賓話、泰語或印尼話，莫以為這樣的學習語言環境可令小朋友成為語言天才。港大研究發現，若幼兒學習能力稍遜，外傭令幼主患上語言發展遲緩毛病的可能，較在正常「母語家庭」成長的幼兒高出七成；若家中有祖父母輩說鄉下話，「多聲道」家庭甚至造成高出近2倍的語言遲緩危機。

易引發情緒和行動問題

外國文獻研究顯示，約有2.6%至16%的學者兒童有不同程度的語言發展遲緩問題。1992年，本港有關研究則發現，全港約有3%學前兒童有此毛病。負責研究的港大醫學院兒童及青少年科學系教授黃珍妮坦言，近年患有語言發展遲緩的幼兒確有上升趨勢，不少患有語言發展遲緩的小朋友，也會出現情緒和行動問題。

「他們會用咬人、打人、搣人的方式表達自己，引人注意。若不知道他們說話有問題，會以為他們頑皮打架，但其實這情

Teresa

香港新聞
A15  文匯報   
2005-08-04

-------------------------------------------
專家警告：強迫子女適得其反多語夾雜幼兒易生語言障礙
-----------------------------------------

　【本報訊】(記者　潘頌禧)不少父母望子成龍，不時在家同時以中英語跟子女溝通，盼在耳濡目染下，孩子可培養出超凡的語文能力。但港大研究發現，5歲以下幼童在中英語夾雜的家庭環境下，可能出現語言能力遲緩的風險，較諸單一語言的家庭高出2倍。有醫生警告，自幼強迫子女接觸多種語言可能適得其反，不但影響幼兒的學習能力，他們的情緒更容易失控。

　語言能力遲緩，是指幼童的表達及理解能力均較同齡兒童為低。據估計，本港約有3%兒童有此問題。香港大學兒科學系早前訪問630名5歲以下的兒童，經過評估後，證實326人出現語言能力遲緩癥狀，另外的304人則屬正常。研究同時發現，6成出現語言能力遲緩的幼童，在家至少接觸兩種或以上的語言，包括英語、廣東話、普通話及客家話等。

語種愈多　風險愈高

　瑪麗醫院兒科專科醫生卓家良表示，不少父母喜以英語與子女溝通，跟其他家庭成員相處時，又會聽到廣東話或普通話，造成多種語言夾雜。他指出，在家裏接觸兩種語言的幼童，患有語言能力遲緩的機會，較單語接收的幼童高出兩倍，「每增加一種語言，風險又會上升1.5倍」。

　港大醫學院兒科學系教授黃珍妮稱，幼童不能接收多種語言訊息，否則只會弄巧反拙，「教他(子女)說魚，毋須教他紅衫魚、金魚，魚便是魚，他們根本難以分辨」。她警告說，一旦延誤語言能力發展，將會拖慢幼童的學習進度，更會導致情緒失控，「他們(幼童)近9成會有情緒問題，因為表達不到所想，唯有搣人，他們不是發脾氣，只想用此告知家長自己想怎樣。」

不能強迫　宜母語溝通

　要令幼童回復本身的語言能力，卓醫生建議家長，使用單一語言與子女對話，「這樣容易追得上，總比又中又英好」。黃教授則說，父母應以母語跟子女溝通，甚至降低語言程度，勿以抽象方式教導子女，例如透過遊戲，配合實物加以教導，或者獎勵他們，「語言是不能強迫，應該融入生活讓子女慢慢吸收。」

ellan

hi, Teresa

多謝分享
請問對有一些書籍及研究發表，關於0-3yrs可學習多國語言的報道及文章, 我正頭痛是否應多給外語或國語等語言cd給5個月的女女聽?

bandband

終於有正式報導証明咗我咁多年嚟既睇法...我個仔仲係bb嗰陣就係一日廿四小時,大部份時間都係由印傭照顧,到我發現佢乜都唔識講時...已經係兩歲... 我個仔都係成三歲半至肯開口講嘢咋...依家升小一,但係言語發展都係比同鹷小朋友慢... 所以如果自己可以湊番,真係唔好俾工人全職湊bb呀...

Teresa

ellan 寫道:
hi, Teresa

多謝分享
請問對有一些書籍及研究發表，關於0-3yrs可學習多國語言的報道及文章, 我正頭痛是否應多給外語或國語等語言cd給5個月的女女聽?

其實我都唔清楚應該行邊套.  不過我就行緊母語教學.  我屋企個工人係賓賓, 但係佢識cantonese, 以前多數同個仔講cantonese, 除左英文單子同basic greetings用英文外, 連TV都係cantonese.  個仔細細個既表達力已經好好, K1已經o係幼稚園既故事比賽拿獎, 平時我地要佢o係屋企用cantonese複述第三者講既野訓練佢presentation.  據幼稚園老師講, 佢既語言表達力係高過同齡小朋友.

