carving !
Originally uploaded by renfield
language issues
So my almost-six daughter, nearly half way done with kindergarten, has perfectly acceptable English linguistic progress; reading, writing, speaking, listening...only one minor issue: she has the tiniest (and most adorable) of lisps with 'th' sounds, which is apparently quite normal for kids her age, and likely not an issue.
Her Japanese is also fine, though she makes some slightly odd grammatical mistakes (in addition to the typical mistakes you would expect from a five year-old.)
My lovely wife, mother to My Awesome Kids, met with the Japanese teacher and was given a specific example of incorrect Japanese grammar that my daughter uses all the time: incorrect adjective conjugations.
She sticks a 'no' on the end of 'i' adjectives where it is unnecessary. For example: tanoshii-no.
She also sticks a 'no' on the end of 'na' adjectives where it DOES belong...she just doesn't do it correctly. Instead of dropping the 'na' and replacing it with 'no', she just slaps the 'no' after the 'na'.
In other words, she makes non-native mistakes...mistakes that I make. All. The. Time.
Because I speak Japanese to her too much, and my Japanese is not native.
Besides which, in a couple more years I won't be able to help her with her kanji homework either.
So, I am basically ruining my children and I need to stop communicating with them in Japanese.
Like, immediately.
Her Japanese is also fine, though she makes some slightly odd grammatical mistakes (in addition to the typical mistakes you would expect from a five year-old.)
My lovely wife, mother to My Awesome Kids, met with the Japanese teacher and was given a specific example of incorrect Japanese grammar that my daughter uses all the time: incorrect adjective conjugations.
She sticks a 'no' on the end of 'i' adjectives where it is unnecessary. For example: tanoshii-no.
She also sticks a 'no' on the end of 'na' adjectives where it DOES belong...she just doesn't do it correctly. Instead of dropping the 'na' and replacing it with 'no', she just slaps the 'no' after the 'na'.
In other words, she makes non-native mistakes...mistakes that I make. All. The. Time.
Because I speak Japanese to her too much, and my Japanese is not native.
Besides which, in a couple more years I won't be able to help her with her kanji homework either.
So, I am basically ruining my children and I need to stop communicating with them in Japanese.
Like, immediately.
No surprise
Tonchan's mid year kindergarten progress report. "Areas in need of focus" ain't no surprise; my daughter needs to listen to instructions, use her time productively, and listen to others when in a group. Also needs to work on math and numbers.
Her reading and writing in both English and Japanese is coming along great for a bilingual five year old. She is creative, responsible, outspoken, and helpful.
But she definitely likes to be the boss, is easily distracted, and functions at her own pace.
She turns six soon, so I will be cutting her less and less slack; she needs to be able to function appropriately with others, specifically doing what teachers say, being more cooperative and less bossy, and getting things done when she has to do them.
It's all about taking responsibility, of which I expect her to take more and more as she gets older. Don't care if she isn't a math wizard, but she at least needs to understand how to be cooperative, participatory, and reasonably obedient. Don't want to turn her into an order-following droid, but the sooner she learns the world has a pecking order, and where she is in it, the better. Tough reality for a five year old? Nah, better than letting her live in a fantasy land where her every wish comes true and everyone does what she says. She has friends like that from preschool, who are having a really REALLY hard time adjusting to kindergarten, and it will only get worse in elementary school.
I prefer my daughter to learn the rules first and understand how to obey them. Only then will she truly learn when and how it is necessary and right to break them.
Her reading and writing in both English and Japanese is coming along great for a bilingual five year old. She is creative, responsible, outspoken, and helpful.
But she definitely likes to be the boss, is easily distracted, and functions at her own pace.
She turns six soon, so I will be cutting her less and less slack; she needs to be able to function appropriately with others, specifically doing what teachers say, being more cooperative and less bossy, and getting things done when she has to do them.
It's all about taking responsibility, of which I expect her to take more and more as she gets older. Don't care if she isn't a math wizard, but she at least needs to understand how to be cooperative, participatory, and reasonably obedient. Don't want to turn her into an order-following droid, but the sooner she learns the world has a pecking order, and where she is in it, the better. Tough reality for a five year old? Nah, better than letting her live in a fantasy land where her every wish comes true and everyone does what she says. She has friends like that from preschool, who are having a really REALLY hard time adjusting to kindergarten, and it will only get worse in elementary school.
I prefer my daughter to learn the rules first and understand how to obey them. Only then will she truly learn when and how it is necessary and right to break them.
A wee walkabout
took a little walk this morning. 3.5 hours, 17 kilos. Not a bad way to spend a morning.
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