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| Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
| Language Progressions |
I have two language stories for this post. You might think that this post has to do with El and L's language progression. In a way it does, but according to them, it is we who have progressed.
Yes, you read it right. When D was explaining about G(our Russian babysitter/language tutor) speaking Russian, he told them that she speaks like they did at the dietsky dom. He went on to explain that Mama and Papa speak English and that they now speak English too. El laughed at him. D asked why. He said that WE were the ones that didn't speak "English" at the dietsky dom. He said that we just said, "Dlkjlk kl atjlataoi alkdjtlakrj alskdjf alkdjfdaoite, blah blah blah." In other words, he just made a bunch of sounds to imitate jibberish sounds that he thought we made. He went on to say that since coming home WE had learned English and were understandable now.
They don't realize that they are the ones who have learned a new language. They think that because they can now understand us, we must have been the ones who changed. It sure is an interesting concept! :-)
Real language progress is happening with the boys. When they first met G, she asked them a question in Russian. They just looked at her with a puzzled look on their faces and said, "What?" Well, on Tuesday, when they took G home, she reached into the back seat, handed them a book, spoke to them and then said goodbye. As they were driving away, D asked them what she said. L said, "She told us we could keep the book." A little ways down the road El spoke up and said, "Daddy, L lied. G said we could keep the book for a little while." This was the first time they had ever translated Russian to English and it was the first time we had any indication that they still understood Russian. I'm sure they had no idea what they had just done. We think it's great progress! |
posted by 6blessings @ 6:24 AM  |
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| 6 Comments: |
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Good morning! Thanks for the comments on my blog... if and when we travel back to Russia I think I will get some meds to take with me too. =)
Just catching up a bit, and saw your post about Psalm 42. That will be my morning read. Thank you for sharing that... lately I have been drawing my strength only from myself as well, and frankly, I'm drained. I'm glad you're doing better!
Have a great day!
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That is so funny! Congratulations on mastering a whole new language, Mom!
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Amazing story! Kids are like sponges aren't they? They learn so quickly, although the boys probably didn't completely forget Russian. I'm glad they can have their native language.=)
Blessings,
Penny
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It's interesting to hear the way their minds are making sense of things. I'm glad your English has improved so rapidly. ;>
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Its so funny how their little minds work. I'm glad to hear you have your English down :)
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To answer your question, we will celebrate the second anniversary of her adoption on May 11. Last year's anniversary got upstaged by baby brother's birth.
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Good morning! Thanks for the comments on my blog... if and when we travel back to Russia I think I will get some meds to take with me too. =)
Just catching up a bit, and saw your post about Psalm 42. That will be my morning read. Thank you for sharing that... lately I have been drawing my strength only from myself as well, and frankly, I'm drained. I'm glad you're doing better!
Have a great day!