我仔而家6歲, 我開始用多左英文 (教識佢查字典, 學國際音標, 同佢practise conversation, 叫賓賓講英文而個仔要用英文回答).  我就係做緊呢個實驗, 睇下佢遲d既兩文三語發展會唔會追得上從小用英語或中英夾雜既小朋友!

eviepa

bandband 寫道:
終於有正式報導証明咗我咁多年嚟既睇法...我個仔仲係bb嗰陣就係一日廿四小時,大部份時間都係由印傭照顧,到我發現佢乜都唔識講時...已經係兩歲... 我個仔都係成三歲半至肯開口講嘢咋...依家升小一,但係言語發展都係比同鹷小朋友慢... 所以如果自己可以湊番,真係唔好俾工人全職湊bb呀...

我女兒和你的小朋友一樣，都是因外傭照顧關係，導致語言發展比別人慢，而且都是 "三歲半至肯開口講嘢"，其影響到今天還可見到。但沒辦法喇，兩公婆都要搵食，最多現在多做點補救。

jychan

my 2 yr old kid is also taken care by an Indonesian maid since she's about 2 months old. hopefully, i don't see any delay in her language development. she could say bye bye, mama, dada & many other simple words since about 9 months old. she can now sing a lot of nursery rhymes which I think she learnt by listening CDs, playgorups & watching Barney's VCD. she loves speaking in English.
but of course her pronunications are not perfect but I think that's ok for a 2 yr old.
At the beginning I also worry that her language development will not be so good as my maid is the major caretaker in the day time. So, I asked my maid to let her listen to CDs, watch good kid TV programme like Barney, Disney playhouse channel, baby bumblebee. I talked to her a lot whenever I have time after work & read story books with her. Of course, attending playgroup is also very helpful for her language development in managing English.
I think whether indo/filipino maids are hindrance to yr kids' development are very dependant if u give your kids other simulations other than just leaving her with the maids. The study quoted by Teresa nay be true to some cases but definitely not to all.
On the contrary, my friend is a full time mom & has no maid. But her kid can only say a few words when she's 2.
any other sharing of other mummies on this topic?

Felicia726

I agree with jychan.
There is always different proof on different belief. I believe that children learn very quickly from 0 - 6 years old. It's the golden time for them to learn languages. However, parents should guide the children and be careful when choosing homemaids.
To keep this short, I started to learn English when I was 2 and I enjoyed the English-learning environment very much. Teachers at the nursery were English speakers, the language came to me very naturally. After the age of 6 or 7, I found it more difficult for me pick up the spoken English when there were fewer and fewer native English-speaking teachers and/or friends around. Reading and writing skills could be learnt and trained at school. For oral English... it's really better to be trained at an earlier age.

jychan

choosing the right maid is of course important to yr kid's upbringing. but u don't have to worry too much about the "bad" influence of your maid to yr kid if you provide sufficient & suitable guidance to both your kid & your maid. Guidance here doesn't means dominace & forcing either of them to do anything they don't want to do, but to set a boundary to let them choose anything inside the boundary. Respect both your kid & the maid's wills. If we just complain how bad our maid, it may only worsen the situation. If we respect our maid, she will definitely sense that & willing to resepct your instructions & treat your kid well.
I really think that u can't blame any delay in development to your maid or any environmental factors. If these factors are really matters, it's you the mummy who "set" it for your kid & you can change it & do any remedies! Or sometime may be the delay is not that big deal & that's just our over-sensitivity.         

beckylui

Hi jychan,

My 8-month old son is also being looked after by an indonesian maid.  I also try my best to talk/play/read with him after work.  I'm looking for good english-speaking playgroup for him to attend at around 1 yr old.  Would you mind recommending any good one?  Thanks in advance.

Becky

alexlui

Hi everyone,

Bilingual teaching is really possible, the key point is language separation. Don't say something like "Two 隻鴨仔, 睇下呢架 train train".  How can they know which part is Chinese? which part is English?  The best way is: one parent speaks one language.  The second best thing to do is to speak one language at a time.  

Some delays in both languages is typical in bilingual learning, no cause of concern.  To play safe, you may consult speech therapist.  The kids having real language and psychology problems might have been listening different languages but not being taught enough.  They just heard gossipping all the time and being lack of quality 2-way interactive learning time.

Don't forget the P.1 admission at the age of five, if your child is bilingual or trilingual, it is a real advantage.  After that you can only hope for the best and prepare for the worst lucky draw outcome.

