讀了SC, 反而不願說英文?

agaperamy

My kid is studying in SC in K1 this year. When he was in pre-nursery, he spoke only Engish to me at home. He also went to an international pre-nursery class at that time. But after studying in SC (English and Cantonese Class), he switches to Cantonese. He doesn't want to speak English at home. I am wondering if other kids have the same problem. Please share, as it really troubles me a lot! Thanks!

agaperamy

Do you think kids studying in SC can get enough English input without the need of going to English classes and parents speaking English at home? What I mean by enough is kids can speak simple English and communicate with a foreigner using simple English.

mango_cafe

My son is okay, he can switch Chanel by himself

silverbell

Before K1, my kid even spoke English in his dreams!  At that time, his Cantonese was more like a foreigner speaking the language. Now, he speaks Cantonese much much more than English.

It is very natural because our mother tongue is Cantonese and he knows his parents are talking in Cantonese. But, I will remind him to speak English whenever I speak English to him. When he speaks to the domestic helper, he naturally switches to English. If you want him to pick up native accent, let him watch more English programmes.

Though he speaks Cantonese much more often, his pronunciation is very accurate!

joeyxlma

Both Eng and PTH, but I think a bit more in English

agaperamy

For kids studying E/P class, what language will they speak more when they talk to each other? thanks for sharing.

bearcat2003

這裡有理性討論，多好呀！

joeyxlma

回復 cutecutewing 的帖子

Yes, and they speak English/PTH with each other very naturally.

joeyxlma

回復 agaperamy 的帖子

My girl is in EP class too.
It is very interesting to find out that when they talk with the classmates, they will automatically and naturally switch to English or PTH (in outings, even in private birthday party).  That's why I think you need not worry and children can handle multi languages when they speak to different person.

agaperamy

cutecutewing 發表於 12-6-21 05:55
我個女k2係英普班，我同佢地去學校親子旅行時，所有小朋友都是用英文或者普通話溝通的，呢樣係我十分讚賞的 ...

Thanks for your sharing, cutecutewing. May I ask, by your observation, kids in E/P class speak more English or PTH with thier friends on the picnic day? Thanks!

agaperamy

joeyxlma 發表於 12-6-20 16:59
回復 agaperamy 的帖子

May I know if English is your mother tougue? Do your child knows you speaks C ...

English is not my mother tongue. Maybe you are right that he knows that I speak Cantonese to other people. He doesn't think it is a must to only speak English to me. Yes, you are right! I think I worry too much. Thank you.

cutecutewing

我個女k2係英普班，我同佢地去學校親子旅行時，所有小朋友都是用英文或者普通話溝通的，呢樣係我十分讚賞的。

joeyxlma

回復 agaperamy 的帖子

May I know if English is your mother tougue? Do your child knows you speaks Cantonese too?

Assuming that you are Cantonese speaking, so my fair guess is that you may only speak English to him but will speak Cantonese to others, so knows very well that you could speak Cantonese and more important your mother tougue is Cantonese.

If it is the case, I think it is just because he could feel that your English is not your best language; or at least not mother tougue and so do not feel that he should speak in English with you.  It is very natural to children..Children are very sensitive to language and could diffentiate who speaks which language.

I myself have a similar experience but the other way round, i.e. when she is small I speak English & PTH with her, but when I she got to 2nd term of K1, I purposely not to speak English and PTH with her because my Eng/PTH are not that good as compare with her teachers (native speakers). I don't want her to learn anything HK English/PTH from me.

I think the most important point is that you are worry too much on this. I don;'t think it will affect his English standards at at,

agaperamy

Thanks ac917, dwkw333 and MBmummy for your sharing. I plan to let my son study in local primary school.

dwkw333

ac917 發表於 12-6-20 12:48
樓主，其實你小朋友之前讀International Kgs，來到SC一定感覺十分唔同，如果你真的了解SC，其實SC同國際學 ...

樓主，其實你小朋友之前讀International Kgs，來到SC一定感覺十分唔同，如果你真的了解SC，其實SC同國際學校好唔同，佢地好注重中文方面既訓練，這樣我地既小朋友先容易配合入本地既傳統學校，我個人認為中文絕對難學過英文，不過呢點就真係要睇你預計小朋友將來入讀乜野學校啦！

==> Strongly agree!!!

ac917

樓主，其實你小朋友之前讀International Kgs，來到SC一定感覺十分唔同，如果你真的了解SC，其實SC同國際學校好唔同，佢地好注重中文方面既訓練，這樣我地既小朋友先容易配合入本地既傳統學校，我個人認為中文絕對難學過英文，不過呢點就真係要睇你預計小朋友將來入讀乜野學校啦！

不過，你小朋友完全唔想講英文又有d奇怪，喺SC，K1有一半時間對NET，所以我覺得呢個唔係好大問題，唔肯講並唔代表唔識講或者講得唔好，但如果你都好想小朋友在家同媽咪講返英文，不妨同位NET teacher講，叫佢提小朋友返屋企或遇到有人同佢講英文，佢就要講英文，因為呢個都係尊重既一種。

MB媽咪

回復 gloria_cwy3 的帖子

呢種現象係好奇怪, 我有些親戚住在英國和美國多年, 能講流利正統口音英語, 但他跟自己的小朋友只會講中文, 因為他怕自己小朋友不懂中文, 日後回流的時候怕會很難溝通.

有時候在街上見到一些父母, 大大聲用英文和自己小朋友溝通, 但有無想過發港式的英文, 真係好難聽.

我認識一位朋友, 他的小朋友從小到大都是在國際學校讀書.
現在已經畢業要到社會找工作, 但一直都找唔到.
當中一個原因是不懂中文.

gloria_cwy3

agaperamy 發表於 12-6-20 07:51
回復 ourbaby 的帖子

Hi ourbaby,

My hubby and I use Cantonese only when I am speaking with my son. We are chinese. Why we need to speak in a foreign language! Of course, when I'm talking to both my son and my helper, I will speak English.

In the estate that I live, French women talk with their kids in french. Indian women talk with their kids in Indian. Japanese moms speak in Japanese. Mainland moms speak in Mandarin. Only HK moms are not speaking to their kids in their mother language. And I am the only HK mom who speaks Cantonese. What a strange phenomenon it is.

agaperamy

回復 ourbaby 的帖子

Hi ourbaby,

I speak English to my son but my husband speaks Cantonese to him so as to provide hime with the language environment to learn both languages. I think a lot of parents are using the same method. How about you and other mums? Please share, thanks!