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.

Posting about my take on “learning” vs. “acquiring” a language reminded me of Stephen Krashen’s influential theory on language acquisition — comprehensible input.

My first exposure to this theory was in grad school when I was studying Bilingual/Bicultural Education. When LEARNING a language, especially as an adult, we might rely on various external tools (dictionary, translation, teacher, textbook etc.). When ACQUIRING a language, all tools come from ourselves — our five senses, the will to communicate, and potentially the interests toward the topics being discussed.

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