Parenting

Parentcaster

Raising our daughter bilingually has always been the default to me. Not because it’s more beneficial, but because it’s simply what’s natural to me and my family. 

There’s a difference between “learning” a language and “acquiring” a language. (掌握/身につける) No one feels like they “learned” their first language, because we all acquired it as we grew up. Things learned can be forgotten when not used. Skills acquired tend to stick for longer or come back easier.

My hope for my child is not just about learning a certain number of Chinese characters or being able to hold conversations with grandparents. I hope it will be part of her life, and impact her life in a positive way, for as long as she lives. 

At the end of the day, my hopes are my hopes and her life is her life.

Trilingual elementary school teacher raising my daughter to be bilingual. Wife to @jachian

I completely resonate with your perspective on bilingualism. It's not just about language skills, but about enriching one's life experience. I believe that by immersing your child in two languages, you're giving her a gift that will shape her identity and open doors to diverse opportunities. Your dedication to this journey is truly admirable.