Hi there
,
I am English, but grew up here, bilingual. We spoke and still speak English at home (at may parents), I learnt German in kindergarten. My husband is German, and "our " language is German, but I exclusively speak English with the children. They understand everything but speak more or less only German themselves, throwing in the odd English word or phrase. "Would like milk" is a favourite of my youngest, and my eldest is very good when she wants something
"may I please have another ginger biscuit, please" . They have never really had to speak English, as everyone who speaks English with them also understands their German, e.g. my parents. They unfortunately live 180 km from us. So it bis mostly me who talks in English to them, and it does feel a little strange when I usually only get German back. The children haven't complained, yet
.
One of the funniest things that happened: My elder daughter was telling me something and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what she was talking about, it sounded something like "elkorve". After a while she said: "Mensch Mama,
Lorry!"
She'd meant "LKW"
.
The closest I get to "Mummy" (I have a northern accent) from my eldest is "Mami", the little one uses both. My younger one always starts off with the English, but with her sister talking mainly in German, she rather copies her than me
. and what really gets me is when she copies the German accent when they do early English in kindergarten
Oh, and they can both sing various English nursery rhymes
I'd love to meet English speaking mums and dads, so if anyone happens to live anywhere around Hannover/Braunschweig/Bremen....
Looking forward to reading from you,
Niamh.
P.S.: I like "die sheepen die sleepen"
Reminds me a bit of my little one 6 months ago: we went past some geese, and she kept saying: "Geese. *pause* Geese. *pause* Geese. *pause* Kanne."