tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395300355976041715.post5682435737194927039..comments2024-03-16T03:35:32.067+01:00Comments on Raising a Trilingual Child: Trilingual Siblings Minority Language Progress Update. The Younger Sibling Is About to Enter Preschool. Maria Nemchukhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13705092171155853565noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7395300355976041715.post-84797887764731684192015-09-07T12:11:36.502+02:002015-09-07T12:11:36.502+02:00In our family French is the mother language (minor...In our family French is the mother language (minority), German the father language (community) and English the parents' language (passive for the children). Both children stayed at home until they turned 3yo (actually my son is still home, going in Feb. to the Kindergarten). French was always very strong with my daughter, German was a little weak until her brother was born, then her Dad was two months at home and she improved. Since then both languages have an equal quality (very good), but she uses German more since she goes to the Kindergarten, and since that moment the two siblings have started using German in their games more than French. Even in France. Amusingly, at their German grand-parents' they use a lot of French. Is it because they do not necessarily want to be understood? ;)<br />My son developed a very good command of both languages from the start. And now they are both having fun trying to use some English. They understand quite a bit of it, but we have no way of knowing how much.<br /><br />I find it fascinating to observe my children's linguistic development! So much fun!<br /><br />And by the way, I totally sympathise with you on the difficulties of raising two children with little age difference. Mine were 17 months apart.Fredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14786457605090337853noreply@blogger.com