English & Japanese – world’s apart?
So we are a Japanese and English speaking family. As both me and Ochan are adult learners of languages (I started learning Japanese when I was in my 20s, and he started using his school-learnt English in practice when he opened his first guesthouse in 2014), we’re not at ‘native’ level in each others’ languages. I would say we are ‘competent’. We typically use Japanese when talking to each other, but English sometimes, and often a mix. But I’m aware that learning Japanese is going to be a lifetime commitment for me – especially in things like handwriting (which I almost never do) or reading longer articles or books in Japanese (which I almost never make time to do).
So for me, Japanese is a daily effort. I have to commit to trying, making mistakes, learning, and coming to terms with the fact that Japanese is just world’s apart from English in reading, writing, grammar rules, nuances – everything!
But Luca? Luca is 2, so he’s just hitting that really chatty phase where he absorbs everything, copies everything and wants to express himself clearly. His first words were in English, and he definitely uses English more right now. But Ochan speaks to him in Japanese and he hears me and Ochan use Japanese with each other, so these words are now following. He understands both languages, we read books in both languages, and watch cartoons in both languages.
And later this year or next year, he’ll start pre-school in Japanese.
Right now, I speak with Luca and now Ko in English, and Ochan primarily speaks with them in Japanese. But they hear us speak to each other in our Japanese/English mix.
Outside of home, most of our community is of course in Japanese, although we do use English with other international friends or families. And when we Facetime my parents, or friends in the UK, it’s English.
Thus far, Luca seems to be naturally growing in his abilities in both languages.
But there are so many different opinions our there about raising bilingual kids. So I’m curious, does anyone else have experience in English and Japanese in your family? Did you find both languages coming through quite naturally? Did your kids have any confusion?
Would love to hear your experiences if you’re further along this journey than us!
