Foreign Children.

[Pudd]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

When a child moves to a foreign speaking country and attends school, do they convert all speach into their own language? If so, do they eventually 'grow out' of it and just learn to understand the language of the country they are in?

Enlighten me :)

[Kaius]

ROTW :arrow2: Education & Careers

[Atonement]

When a child moves to a foreign speaking country and attends school, do they convert all speach into their own language?

They will progressively move towards fluency assuming they try to convert to the local language.

If so, do they eventually 'grow out' of it and just learn to understand the language of the country they are in?

Enlighten me :)

Yes. It may take extra help depending on the age of the child, but they should slowly progress into the other language and speak as a local eventually.

This is the idea, but sometimes there are times where it doesn't happen.

[Death]

In my school, we have a lot of Chinese borders. They all know English to some degree, although some aren't very fluent wheras others could almost seem English themselves. And yet they all, too everyone's' (including the teachers') annoyance, they keep speaking Chinese around each other suggesting that they still prefer their own language. I've yet to hear a conversation between the Chinese that is in English.

So maybe that's what it's like with other foreign students, although I can't really be certain.

[Magus]

Not necessarily.

In the A.Gulf region, Arabic is of course is the main language. But the schools harbor foreign languages like English and French. Still, Arabic is imposed on the students.

However, there are levels of Arabic. Lower is usually for those who are foreign and never sampled Arabic before. Higher is for those who are Arabs and for those who are capable (Like me).

Since U.A.E has a lot of Indian schools. These Indians schools teach in English language, but they still they have to face Arabic, as it is enforced by the MOE(Ministry of Education).

I am not sure if it is optional in other GCC Schooling systems, it is here in Kuwait.

There are many foreigner who can't speak Arabic, but they can handle the local Arabic through simple speech.

Around here. Basically, if you are from Indonesia, Poland, Nigeria and so on. English is the main language in all Private schools, be it British(IGCSE), American or Indian(CBSE).

If you visit this page, check the 'Department' and you will see what I mean > CLICK ME! (http://www.ask.edu.kw/High%20School/high%20school.htm)

[karl]

I had to learn Catalan and Spanish when I moved here to Barcelona last year. Although I wasn't an absolute beginner, my mum's Catalan, I was nowhere near the level needed to follow the lessons, and the first three or four months were difficult. Now I'm fluent in both languages.

[NeedyTeen]

In some countries yet. I moved to a different place and never learned the language fluently, but did learn some.
Some places actually, allow the kids to have the choice to not take the new language.
For example, as said above. In some Arabic speaking countries english and french are taught. if the child's parents agree, they child can only take english or french and not arabic.

[Aspiringanonymous]

In my school, we have a lot of Chinese borders. They all know English to some degree, although some aren't very fluent wheras others could almost seem English themselves. And yet they all, too everyone's' (including the teachers') annoyance, they keep speaking Chinese around each other suggesting that they still prefer their own language. I've yet to hear a conversation between the Chinese that is in English.

So maybe that's what it's like with other foreign students, although I can't really be certain.
Ah, yes, that'll be me. :P

One can become very fluent in a language, and be able to process thought in that language, but in the end, one's 'mother tongue' will still seem more preferable, and in general easier to use.

I immigrated when I was very young, however, so I do find English much more a 'mother tongue' than my actual first language, because I was educated fully in the English system. It's after a certain age (I say pre-teens to early teens, from observation) that this will no longer be the case.