how to encourage Finnish speaking

[goodquestion]

Hi everyone,

I was reading that thread about Finnish vs English daycare, and it kind of put a question in my head.

The situation is that my son, now four years of age, is fluent in Finnish and English.
He understands anything my wife or I say in Finnish (I am not fluent, but I force the use of the language as much as possible).
Even though he understands, in most cases, not all, he answers in English.

When we are in Finland, it is rather comical because all his friends speak to him in Finnish, but he always answers them in English
even though he knows how to speak to them in Finnish. Of course, this frustrates his friends. He says he is scared to speak Finnish.

Any ideas how to encourage him otherwise?

Thanks!

[onkko]

Hi everyone,

I was reading that thread about Finnish vs English daycare, and it kind of put a question in my head.

The situation is that my son, now four years of age, is fluent in Finnish and English.
He understands anything my wife or I say in Finnish (I am not fluent, but I force the use of the language as much as possible).
Even though he understands, in most cases, not all, he answers in English.

When we are in Finland, it is rather comical because all his friends speak to him in Finnish, but he always answers them in English
even though he knows how to speak to them in Finnish. Of course, this frustrates his friends. He says he is scared to speak Finnish.

Any ideas how to encourage him otherwise?

Thanks!

He is a kid. Thats main thing, kid. Dont judge him as adult, look "stupid" reasons.
And scared to speak finnish, stop fighting in front of him in finnish.... Better if you stop fighting.
I assume his native language isnt finnsih so you make finnish language the language of fight and reason why mom and dad arent friends.

[DMC]

He is a kid. Thats main thing, kid. Dont judge him as adult, look "stupid" reasons.

Yes, he is a kid, but I don't think a reluctance to speak the language is just a kid's problem. I think adults can have the same problem, though perhaps for different reasons. I know I do and it is a long time since anyone thought I was a kid.

For a kid, making a game out of it may be a good approach. A friend did that to get someone to improve their English, using lots of word games like scrabble, I spy, crosswords, hangman etc. For something like hangman they got twice as many attempts when guessing an English word. English words scored double in Scrabble. Things like that.

[goodquestion]

Maybe the word "force" is not the right word to have used, the situation is that "I will speak Finnish" even if he answers in English. Any of the children he plays with are not bi-lingual (in Finland), they only speak Finnish. I cannot say what his first language is, he was taught both from birth. Not living in Finland though, anyone outside the home rarely speaks Finnish (majority of family friends do). Part of the problem began when grandfather and uncle spoke to him in English (in Finland), that is when it all started to go downhill. He does speak Finnish for chocolate though Yes, I found games also work. btw, no fighting, if that ever happens it is always in English, though I cannot remember the last time that happened ...

[007]

Yes, I found games also work.

ya i was gonna suggest that. try to play some boardgame or any other games where you need to follow rules written in Finnish. Make your child read them and ask, interact regarding the rules..... meaning ask him to explain the rules to you. once he is in Finnish speaking mode, continue in that direction. just one of the many ways to make him speak Finnish

[irnbru]

He's 4 man, chill out, it'll come.