Children growing up in multi-ethnic families with two or more native languages often have a unique linguistic upbringing. This article explores the effects of having three native languages, the challenges faced, the experiences of my family that speaks Welsh, Hungarian, and English at home and my language learning mission.
It is widely acknowledged that bilingual or multilingual children have several advantages. They have the opportunity to communicate with a broader range of people, access a wider array of cultures and perspectives, and potentially excel in cognitive and problem-solving skills. In my case, my children were growing up with Welsh and Hungarian as their native languages, alongside English, the dominant language of their country.
The children's linguistic journey has been a complex one. They attended Welsh primary schools and Welsh medium secondary schools, which we felt was very important. We wanted to preserve and promote the Welsh language which faces challenges in maintaining its presence. According to the Annual Population Survey of March 2023, only 29.7% of the population can speak the language. The boys also spent the whole summer every year since age 4 in Hungary where they were exposed to my native language.
However, at home, the language dynamics were intricate. The father spoke Welsh, I attempted to speak Hungarian, and English served as the common language. This linguistic juggling act reflects the efforts of many multi-ethnic families to maintain their heritage languages while integrating into the dominant culture.
One challenge highlighted in my family's experience is the difficulty in passing down the mother tongue. My efforts to teach the children Hungarian were met with varying degrees of success. My oldest son is relatively proficient, the middle one less so, and the youngest has only a basic grasp of the language. This raises the question of what might have gone wrong in the language transmission process.
Language acquisition and retention are influenced by several factors, including the amount of exposure, the context in which the language is used, and the child's age. In my family's case, factors such as the predominance of English outside of school and home and the complexity of having multiple languages spoken at home may have played a role in the children's language development.
Despite the challenges, I found a way to continue my commitment to my heritage language. I now teach Hungarian at a weekend school to other children and embarked on a mission to help families with similar language challenges. I use the "Learning through Play" method. The focus is not on rote learning from textbooks but on making children enjoy the language, feel proud of their heritage, and speak confidently with their basic vocabulary. This approach aims to create an environment where children can engage with their language in a fun and meaningful way, fostering a sense of pride in their cultural and linguistic heritage.
At the same time as I began teaching Hungarian at the weekend school, I was introduced to the amazing 'Smarti's Club' Programme. It's a unique framework and method that utilizes games to foster complex and logical thinking while improving academic, social, and communication skills.
I immediately integrated these well-researched and tested games into my language classes, creating a playful and joyful atmosphere where children can learn with ease and confidence. In this environment, making mistakes, receiving corrections, and being asked to repeat are all part of the learning process. Just like the games we play, we tackle challenges, complete tasks, cooperate, communicate, and persist until we achieve our goals – without being afraid of losing.
In our clubs, winning is fun, but what we all cherish even more is the pure joy of playing and bonding together. And now, I'm on a mission to offer this unique language learning experience to as many children as possible, in as many languages as possible.
In conclusion, growing up with two or more native languages can be both a blessing and a challenge for children in multi-ethnic families. The case of my family, with Welsh and Hungarian as their native languages, highlights the complexities and difficulties that can arise in maintaining heritage languages, especially when the dominant language is different. While there may be hurdles in passing on a mother tongue, the commitment to preserving and promoting these languages remains a vital aspect of cultural identity and heritage for such families.
Join me to make language learning a delightful adventure for our young learners, where fun and education go hand in hand, we'll open up a world of linguistic possibilities for our children. Find out more at https://www.smartisclub.com/. Hope to meet you soon!

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