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vernayu


民房

積分: 19


1#
發表於 10-8-4 00:51 |只看該作者
The quest for English comes at a price - SCMP

The quest for English comes at a price


Problems when Cantonese speakers talk to their children in English

Verna Yu

Aug 02, 2010

Cheryl is one of many middle-class Hong Kong parents who have high hopes for her children. Even before her son was born, she was determined he would speak English like a native speaker.

So ever since Daniel came along, she and her husband have been speaking to him in their less-than-perfect English, even though they realise their ability is limited. A native Cantonese speaker, she speaks passable English but is far from fluent because she hardly ever uses the language in her daily life.

Like many Hong Kong parents, they have little faith in the local education system and want their son to get into an international school and study abroad when he is older. So why not give him an early start in English?

"If Daniel's English isn't good, he will be disadvantaged in life," the mother of one said. "Kindergarten and school interviews - everything is so competitive these days. So we want him to get used to the language as early as possible."

But her husband admits that talking to their two-year-old toddler in a foreign language can sometimes be frustrating. "The other day I wanted to tell him off and I couldn't find the right words to express myself," the father sighed, shaking his head. "So I just lapsed into Cantonese."

Emily's mother is equally adamant. She and her husband speak Cantonese to each other and to their relatives, but switch into English when they speak to their two young children, aged two and four.

The children utter only English words and are unable to communicate with their grandparents, who speak only Cantonese. But their parents think it is the inevitable price to pay for getting the children into an international school.

"I heard that at some kindergarten interviews, if they hear you speak in Chinese, you will be rejected right away," Emily's mother said.

Daniel and Emily's parents are among a growing number of local Hong Kong parents who have decided to give their children a head start in life by trying to make English their native tongue.

And who can blame them? The standard of English in Hong Kong has been seen as declining since the change of sovereignty more than a decade ago but fluency in the language is still a ticket to good schools and jobs, as well as a status symbol.

But linguists and educational professionals are warning that parents' language choice can have a far wider impact than just their children's language ability - it affects their sense of identity, cultural values and the family relationships.

For a start, if the standard of the parents' English is just moderate, they should not expect that by speaking to the children in flawed English, the youngsters will end up speaking perfect English.

"For the first few years [of their lives], the children take on features of the parents' non-native English because they use it as a model," said Professor Virginia Yip, director of Chinese University's Childhood Bilingualism Research Centre.

With flawed English as a model, the child may end up being functionally bilingual but unlikely to achieve a native standard in the language without regular contact with native speakers.

More importantly, educators say, parents should be aware that their communication with their children and their ability to express their feelings will be severely curtailed, unless they are near-native English speakers themselves. Daniel's father is a case in point.

Dr Angel Chan of Polytechnic University's Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies said: "If parents use a language they're not very proficient in to communicate with their children, they risk sacrificing their chances of having a close relationship with them.

"We often use our own language to communicate our intimate and subtle feelings, so why not take advantage of our mother tongue to build an intimate relationship with our children?" she said. "Life is not just about language ability."

Linguists say parents should also consider how their language strategy will fit into their family and social lives. They should think about whether the children would be able to form close relationships with grandparents and the rest of the family. Will they also be happy for their children not to be able to read Chinese street signs, order food in restaurants and not understand what people are saying around them?

All of the factors inevitably affect a child's sense of cultural identity and belonging.

Linguists say language shapes our outlook in life, influences our thinking and is the carrier of our cultural values and sense of identity, so Chinese parents who try to provide only English should therefore consider whether they would be happy to sacrifice their Chinese values.

"If you want to cultivate a sense of identity, the role of language is indispensable," said Dr David Li Chor-shing, professor of English at the Hong Kong Institute of Education.

"A child's development of a sense of identity is very much dependent on his language, and who he socialises with."

Nursery rhymes, ancient poems and folklore passed down many generations are full of encoded cultural elements and children who learn them are subconsciously absorbing the values behind them, Li said. For example, classical tales such as the 14th century Twenty-four Pious Sons, which aims to teach the Confucian virtue of filial piety, lose much of their cultural meaning when translated into English.

Rejecting Chinese inevitably deprived children of opportunities to learn about their cultural roots, and could leave them confused about their self-identity, Li said.

Academics say that even from a purely linguistic point of view, there is no advantage in withdrawing Chinese altogether from children because the plasticity of infants' and toddlers' brains allows them to process two or even more languages simultaneously. So by all means, educators and academics say, take your children to English-speaking playgroups, but consider it an advantage that in speaking to them in Chinese and exposing them to English at the same time, you are giving them the chance of becoming bilingual. "Using Cantonese as well is not going to disadvantage the child, ultimately you would expect it to be an advantage, to give the child the gift of being bilingual," said Stephen Matthews, linguistics professor and bilingualism expert at the University of Hong Kong.

