We have always said that it was important to us that Kim and Peter keep their Russian language. We talked about this before we even went to Russia for trip 1. We have emphasized it repeatedly with the kids, the agency, our interpreter in Russia, the Director of the orphanage, the judge... just about anyone who would listen. We've brought home books in Russian and videos in Russian. The kids love the videos (they watched the Jungle Book yesterday)... Peter could never read in Russian and Kim doesn't like to read very much, so the books aren't too much of a hit. We actively seek out opportunities for the kids to speak Russian with other Russian speakers in our city. We also thought that since we adopted two Russian speaking siblings, that their speaking Russian to each other would also help them keep their language.
It isn't working.
They now mix in a lot of English words when they speak to each other in Russian... even when we aren't in the room. Yesterday they played checkers and as they set up the board, Kim told Peter "Ya brown" and Peter answered "Ya white" (our checkerboard is wooden and we have brown and white pieces). This alone doesn't mean much, but we've noticed that Kim is having a harder and harder time reading in Russian. Peter keeps forgetting the Russian word for things or tells us that the English word is Russian (for words where even I know that it isn't).
The first two videos were made in March 2009. These are 3 months, almost to the day, after our adoption became offical and we took custody of Kim and Peter. Mom shot these as a condition of the kids being allowed to play "Mama Hachish"... one of their favorite homeschool games... more on that later. In the first one, we asked them to say their alphabet... first in English and then in Russian. After they struggle doing the Russian together, Kim says "Ya snaiyish" (I know... BTW, it should have been "Ya snaiyoo"... they no longer conjugate verbs correctly) and tries doing it by herself... and can't get it right. She then says "OK, Ya ne snaiyish Russian" (OK, I don't know Russian... it should have been "Ya ne snaiyoo").
In the second video, Mom is holding a book where they can read the Russian alphabet. Kim had disappeared between the two to get one of her Russian books so she could look at it and remember. She was troubled that she didn't remember the Russian alphabet. Even with Lisa holding up the book, notice how much they struggle with it.
This last video is from our first trip to Russia back in July 2008 where the kids said the alphabet for us. Peter (Gyena back then) does not know his Russian alphabet, even though he is supposedly 8 years old. He had never had any schooling at that time. Kim (Yana back then) had just finished second grade and does know hers.
We need to rethink our stance on their native language. Do we put a lot more time and resources into trying to help them keep it or do we allow it to continue to slip away?
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6 comments:
I'm wondering how much of this is normal for children of another culture. After all, they are on a HUGE learning curve and are working hard to understand the language all around them. I don't think they have lost it yet, perhaps their brains are just so full of English stuff, the Russian has gotten pushed to the side for awhile.
I remember when the boys were little adn they would learn a new skill, such as feeding themselves. They would seem to regress in other previously learned skills at the same time. I read something in a book about how that is normal, their brain was full of new information and until it was fully assimilated, they couldn't properly remember the old skills. The book said that the problem would correct itself as they gained mastery in the new skills, and of course it did. I'm wondering if this is somewhat related to what Peter and Kim are experiencing.
I'm so excited to meet them in a couple days!!
Amy M.
That's a tough one. Maybe they will want to pick up Russian again when they are older and more comfortable with English. But at least their little accents are so cute!
Does OSU have a Russian program? (Don't know why they wouldn't most universities do) If you have any students that speak russian/take russian, maybe ask them to help? They are seriously so cute, if I spoke russian, I couldn't resist their little faces!!!! Or maybe take them to meet the professor who teaches russian? I agree with Jen, their accents are so cute!!!! Kim is just adorable when she tells Peter that she's saying the alphabet.
Hello,
I just wondered into your blog and wanted to leave a comment as this topic is very close to me. I'm Russian but live in the US for over 10 years. It is normal switching to English since that's the language your kids use mostly. When I talk to my Russian friends I mix languages. Where I live we have Russian Community Center that offers Russian classes. Those classes for different ages and different levels of Russian language knowledge. Adopted kids from Russian and local Russian families kids go there. My kids do.
Maybe you could find some Russian community locally and take kids there for activities. We have Russian community locally through meet-up online. Check your local meet-up groups.
Good luck! I'm Russian and it is hard for me to have my kids to know the language.
Hugs,
Gala
I have another suggestion. You could get some Russian TV programs through direct TV. I heard TV Nanny is good kids program. Here is link: http://www.expertsatellite.com/directv-russian-programming
That is a tough decision. Is their language now? Speaking Russian at a young age they will always be able to pronounce it correctly. They may need review, but it will never be completely forgotten. The books and videos sound like a great idea and speaking with others who speak Russian. You are doing a fantastic job. Love, Aunt Sherry
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