English/Urdu problem

[S08]

@Niksik

So I’ve often heard elders and even peers say teach your kids urdu (or whatever your native language is) as they will learn English anyway when they start school…right. I agree that our children living outside of their homeland should know their native language, but I don’t agree that we should only talk to them in urdu for the simple reason that when they do get to school, they feel completely alienated and have to struggle to learn English and fit in.

I know 3 families here going through this situation where they are experts in speaking urdu/punjabi but at age 5, in kindergarten, they are totally depressed and hate going to school because they are unable to participate in the activities. Of course the teachers are very patient and understand that they need help and time to catch up but shouldn’t we parents accept the fact that we are going to be living here and should be more relaxed about this language issue which seems to be more of an ego problem?

This uncle ji commented that my daughters don’t speak good urdu and was criticizing our parenting…while his daughter who is 16 now, a high school student here, can barely do an assignment properly because her dad insists she must only speak and read urdu otherwise she will forget her roots.

Balance?

just cuz she speaks and read urdu that doesn’t mean she is poor in assignment. it could be other reasons..no?