So many people struggle with how to teach their kids another language,
yet this mother is finding a way to raise her kids to speak three languages! I
remember when I met Flora and her beautiful daughter Claire. I just knew I had
to include her language story. Read on to find out what it’s like living in a
household with three languages, how she teaches her kids the different
languages and her tips for raising kids in multilingual households.
BGLL: Tell us about yourself. Who are you and what do
you do?
Flora: My name is Flora Wanja, I’m
originally from Kenya (of the Kikuyu tribe), but I currently live in the
Stuttgart area in Germany. Although my native language is Swahili, English and
our Kikuyu languages were used when I was growing up in Kenya as well. I
graduated high school in Germany went on to volunteer as a nurse in a German
hospital. After that, I began an internship as a Dental Assistant, but once I
became pregnant, decided to be a full-time mother instead. I have been blessed
with three wonderful children aged 6, 4 and 3 years old that I’m raising to be
multilingual as well.
BGLL: Which other languages do you know? How did you
learn them?
Flora: I speak English and German
fluently. I moved to Germany when I was 8 years old and in order to attend
school, I took private classes to learn German so that I could follow along. I
started learning English in Kenya and continued on when I moved to Germany as
part of the required school curriculum.
BGLL: So, you teach your kids English, German and
Swahili? How do you manage that?
The first language I taught my kids was English. Once they
got older I started integrating German and Swahili. I teach my kids English and
German, but my mother talks with them in Swahili. We speak English at home and
German in public (we live in Germany). The Swahili we mostly only speak at
home. I try my best to only speak to them in English at home since they only
speak German in kindergarten and aren’t learning English there.
[Note: Kindergarten
is a German borrow word used in the English language and means something
different when used in German conversation. The American definition of Kindergarten is a school/class that
prepares 4 or 5-year-old child for the first grade, the German definition of Kindergarten is similar to a pre-school/day
care for kids that can be as young as a few months up until 6 or 7 years old,
or whichever age the state mandates the child to attend first grade.]
BGLL: Do you mix the languages when you talk to
your kids? Do they mix the languages?
Flora: Yes, it happens a lot. They often get confused. If I
find that there are mixing the languages, I make it a point to correct them and
make sure they say it the correct way over and over so that they get it.
BGLL: Which language is your favorite and why? What
are your kids’ favorite languages?
Flora: My favorite language is Swahili
because I feel a little bit closer to my country when I speak it. As far as the
languages my children seem to like better, it’s hard to say. My oldest (6) and
youngest (3) both seem to mix German and English when speaking. My middle child
speaks German best and I think that may be her favorite.
BGLL: What tips you can offer those who are trying to
learn the languages you know? Or raising kids multilingual.
Flora: Be Patient. Listen to CD´s so u know u to spell. Have fun! You need to have fun to learn
another language. For kids, I especially suggest movies and music. I don’t know
any movies in Swahili but most of the movies they watch is in English. I do let
them listen to church music in Swahili when my mom is around.
BGLL: How can we keep up with you on social?
Flora: My Instagram is 5un5hine8
(Please note this is a private account).
