Another thing - having had the misfortune to witness an influx of 30 English families into a rural village with a population of 700 in which I was previously one of only two English inhabitants - I’ve seen English children aged 4 or 5 develop into fluent French speakers after only one or two years à la maternelle.

Maybe you should wait five or six years then move back to England?!

As for the parents - they didn’t even want the free French lessons i was offering.

Kev

You don’t have to be qualified to comment, but if you are it helps .

I live in anguish that one day Nathan will never speak English to a “reasonable standard”, but then I have such high hopes. I wouldn’t be disappointed as such but it’s rather like anything else; I hope he’ll be good at things and take after his Mum and Dad in his interests in language, music and other cultures.

It helps that Yasmina speaks several languages and his exposure to French, English, Moroccan Arabic and other languages will give him the baggage he needs to be lingually competent if that’s what he’s destined for.

Of course he might be good at other things entirely, or perhaps not at all, but I’ll do my best to help him with English at every available opportunity.

Cheers,

-Fruey

Finally a subject which I feel reasonably qualified to comment on.

I’ve got 3 close friends who are in the same position - with children of 14, 13, and 7.

Despite being exposed regularly to both languages, none of the kids speak English to a reasonable standard.

I get the impression that they haven’t entirely rejected English (they certainly understand very well)and that when they need or want to, the information will be deep in the subconscience to be called upon.

Hope that makes sense - i too find it harder and harder to express myself in English these days - all the real conversations I have are in French.

Good luck teaching Nathan English - hope I have the same problem one day.

Kev.

Thanks ever so much for taking time to give your valuable insight.

I’m bilingual myself, but I didn’t speak more than a few words of French before starting senior school (age 10). I gradually improved my French during school, and did a French degree with a year in France which enabled me to perfect my accent and vocabulary. I’ve been living in French speaking countries since 1998 so I can almost pass for a native (though sometimes I’m compared to a congested Belgian). I think that makes me very much an exception compared to bilinguals who learned from a parent, and certainly doesn’t enable me to draw from my experience when bringing up my own child.

I am curious to see if Nathan thinks that “Daddy shouldn’t speak French” later on. I’m equally curious to know if you can put your finger on why it might be that your eldest is more comfortable in English than the other two.

Some sound advice in your comment, it was a pleasure reading you.

-Fruey

I know it can be difficult but you must make the effort to speak English with Nathan all the time. Get as many English videos/DVDs/cassettes and books as you can. Of course, it’s a little different for you because you’re not with him constantly but he should still realise that Daddy speaks English and Mummy speaks French. Perhaps you or your wife could take him along to an English-speaking Toddlers’ group if there’s one in your area.

Don’t give up though - it’s worth it. And for later on, I suggest Nathan takes German or another language at school, rather than English. I regret letting mine take English as they acquired a slight French accent and started making grammatical mistakes they had never made before! But, you’ve time enough before that decision needs to be taken

Great to hear from you, and thanks for taking the time to encourage me . Sounds like you know what you’re talking about which is reassuring.

I have been trying to get hold of bilingual toys (like a train set that counts in French and English) and bring books back from England each time I go there. If you need any good French books / DVDs maybe we could have a bit of an exchange by good old fashioned post?

I’m a little worried about delayed language development, could make people think Nathan’s behind… but as long as he’s about OK by the time he gets to the maternelle that’ll be cool.

-Fruey

I really hope Nathan does grow up bilingual, it would be a real advantage for him. Especially since English would be his second language, but it’s a key language in Europe and will open doors for him.

-Fruey