Oh my gosh I love it!!! These are the best ever! She is so stinkin' adorable, truly, and have I mentioned before how cool it is (read: how jealous I am) of bilingual people??
It kind of sounds like she has an accent when she speaks English. But that could also be because she's a little kid. What do you think?
What is she speaking more often these days? Are you completely fluent in German or do you ever get confused/ need help?
Post by Dorothy Zbornak on Jun 27, 2013 8:28:19 GMT -5
I think she sounds pretty American when she speaks English, but that could just be wishful thinking. She mostly speaks German with some English thrown in. I am completely fluent in German and usually don't need any help. But I've also lived here for almost 13 years.
I LOVE this!!! Ansley does as well. She kept pointing at Harper and saying "whats that?" Then when I told her it was Harper, she kept saying "Puh" I think she's a fan. I love how she just switches back and forth. so cute.
I think she sounds pretty American when she speaks English, but that could just be wishful thinking. She mostly speaks German with some English thrown in. I am completely fluent in German and usually don't need any help. But I've also lived here for almost 13 years.
What are the schools like in Germany - is it a similar system as we have here? I assume she'll go to a traditional German school? Do they have English speaking schools there? Is English taught regularly? Do most people speak English as well as German where you live? Do you like it when I assault you with a barrage of questions?
I died when she started speaking German. I was like... Wait what is she saying?? Then you clarified in the vid that she had switched to German. That's so cool!!
I think she sounds pretty American when she speaks English, but that could just be wishful thinking. She mostly speaks German with some English thrown in. I am completely fluent in German and usually don't need any help. But I've also lived here for almost 13 years.
What are the schools like in Germany - is it a similar system as we have here? I assume she'll go to a traditional German school? Do they have English speaking schools there? Is English taught regularly? Do most people speak English as well as German where you live? Do you like it when I assault you with a barrage of questions?
The school system is a lot different; I don't have time to go into it now, because, well, THE CHILDREN are up my ass. They do have English-language schools here, but 99% of them are private and super expensive ... and there are none around my village anyway. She'll go to a normal German school; they start with English in the 3rd grade here. I guess I'll step it up with her soon to help her with writing and stuff.
People say they speak English here, but ... well, yeah.
What are the schools like in Germany - is it a similar system as we have here? I assume she'll go to a traditional German school? Do they have English speaking schools there? Is English taught regularly? Do most people speak English as well as German where you live? Do you like it when I assault you with a barrage of questions?
The school system is a lot different; I don't have time to go into it now, because, well, THE CHILDREN are up my ass. They do have English-language schools here, but 99% of them are private and super expensive ... and there are none around my village anyway. She'll go to a normal German school; they start with English in the 3rd grade here. I guess I'll step it up with her soon to help her with writing and stuff.
People say they speak English here, but ... well, yeah.
So interesting! If you ever feel like going into it more, I am here to listen! I'm in awe of your foreignness and bilingual children!
The school system is a lot different; I don't have time to go into it now, because, well, THE CHILDREN are up my ass. They do have English-language schools here, but 99% of them are private and super expensive ... and there are none around my village anyway. She'll go to a normal German school; they start with English in the 3rd grade here. I guess I'll step it up with her soon to help her with writing and stuff.
People say they speak English here, but ... well, yeah.
So interesting! If you ever feel like going into it more, I am here to listen! I'm in awe of your foreignness and bilingual children!
Most kids start kindergarten (like preschool) at the age of three; they start school at age six. Elementary school goes from grades 1-4 and I think it's pretty much the same anywhere. All day schools don't really exist here; they are becoming more "popular," but the concept is very foreign here. So are things like school sports, choir, band, etc. If kids do that stuff, it's through a club or something extracurricular. Kids don't even usually eat lunch at school (but they do take a "recess sandwich" with them, which I guess they eat during a break in the morning). School kids are usually home around 12 or 1 p.m.
During the 4th grade, the kid (and their teachers and parents) have to decide what kind of school they'll go on to after the 4th grade is over. There are three kinds of schools here: Hauptschule (goes to grade 9), Realschule (goes to grade 10) and Gymnasium (goes to grade 13 and is the school you have to go to if you want to go to university). Hauptschule kids normally go on to do an apprenticeship; the same goes for Realschule, but they also have the chance to continue on to Gymnasium (my husband did this).
There are also things like "Gesamtschulen," which is where you've got all three kinds of schools in one; the kids are together, but have their different classes. I guess a lot like a high school with remedial, normal and AP classes, to simplify it. Hauptschulen are on their way out here because they have a bad reputation in many places, and it's hard to get an apprenticeship with only that diploma.
Wow, that is really neat and very different than in the states. Are schools free like public education is here? Even Kindergarten starting at age 3? I wonder how the kids get all their work done by 12 or 1. It wouldn't seem like there's enough time in the day. And what about kids who have 2 working parents? Where do they go since school is over so early? Will your kids go to Gymnasium?
I will check out the link for more info too. Thanks for schooling me on German education. (Wortspiel intended.)
So cute! Love these videos. My two youngest cousins grew up in Germany and started off in German schools. The older one is bilingual -- they lived there until she was in 3rd grade (she just graduated from high school).
There are not words for how much I love this, both because Harper is so stinking cute and because that is so impressive to be completely bilingual by 4!! Little smarty-pants! Great job, mama:)
I can only hope Clara gets that good. The nanny we hired when she was four months old is from Colombia, and at our request, has only ever spoken Spanish to Clara, for 40hours a week for the past 10 months. C understands it perfectly, but the only Spanish word she's actually saying is "adios" (although she can identify all body parts and follow commands) The larger challenge is that my own Spanish is elementary at best, so I can only reinforce the basics. So jealous of all you bilingual mamas!!!
Ugh, H is so stinkin' cute. I love hearing her intermingle English and German. Lucky girl to be bilingual (you, too!). Did you learn German in grade/high school or mostly when you moved overseas?
Post by rileym2010 on Jun 27, 2013 19:58:08 GMT -5
So cute! Ah, I really hope we get to move to Germany next summer. Evan needs more german in his life than (at this point my very basic) my german and Disney movies.