Becoming bilingual while raising bilingual children.

I recently started reading a book by George Saunders called Bilingual Children: From Birth to Teens. The book is full of wonderfully described terms in definitions quite easy to understand by the non-specialist reader. Saunders writes about his family including himself, wife, and three children. The children were raised speaking German and English. He shares their experiences along with other findings of his own and others' research on bilingualism.

"Bilingual families are by no means a rarity in today's world. Indeed, bilingualism is a far more common phenomenon than the predominantly monolingual native speakers of a world language such as English might realize. In fact, bilinguals outnumber monolinguals" (Saunders, 1988, pg. 1). Saunders addresses the fact that there are various levels or degrees of bilingualism and that the word holds different connotations for different people.

A person's level of language can be assessed by the four skills of listening comprehension, speaking, reading comprehension, and writing. The degree of bilingualism would be determined by assessing these skills in both language.

I am by no means a bilingual who could pass as a native speaker, but I do hold a degree of bilingualism.

French, we have a long journey ahead of us. I am extremely jealous of my daughters who have been exposed to two languages since birth. Learning a second language as an adult is proving a challenge for me.

A trip "home."

Well, I have been in Alabama in the United States of America for one week now. I have to say it hasn't change and it has changed tons. Perhaps it is me who has done the most changing. I have been living in Europe for five years now. It is May, right? Yes, five years. Wow, not so long, but long enough. My little family has become home. I may have some roots and history in Bama, but I belong in Europe or wherever my hubby, our two daughters, and I happen to be. Plus, it just isn't the same, France and the states. I don't have to search for parking and pay here in lower Alabama. I went to a grocery store on Sunday. I cannot find certain things I am now accustomed to in said grocery store. It is not easy to use my own bags due to the cashiers already stuffing my purchases inside plastic bags. Now, just these few examples you may think are pros for the states. Yet, I prefer using my own shopping bags. You don't have to worry about someone smushing your bread or putting cleaning products in with food items. Though it seems American cashiers are getting better. I like that most every store in Metz, France closes at a reasonable hour during the week and only a bakery or two may be opened on Sunday. My husband would disagree with me. He appreciates the idea of being able to go shop at three in the morning with hardly anyone in the store. I have adjusted to the differences in food. I cannot find my normal brands here in the states. Really, KinderSurprise eggs are not allowed in the states. Look them up, you will laugh and want one! Oh, did I mention it is strange to hear English everywhere. It is weird I am just use to hearing French, reading French, conversing in French. I don't have to stop and think about what I am going to say in French here. I think I like being surrounded by French. I am less likely to eavesdrop on people.

Random post which was saved from when I visited the states all by myself.

Yep, they're French.

Daft Punk that is.

Part of a photo shoot for the Wall Street Journal.

Courtesy of http://www.daftpunk-anthology.com/daft-news