Parlez-vous francais?

Just returned from spending a wonderful week with my totally delightful grandchildren (my totally unbiased opinion, of course!!) I am blown-away by the way they are able to switch from speaking French to English at such a young age!!!!

The almost 5 year old goes to a french school where all instruction is in french, and only french is spoken all day ... and we are all thrilled at how her french has blossomed during her first year there in Jr. Kindergarten. (To qualify for this school, one parent MUST be french speaking, and luckily our daughter-in-law is French Canadian.)

However, it is the two-and-a half year old little fellow who is totally amazing to my mind. (I should qualify, and say that he himself is not totally amazing - although, of course WE in his family all think so - it is the workings of his young brain that surprises us.) Until 6 months ago he hardly said a word ... his mum spoke to him in french, dad in english ... and although he appeared to understand both, he did not venture into the world of language at all.

We weren't too concerned about this - after all, he is a male! :-) But, we saw his brain working in many other matters, and knew that language would come when he was ready (Einstein didn't utter a word until he was 3!)

Anyway, whilst staying with them I watched open-mouthed, while this little fellow switched from french to english with absolute ease. He even knew who he should speak which to!! One lunch time his mother gave him a bowl of soup, and he said to her, "C'est chaud, mama!" then looked at me and said, "It's hot, Gran!" If his mother spoke to him in french he answered in french, if she spoke in english he answered in english ... I was blown away!!!

How very lucky these two youngsters are, learning 2 languages with such ease ... if the young brain is easily capable of handling this, why are we waiting until children are so much older before introducing a new language, and even then at such a slow rate???

It is obvious that these two children not only are learning 2 languages at the same time, but are quite aware of the fact, do not mix them up, and can switch very easily between the two. My granddaughter will often sneak an english word in when she is speaking french if she doesn't know the french word - but, this isn't due to confusion on her part, she knows she is making a substitution.

Isn't the brain amazing???? (Not to mention my two very special little people!!)

Bye, until next time ...