Regards.

jychan

Hi beckylui,
Sorry for replying so late as I was extremely busy these few days.
My girl attends playgroup 4 times a week at Smart Learning Centre in Sai Kung, accompanied by my indonesian maid. They both enjoys the palygroup classes & both learnt a lot. My maid will tell me what my kid learnt in the class & wheather she's behaved or happy for the class.        
Where do u live? You may try to find some good playgroups in your neighbourhood for your kid.
I am very busy in the weekdays & usually go home late at night (after 9:00pm). But I still squeeze time daily to play & talk with my girl to build a better relationship with her & to teach her stuff. During holidays, I spend most of my time with her. Though it's really exhausted, I think it worths & is really necessary.  

Mayumi

Anyone who's letting their kid learning 3 languages (Cant/Mand/Eng) the same time at the early age?  Just wonder if it will be confusing for the kids!  Any experience to share?

beckylui

Hi Jrchan,

Thanks for your reply!  Wow, your playgroup is in Sai Kung ... I'm living in Lam Tin so I'm now finding some in TST or Kowloon Tong.  Not quite easy 'cos most of them don't offer Sat class for babies of my b's age.  I really wanna accompany my b to the class if on Sat and being with him.  

I also try to grasp every second when I return home at night to feed/talk/play with him ... but another point to my dismay is that my hubby is not quite co-operative 'cos he thinks I'm too nervous about my baby ...  

Hi Mayumi,

I also wanna know any sharing to your question ... my situation is further complicated by that my in-laws, who are looking after my bb, are Fujianese.  So my in-laws will talk with each other and my hubby themselves with mandarin / Fujianese.  I'll talk with them in mandarin / cantonese.  But I'll try more to speak to my bb in english in order to create an english-speaking environment for him... crazy?   

Becky

wkwok01

Why don't you try to attend the playgroup held by Tutor Time? They have Saturday class. I am going to join this playgroup on the coming October as their new campus in Kowloon Tong will be opened in September.[quote]
beckylui 寫道:
Hi Jrchan,

Thanks for your reply!  Wow, your playgroup is in Sai Kung ... I'm living in Lam Tin so I'm now finding some in TST or Kowloon Tong.  Not quite easy 'cos most of them don't offer Sat class for babies of my b's age.  I really wanna accompany my b to the class if on Sat and being with him.  

I also try to grasp every second when I return home at night to feed/talk/play with him ... but another point to my dismay is that my hubby is not quite co-operative 'cos he thinks I'm too nervous about my baby ...  

beckylui

Hi wkwok01

Thanks for your advice!  Let me check it out and see if I can make a visit to their new campus!

Becky

alexlui

Mayumi 寫道:
Anyone who's letting their kid learning 3 languages (Cant/Mand/Eng) the same time at the early age?  Just wonder if it will be confusing for the kids!  Any experience to share?

The most important point is Language Separation, each person should only speak one language at one time.  My son is bilingual, I speaks to him in English most of the time, my wife speaks to him in Cantonese.  Both of us are not capable of speaking good Mandarin, that is why my son is only bilingual.  My son's classmate, a little girl of 6 years old, is trilingual.  Her father speaks Cantonese only, her mother speaks Mandarin only and her helper speaks English only.  She didn't work hard to learn the three languages but she is capable to communicate in three languages.  


Regards.

jychan

Dear Beckylui,
i think there are still many good playgroups in other districts. However, I think you need to attend with her at the beginning to make sure it's really suitable for yout baby.
I used to be a nervous mom & that means I am cautious. I am now more relaxed as everything seems in order now. Relax!      

Mayumi

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your response to my question.  My case is similar to you.  Our approach is same to you.  I'm mainly communicating with my girl in English since I can spend more time with her than her daddy.  Cantonese is easy since HK is a Cantonese based environment.  My girl is bilingual and she could communicate very fluently in both Eng & Cant (it is the basic entrance ticket for our next generation and most kids, like my girl's classmates, can do the same).  We have no one can speak good Mandarin at home and I'm just thinking that if I should let her study in a Mandarin/Eng class in the kinder.  Not sure it can really help or it will affect her understanding of the teaching materials presented in Mandarin in the class.  Any comment?

alexlui

Hi Mayumi,

The performance of a child depends on nature, nurture and the peer group.  Children study under the same conditions may have different performance but we should try to provide a good trilingual enviroment for our kids.

From my own experience, learning Mandarin once a week by joining Mandarin class is not sufficient.  If a kinder can teach Mandarin daily, it is very good.  

Chinese is harder than English, if you emphasize on English then your daughter may avoid learning Chinese.  If you emphasize on Chinese, then she will take longer to read books compatible with her cognitive ability. How to teach my son Mandarin is always a question in my mind, I am still thinking very hard on this problem.

Primary schools always like to accept children with better English ability and it is essential for international schools.  To make sure that our children can get a place in a good primary school, we have to emphasize English.  The cost is their poorer Chinese ability.  Planning for our children's future is never an easy job.

Regards.