Sometimes I wander what language to actually speak with my children! I have one in an Americanised International school, another in a Bavarian Grundeschule and a third in German Kindergarten. One follows a schedule, another a student plan which to me is a timetable. Then the have to take food with them. This is consumed at either recess, Pause or Fruhstuck; after which they have recess, Pause or im Garten spielen(Playtime!)
At the end of the day, Jonah has homework (usually in American English), and Jemima Hausaufgabe (in German). Even the end of the school day is different for all three children: 15:40 for Jonah, Jemima finishes at various times followed by Mittagsbetreuung-an afterschool club but technically pre-lunch childcare-where I pick her up at 13:00, and 12:30 pick up for Elijah!!).
So there is British English, American English, German (Deutsch) and to top it all a local Franconian dialect! All three children can speak better German than me. (Jemima's recent school report stating that she knows and can read all the vocabulary expected of her age, here in Bavaria). Will speaking English to them hinder their progress in learning German? Mind you if I try and speak Deutsch I am always corrected by them , so that can only help me , not them!
A friend of mine has introduced me to the concept of 'Third Culture Kids'. Where our children have been exposed to and brought up in Cultures extra to their own. I must research into this more. Surely , when this world is getting smaller and smaller and lifestyles and work environments are getting more and more International this can only be an advantage for them?
I may have missed the boat to being bilingual, but I am persevering with learning German, my new course started last night. I will spend two nights a week learning , and Pete a different 2 nights improving his Deutsch....busy times!