"If [parents] no longer speak Chinese to their children, we tend to think they're doing them a disfavour by unnecessarily depriving them of their ancestral language."

From a development point of view, parents could even be disadvantaging their children's language progress by artificially imposing English in an environment where the language was not naturally spoken, Cecilia Kam Oi-ping, principal of the Yew Chung International Kindergarten, said.

Kam said many Hong Kong couples spoke Cantonese to each other yet made every effort to ensure their children spoke English only. Many depended on language-teaching products such as videos and flashcards instead of real conversations as a language model.

She said parents who discouraged children from speaking the native language they could have easily picked up at home and in their natural environment were actually not helping them, as languages have to be acquired through linguistic interaction in real-life situations.

"You would actually be depriving them - they would have 50 per cent less learning opportunities," she said. "You need an environment and situations to learn a language.

"Using flashcards and video, children will only copy in parrot fashion but will not learn to communicate."

Some parents say that once their children have been accepted by an international school, they will switch back to Cantonese. But linguists say that by then, they would have missed out on the "golden period" of acquiring it as their mother tongue, while the child's brain is at the peak of its learning capability. A child who starts developing Chinese later than that would process the language in his or her brain like a second language and the grammar and pronunciation were unlikely to reach native-level.

"I would worry if a child has not been exposed to and used [a language] up to age four," Matthews said. "We would worry that they would be disadvantaged in that their Chinese will never be quite native-like."

Linguists worry that many Hong Kong parents have simply not been adequately informed on language issues and although well-meaning, they are often unaware of the possible consequences of their choice.

Matthews says he's come across more cases of children who were discouraged from learning Cantonese but who later wished they'd had the chance. Li agrees: "Many Hong Kong parents do not realise that their quest for English fluency comes at a heavy cost - in this process, are we also losing something?"

Copyright © 2010 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All right
私人傳訊

大豬既老婆


伯爵府

積分: 17545


2#
發表於 10-8-4 01:00 |只看該作者
其實我覺得無必要。何況父母既英文都唔系好流利，咁搞法可能兩頭唔到岸，個仔系就系講英文，但一樣系唔正宗既英文。同埋可能因為父母唔可以用英文完全表達自己，而令到對小朋友既教導打左折扣。需知道語言唔系小朋友唯一要學習既野。
私人傳訊

SandyKL


琥珀宮

積分: 162878


3#
發表於 10-8-4 01:29 |只看該作者
我有個中學同學，佢同個仔自細講英文，跟住一直入國際學校。有一日，佢同我呻，佢個獨子不能與堂兄弟姐妹相處，與佢老公更係冇溝通，雖然殘忍，但我不能不指出，佢個仔唔肯講廣東話，點與同齡小朋友相處得黎?而佢老公得小學程度，又點可以用英文同個仔溝通。

就算我覺得父母英文程度都掂，點解唔俾小朋友學自己母語，呢篇文章所講既都好中，小朋友只懂英語，不單止妨礙社交，對於自己既身份及民族都好混淆，唔係一件好事。

而且廣東話與中文字唔易學架，非要好似文章中提及黃金時期幼年時學起，否則時限一過，難以學好，尤其係中文字，粒粒不同方塊字，筆劃組合又複雜，千變萬化，邊似得英文由26個字母組成簡單得多咯。

而且點解一定要講到好似外國人?我地中國人點都有口音，自己廣東人聽入耳，似乎係外國人口音，但隨住英語一般既父母學講英文，第時既口音都唔會與外國人一模一樣，咪發洋夢。

言語既野，著重發音而唔係口音。
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ivyko


伯爵府

積分: 19788


4#
發表於 10-8-4 02:04 |只看該作者
因為父母同身邊好多親人覺得淨講英文特別叻 law!
我fd個老婆兩個姪唔肯講中文,我fd不知幾自豪,見親我面都不停講讀國際學校點好.....外語好勁,所以唔like講中文.....好聰明..... 井地到無人有,問我點解唔俾個仔讀津校要讀私校,佢覺得私校係成績好差無人要班學生先讀.


原帖由 SandyKL 於 10-8-4 01:29 發表
我有個中學同學，佢同個仔自細講英文，跟住一直入國際學校。有一日，佢同我呻，佢個獨子不能與堂兄弟姐妹相處，與佢老公更係冇溝通，雖然殘忍，但我不能不指出，佢個仔唔肯講廣東話，點與同齡小朋友相處得黎?而佢老公得小學程度，又點可 ...

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emmypun


珍珠宮

積分: 37585

畀面勳章 大廚勳章


5#
發表於 10-8-4 02:15 |只看該作者
Verna Yu即係邊位?
點解佢D英文可以上到SCMP?

不過佢觀點, 我同意.

