07 May 2006
language bugs
Older internationally adopted kids usually seem to pick up the language almost overnight. And after about a year, anyone who doesn't live with them would describe them as totally fluent.
This means that the parent of such a child has to spend a lot of time explaining and re-explaining the research on language acquisition in general and subtractive bilingualism in particular to teachers and other school officials.
It also means that some of the fun of the toddler years of a biological child hangs around for much longer with an adopted child.
F'rinstance.
Two (home ten years and still a picky eater): "I hate beans."
Mama: "It's not possible to hate beans."
Two: "Yes, it is! My taste bugs hate 'em."
This means that the parent of such a child has to spend a lot of time explaining and re-explaining the research on language acquisition in general and subtractive bilingualism in particular to teachers and other school officials.
It also means that some of the fun of the toddler years of a biological child hangs around for much longer with an adopted child.
F'rinstance.
Two (home ten years and still a picky eater): "I hate beans."
Mama: "It's not possible to hate beans."
Two: "Yes, it is! My taste bugs hate 'em."
