I know all the experts say that there are tremendous benefits to having kids learn more than one language (see our previous post on this topic), but as a parent it’s really difficult watching your kids try to sort through the language mess.  Particularly between the ages of 18 months and 3 years – when they’re just learning to talk.  I mean, it’s hard enough for them to say a word, let alone getting adults to understand what they’re saying.  And imagine the child’s frustration when 95% of the folks around her don’t speak the language her mother speaks to her in!

Well, our wonderful nanny has been on (a well-deserved) vacation this past week.  It just so coincided with a week of explosive language development in my daughter (21 months).  All of a sudden, her babble turned into beautiful and adorable words and phrases (that I’ve been relentlessly trying to capture on video – yes, I am that kind of mom).  The problem, of course, is that our nanny (who doesn’t speak Telugu) won’t be able to understand her.  So I drafted a cheat sheet for her to study (a portion of which is pictured above).  A “welcome back present” of sorts.

So as the work week starts, I am nervous about my daughter’s ability to communicate with her nanny.  I’ve been down this road before (I gave my son’s 1st pre-school teacher a similar 2-page cheat sheet), so I know it’ll all be “OK.”  But that doesn’t keep me from worrying…

Tags: bilingual kids, Telugu

2 Responses to “A Vignette of a Bilingual Household”

1. nithya at hungrydesi Says:
   September 13th, 2010 at 8:14 pm

   Hi, I just found your blog and am excited to explore it and Gnaana more…”sorry, chettu” from your translation sheet above gave me a good laugh. So cute!

2. Aruna Says:
   September 15th, 2010 at 9:13 pm

   Thanks! Very cute when they try to say the really difficult words.
   I can’t wait to try some of your recipes!

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