女人是很脆弱, 但媽媽卻很堅強:)
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54heima


水晶宮

積分: 55644


6#
發表於 10-8-4 06:43 |只看該作者
父母自己是竹升除外
好多時這是家長的情意結
因為覺得自己英文唔叻
或自己細個冇機會去外國讀書
所以教到仔女鬼聲鬼氣黎滿足自己
反而外國返黎果d更明白中文的重要
中國人口佔世界四分一
中華人自己都唔識中文將來更蝕底
中文難過英文
所以更需要在基礎教育時打好根底
英文同樣重要
但之後再pick up返相對會容易些
少奶奶的身份，丫頭的命...
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jaycee_mami


珍珠宮

積分: 47247

好媽媽勳章


7#
發表於 10-8-4 07:27 |只看該作者
去外國留學不一定要讀國際學校, 我老公在香港讀主流的小學和中學, F.2先過英國, 一樣升到好好的大學, 英文亦好流利.

另外, 父母的英文無native level真係唔好亂同小朋友全英對話, 弊多過利. 講得一般都唔好搏, 費事學壞口音和文法仲衰. 除非父母係竹升, 就另計.
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eeb


水晶宮

積分: 51073

至尊種植勳章 醒目開學勳章 畀面勳章 環保接龍勳章


8#
發表於 10-8-4 10:04 |只看該作者
可能佢aim既係英文唔係好叻，而且用中文諗英文既香港人


其實我之前都o係bk講過，英文唔係真係好好好好既好媽媽，唔好勉強同子女只講英文，否則子女只會學多咗唔正既英文，同學少咗好多嘢(相俾如果用中文溝通)，之後俾人插，我都費事再講。見太多例子，d媽媽既英文水平真係非常有限，亦有係出過幾年國既大學生，但都有d嘢表達唔到/用唔到人地一般既講法，何苦呢。

而且小朋友好多時係聽父母之間/父母同其他人既對話去學，但又唔見父母o係小朋友面前，同其他人既對話係全英文




原帖由 emmypun 於 10-8-4 02:15 發表
Verna Yu即係邊位?
點解佢D英文可以上到SCMP?

不過佢觀點, 我同意.
識網友只限吹下水、交換下資訊、發揮網力，邊個認真就邊個輸。
私人傳訊

juicypig


珍珠宮

積分: 30278

環保接龍勳章 hashtag影視迷勳章


9#
發表於 10-8-4 10:07 |只看該作者
我身邊好多朋友都係咁, 我唔會囉, 教吓佢單字就會
一個人之所以快樂,不是因為她擁有得多, 而是因為她計較得少
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MaMaSteph


男爵府

積分: 8178

好媽媽勳章 醒目開學勳章


10#
發表於 10-8-4 10:29 |只看該作者
我同老公都係native english speakers, 但阿b一出世我哋都係同佢講中文, 因為一路都覺得bb係要學好自己嘅母語先開始學其他語言!! 再加上身邊嘅家人都係講中文, 阿b一定要識用中文同人溝通!!

要小朋友學好英文唔係你日日同佢講d半桶水嘅英語就得架~~!!
http://lb3f.lilypie.com/JzUop8.png
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Lovely媽咪


版主

積分: 18436

減齡達人勳章 2018母親節勳章 15週年勳章 親子王國15週年勳章 親子王國15週年勳章 熱血勳章 畀面勳章 版主 大廚勳章 BK猜猜猜慶中秋


11#
發表於 10-8-4 10:59 |只看該作者
近呢幾年呢個現象真係好勁,成日出街都會聽到啲父母同小朋友一時中,一時英,最多係一句說話入面又中又英,再睇吓呢啲父母啲面口佢地真係覺得自己高人一等架
但亦發覺有啲小朋友好遲先識(先肯)講嘢,佢地屋企多數就係呢類,父母之間中文,同小朋友就時中時英,菲傭就唔講正既英文
都聽過有人由小朋友出世屋企就唔再睇中文台,屋企人多數用英文溝通,所以個小朋友既英文真係好好,但多數只能同啲外國小朋友玩,因為佢開始睇唔起唔係講英文既同輩,佢真係當咗自己係外國人
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bkfans


禁止訪問

積分: 67524


12#
發表於 10-8-4 11:05 |只看該作者
提示: 作者被禁止或刪除 內容自動屏蔽
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BASSMIO


洋房

積分: 120


13#
發表於 10-8-4 11:07 |只看該作者
要麼全中文

要麼全英文

唔中唔英，兩頭唔到岸，難怪依家的細路語文勁差，都係父母做成
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helentong


子爵府

積分: 11830


14#
發表於 10-8-4 11:17 |只看該作者
成日係街都見到D家長明明英文唔叻，又要夾硬講，講到一舊舊，咁辛苦又何必呢！

舊年書展就遇到個非常"博學"嘅媽咪用佢高8度嘅聲線同佢仔講：啊仔))))) come he呀啦))))) 呢度好多 Ronald Die (Roald Dahl) D書呀))))) 你最 like 果個"威他"呀)))))
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kerobobo


