On the podcast this week we talk about raising our nearly-three-year-old son in three languages: French, Swedish, and English.
It’s important (for us) to note that this is a matter of circumstance. We’re not pushing to achieve something here, we’re not purposefully doing extra-curricular language lessons. Rather, this is what happens when an Australian father and a Swedish mother live in Paris.
Hopefully it’s an interesting topic for you too! Over half an hour we answered all the questions sent in from Patreon members.
The Earful Tower podcast episode
Listen to the episode below, or wherever you find your podcasts.
An overview of the episode
This is a tough episode to summarize in a blog post. But essentially we chatted about how Lina speaks only Swedish to our son, I speak only English, and everything else is in French (daycare, shops, bus drivers… etc).
Where it gets intriguing is how he reacts to it all. Which language does he prefer to speak? (In English, mostly). Does he understand that they’re all different languages? (More and more, yes). What language does he speak as a reflex? (Depends on where he is). Does he ever mix it all up? (Yes! Ja! Oui!)
More about raising children in France
Interested in learning more about raising children in France? Click here for the interview I did with writer Pamela Druckerman on her book: Bringing Up Bébé (aka French Children Don’t Throw Food).
For some insight to the French nurseries, here’s our son’s weekly menu. Note that everything written in green is organic and that there’s a different cheese every day.
The Earful Tower podcast episode
Once again, here’s The Earful Tower’s podcast episode in case you missed it.
This episode was brought to you by Cook’n With Class, click here to book a class with them. I did the sauce-making class.
Their English-speaking cooking classes are a delightful blend of fun, education, and gastronomy. Designed for culinary enthusiasts of all levels, they offer a unique opportunity to explore French cuisine through hands-on experiences in a welcoming atmosphere.
