Baby Language.

Updated on February 28, 2012
L.D. asks from Glendora, NJ
7 answers

Hi. I"m a full time english speaking nanny. The family only speaks German in their home. I am to teach English to their 9 month old baby . I am only allowed to use books and cds. No dvds no Tv at all. I am always asked when is our child going to start speaking english. Is there any books on teaching another language or how long it would take an infant to learn a new language?

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

Kids learn language by simply talking to them. Identify objects and give them names and speak as you would normally speak to any child.
When you read books, show the pictures. "This is a kitty. It says, 'meow'. This is a cow, it says 'moooo'".

The child is 9 months old. How much GERMAN can the baby possibly be speaking at this age?

5 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Ok, the way for any child to learn a language is to be spoken to in the language, many children who have bi lingual homes speak later in life than children with only one language. The best thing for you to do is read, speak (full adult sentences) constantly and have music playing. I used to narrate my every move to my son - made me think I was half nuts but people think his vocabulary is wonderful and do not realize he does have a speech delay.

5 moms found this helpful
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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

The baby is 9 months old. (S)he doesn't need an English course. Talk, sing, read, play... all the things you would do with a baby who's FIRST language was English. No 9 month old should be put in front of the tv, so that's not about teaching a language, that's about the age of the child. Again, just the regular good practices for child rearing at this point will teach the child English.

4 moms found this helpful

S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

How many bilingual OR just plain English speaking babies do you see at 9 months old? Very few as they usually don't say too much at that age. I would do what is already recommended here by talking to the baby, saying the word and showing the object or whatever. They learn by hearing it and if this child is bilingual at 9 months it will be amazing.

3 moms found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

First of all, most babies do not speak any language at 9 months. Babies will learn the languages they hear around them. If you are full time and are speaking to the baby all the time (please use English, not baby talk) then she will learn the language. You do not need CDs, DVDs or television. And reading books to her is great, but she will learn the works from your voice, not the written word initially. She should learn English at about the rate she learns German.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Sharon on

At 9 months, the baby would barely be speaking any language! When you add in a second one, it usually takes longer for the child to speak, but when they do, it usually comes out in sentences! It's a good time to introduce languages, but the child needs to process everything. It will come in time.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

My granddaughter is 10 months old and only makes sounds; no words yet. The family is expecting language too soon. Does the baby speak German?

I also suggest that you don't teach a language to a baby in the same way you'd teach a subject to an older child. Babies learn a language thru daily exposure, not lessons. Talk with the baby throughout the day. Read to him. He'll first make sounds and then put them together into words.

http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/devmile.htm This site lists developmental milestones. A baby is not expected to say any words by the time they're a year old. By 18mos they may know 8-10 words.

1 mom found this helpful
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