I think its upto the kid too... Some kids are better at lanuages than others... My kid sis' urdu and mine are a world apart even though its the same set of rules and same set of parents... She just found it better off with english than with urdu... Can understand it great but its painful hearing the urdu if it gets slightly hard hehe...
If the base is strong... I think u can relax witth what is to come... Also k ow ure child maybe
Can u beleive husband and i speak mostly english but midget hasnt picked up on it at all!!
Paidaishi paindu hai... Urdu on the other hand .. U already know :d
Thanks hehe
i think in foreign countries the best way is to speak in urdu at home with your kids from day one. they will know english etc via school and friends anyway.
for those who dont speak urdu and u want to encourage them then start speaking to them in urdu (whether they reply u in urdu or not) and explain them that you would like to them speak urdu with u. but donot force them.
Its important to me that my kid learns Urdu. That's the language we speak at home and in our family. When we go to Pakistan to visit, I want him to able to talk in Urdu. When we visit our family here, I want him to talk to people and be able to converse in Urdu.
I also want him to learn Spanish. That's something i'll have to make an extra effort for. I think its doable. I met a doctor yesterday who was a Jew from Isreal so obviously he could speak Hebrew. He saw my baby and talked to us in English which was perfect and then went to the next patient who was Hispanic and started talking to her in perfect Spanish. I was amazed. My husband has similar stories to share where language is a barrier for some of his patients and he tells them to explain in Urdu. So because my kid wouldn't have a problem learning Urdu coz that's what we speak I would really want to avail the opportunity. And like GTG mentioned she would want her kids to learn Arabic, I would want mine to learn Spanish for which I'll make an extra effort.
^ yes but how was that rule implemented? Did your parents not talk to you if you did not answer in urdu? Unfortunately we do not have any urdu classes in our area.
I am sorry but I am not sure what is the big deal about making sure that kids know how to speak urdu. I know families who are so rigid on this that the kid is about 9 now and cannot speak a single English sentence properly but speak urdu like Mirza ghalb. He is having such a hard time at school cause he cannot communicate to his teacher or fellow students (not to mention that his class fellows make fun of his english too). That is definitely hurting his self esteem. Really, is language more important or kids over all growth to adjust in this society more important?
Maybe I am saying all this cause our won kids cant speak urdu properly (though they understand if we say something to them in simple urdu), but that is all they need, basic urdu skills. T
I don't remember if it was a clear cut rule or not but as far as I remember, I always spoke Urdu/punjabi with my parents and elders....never English...but some relatives tell me that Urdu was my first language...and I had to be taught English when I was 4-5 years old, but I don't remember ever struggling with it, in fact English (grammar/reading) was my best subject in school.
I know families who are so rigid on this that the kid is about 9 now and cannot speak a single English sentence properly but speak urdu like Mirza ghalb. He is having such a hard time at school cause he cannot communicate to his teacher or fellow students (not to mention that his class fellows make fun of his english too).
I find that kind of hard to believe, unless this kid has never had a non-desi friend, and has never been in a non-desi place, that he doesn't know much English...
I think the mindset that most parents have is that the child will learn ENglish when they go to school, and will encounter it with friends..so that way they get teh best of both worlds.
I find that kind of hard to believe, unless this kid has never had a non-desi friend, and has never been in a non-desi place, that he doesn't know much English.
you should speak with your kids in urdu. they will not speak until the age of 7 or 8. at least my sister's kids started communicating in urdu at the age of 7/8
I think reading in Urdu can help a great deal... and that way you're accomplishing multiple things, since your child can speak Urdu, read it, and hopefully also learn to write it more easily.
^ yes but how was that rule implemented? Did your parents not talk to you if you did not answer in urdu? Unfortunately we do not have any urdu classes in our area.
