I've always considered myself to be effectively bilingual. Though I achieved an A2 for Chinese Language during the O levels, I was still considered to be the 'disgrace' of the family; every one in my family had high distinction (A1) for their O Level Chinese! Gosh, I still remember how my high spirits was dampened when the praise I had expected to receive, for having achieved a distinction, though low, for my O Level CL, was dampened when my sister showed displeasure. I still find it amazing that my siblings found little difficulty with CL back then.
Probably because I have never taken a real interest for CL, I have subconsciously been neglecting Adri's acquisition of the CL, though I know that it's absolutely important.
In my attempt to make up for that, I started Adri on Berries class. Berries is renowned, highly complimented by almost every colleague of mine who sends their kids there.
Was at a sale one day when my conscience pricked and I forced myself to browse Chinese instead of English books. Not that I didn't in the past but it was often done in a jiffy.
After a good puzzling 30 minutes, i decided to pick up a few Chinese books meant for beginning readers. My plan was to read to her as frequently as I could (I still have not since I bot those books!).
Adri was neutral; she didn't look excited with the purchase of the CL books, neither was she upset.
Neutral, she was.
I had not expected her to be interested in those books. I was pleasantly surprised! Adri picked up one of the books on her own and she managed 12 chapters with 90% accuracy!! Mummy was busy with I can't remember what when I heard her reading aloud. Not expressive reading but certainly a bonus for a start. Each chapter is a build up of the previous and it begins with the targeted vocabulary in insolation, followed by it in application, in a sentence or two. Adri managed the sentences well! I was overjoyed! I had been so worried that Adri would grow up to be a 'potato', proficient in the English Language and weak in the CL or having an inclination to avoid or even disliking it totally.
Credit does not go to Berries alone. No doubt Adri has been enjoying every single Berries class, her CL teacher back in school has also done a marvellous job at instilling a love for the language; Adri did return home humming or singing a Chinese song at times but this lazy mummy did not reinforce that love.
Gosh, I really hope Adri won't grow up struggling with CL like I did. I must remember to converse with Adri in Chinese, lest it reaches a point where Adri asks me, "Mummy, why are you speaking to me in Chinese?"
=O
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