大宅

積分: 3569


15#
發表於 10-8-4 11:24 |只看該作者
依........咪好似柏GI同佢仔仔咁LAW
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YongXin


伯爵府

積分: 15203

好媽媽勳章 醒目開學勳章


16#
發表於 10-8-4 11:28 |只看該作者
對住唐人講蕃話，
對住鬼佬口啞啞。

:;pppp:從来都唔會做呢0的咁肉麻既0野。
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hellomag


侯爵府

積分: 20620


17#
發表於 10-8-4 11:44 |只看該作者
我覺得可以的話中英文都講，當然要全句中文 或者 全句英文啦，一嚟佢大個學英文吾洗咁辛苦，二嚟吾想小朋友吾想或者吾識中文。

我表哥個仔，係讀國際幼稚園，成家都同佢講英文，個仔升上小學(本地)，以為自已識英文好叻，上課吾專心，覺得自已高呢D。

[ 本帖最後由 hellomag 於 10-8-4 11:46 編輯 ]
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chinatea


水晶宮

積分: 59494

牛年勳章 2018父親節勳章 2018復活節勳章 開心吸收勳章 認識瑞士牛牛第二回 hashtag影視迷勳章 好媽媽勳章 醒目開學勳章 畀面勳章 環保接龍勳章 BK Milk勳章


18#
發表於 10-8-4 11:49 |只看該作者
原帖由 SandyKL 於 10-8-4 01:29 發表
我有個中學同學，佢同個仔自細講英文，跟住一直入國際學校。有一日，佢同我呻，佢個獨子不能與堂兄弟姐妹相處，與佢老公更係冇溝通，雖然殘忍，但我不能不指出，佢個仔唔肯講廣東話，點與同齡小朋友相處得黎?而佢老公得小學程度，又點可 ...

sandy我而家咪遇到呢d問題lor,我細佬為左唔想娶個老婆返來同亞媽鬧交就娶個菲律賓小姐,就係唔想佢識聽奶奶鬧咩.

咁生左個女...佢一邊腦就聽菲英+賓話,一邊聽中文,2歲幾都仲要諗一諗你地講緊咩文先識轉麗音.

你用中文問佢"你叫咩名"呀,佢就講英文名,你問佢what is your name?佢答中文名.

有時眼光光答唔出,所以好影響佢學習語言個進度,我而家接手左來揍佢,情況好多,一dd慢慢教,有時用中文問佢,佢表達唔到又好似唔明你意思咁唯有用英文講完又用中文解釋,所以而家我要巢返學過d英文出來都幾辛苦架.

大大話相隔幾十年呀...好似我姪女個情況就似足d印巴小朋友生係香港有機會學到中文,國語又有英文同自己家鄉話其實係幾好架.

即如香港d小朋友如果父母都可以直接用英文同小朋友由細開始灌輸都係幾好架,但如果父母跟本都唔到家,又要個小朋友去加強學英文返到屋企都用唔著,冇人同佢對答就真係唔係咁好啦.
<br><br>
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Jameskey


子爵府

積分: 14389


19#
發表於 10-8-4 11:51 |只看該作者
自己講得唔好就唔好勉強D細佬啦, 半桶水教半桶水..叻極有限..

英文係一個國際語言, 但我唔覺得一定要講得好似外國人咁先得, 好似我老闆咁, 佢講英文好屎, 文法不通,但佢同個個鬼佬客都合作得好好,有料有能力, 有時語言未必係一個障礙. 當然, 學好D會更好啦,但英文唔係代表能力既標記.

係佢0-6歲發展階段應該用你最流暢既語言同佢溝通, 咁樣先真係可以幫到佢聆聽同理解..
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KATRINE


子爵府

積分: 11902


20#
發表於 10-8-4 11:56 |只看該作者
原帖由 helentong 於 10-8-4 11:17 發表
成日係街都見到D家長明明英文唔叻，又要夾硬講，講到一舊舊，咁辛苦又何必呢！

舊年書展就遇到個非常"博學"嘅媽咪用佢高8度嘅聲線同佢仔講：啊仔))))) come he呀啦))))) 呢度好多 Ronald Die (Roald Dahl) D書呀))))) 你最 li ...




"成日係街都見到D家長明明英文唔叻，又要夾硬講，講到一舊舊，咁辛苦又何必呢！"

我就唔係好同意你哋的講法
父母唔係好識咪大家一起去學LAW,英文係要多講的,只係學校學, 有幾多學校真係會同你英文呀,況且係街外講可以訓練小朋友的膽量,到時見有外國人問野都唔會驚到掉頭走啦. 當然父母有責任去教導小朋友的錯處
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