My parents did not reply to me or speak to me until i spoke to them in urdu, and i was 11 when all this happened and literally within a few months i started speaking fluent urdu and now i speak urdu at home all the time and my english has remained perfectly articulate (infact i get complimented on my articulation and public speaking skills)
I am sorry but I am not sure what is the big deal about making sure that kids know how to speak urdu. I know families who are so rigid on this that the kid is about 9 now and cannot speak a single English sentence properly but speak urdu like Mirza ghalb. He is having such a hard time at school cause he cannot communicate to his teacher or fellow students (not to mention that his class fellows make fun of his english too). That is definitely hurting his self esteem. Really, is language more important or kids over all growth to adjust in this society more important?
Maybe I am saying all this cause our won kids cant speak urdu properly (though they understand if we say something to them in simple urdu), but that is all they need, basic urdu skills. T
because in a globalized world, people want their kids to learn other languages and be diverse. WHAT is so wrong about teaching them a language that is easily accessible to the parents and has cultural value? it would only make the children more aware of their heritage amd perhaps help them understand other cultures. what is so wrong about teaching it to them? parents make an effort to teach everything else, but urdu isn't necessary though it would just add to them being diverse. it means they would know another language. i think that has a lot of value. [and it does add to the overall growth of a child.] most schools make students take a 2nd lang...no one objects to that.
[of course my opinion will be dismissed because i don't have kids. blah. ]
I am sorry but I am not sure what is the big deal about making sure that kids know how to speak urdu. I know families who are so rigid on this that the kid is about 9 now and cannot speak a single English sentence properly but speak urdu like Mirza ghalb. He is having such a hard time at school cause he cannot communicate to his teacher or fellow students (not to mention that his class fellows make fun of his english too). That is definitely hurting his self esteem. Really, is language more important or kids over all growth to adjust in this society more important?
Maybe I am saying all this cause our won kids cant speak urdu properly (though they understand if we say something to them in simple urdu), but that is all they need, basic urdu skills. T
Seems like a ghetto story of which many exist in the UK!
I am sorry but I am not sure what is the big deal about making sure that kids know how to speak urdu. I know families who are so rigid on this that the kid is about 9 now and cannot speak a single English sentence properly but speak urdu like Mirza ghalb. He is having such a hard time at school cause he cannot communicate to his teacher or fellow students (not to mention that his class fellows make fun of his english too). That is definitely hurting his self esteem. Really, is language more important or kids over all growth to adjust in this society more important?
Maybe I am saying all this cause our won kids cant speak urdu properly (though they understand if we say something to them in simple urdu), but that is all they need, basic urdu skills. T
I find this hard to believe too. I don't know a single kid who was speaking fluently in Urdu before schooling and had difficulties learning English. Initially, the kid will struggle but they learn so fast that there is no way they won't learn another language. My nephew didn't know a SINGLE word of English before going to school and he started school late too. His English is very good and he's been in school for just few months now.
Maybe this kid has some other problem, speech delay or something.
TLK its just not possible that a 9 year old school going kid doesn't speak English. My nephew didn't speak a word of English. But he started speaking fluent English within weeks of joining kindergarten. My friends 4 years old speaks only Urdu at home but she communicates in English at the daycare.
^ yes but how was that rule implemented? Did your parents not talk to you if you did not answer in urdu? Unfortunately we do not have any urdu classes in our area.
Yes!
We also had spelling tests at home in Urdu and I had to write letters to my Phopho in Pakistan in Urdu to which she would reply.
.. start slow.
talk to them in mix English Urdu (?) - my aunt used to tell her kids that she will only reply to them if they ask her in urdu. if they need help with how to ask her in urdu they can get that help from their dad or mom.
that helped alot. or maybe you can watch pakistani channel such as geo or cartoons in urdu. i am sure they will be interested in that :)\
how old are your kids?
. dont force them to only talk in urdu. they can mix Eng words with urdu. it will take time for them to learn it.
Its just a very surprising story which doesnt make sense and there must be some underlying issues.
...and it's just one example.
i'd prefer stories of children who were able to pick up both (or more if they know more) languages because of the parents persistence and dedication.
also, you'd think it would take more effort to NOT expose children to a langauge(s) both parents speak and understand. Learning languages is a very natural thing for young kids.