Mama's Handy Translations
The way our family talk to each other gives some benefits to me, particularly to my translation skills and the development of my passive French. Although I've followed some basic French courses in the past and have been married to a French for nearly 7 years, I feel my French gets better only after Jo starts talking. It becomes a habit for me to translate whenever he speaks French or English to me. I usually listen to what Joseph says in French/English, translate the words in my head then reply to him in Indonesian. After doing it for awhile, I feel I understand more French and can translate English-Indonesian-English faster and smoother than before.
In addition, Jo now insists me to read him not only Indonesian and English books, but also French ones. Of course he perfectly knows I don't speak French, but yes he still wants me to read those French books anyway. So I tell him that mama does not read the French writing, and that mama merely translates the words into Indonesian. He understands and happily follows my free-style translation. For simple French books, it's not a big deal as I understand most of the words. However as he's getting older, the stories are getting more advanced with sentences and vocabs too complicated for me to comprehend. Luckily the father-and-son story times come to the rescue. After many nights listening to Nicolas' reading, I'll usually understand the content nearly as good as himself *thanks to his passionate and lively way of reading* and can tell the story to Joseph in Indonesian. I enjoy Nico's story time and sit with Joseph whenever I need to get some insights on French books.
You know, since we don't have so many collections of Indonesian books, I feel I've got to do something to balance the readings. I do it by translating the English stories also. It's kind of tiring and challenging at the beginning as I have to tell twice the same story and quickly switch from English to Indonesian and then back to English. However after doing it tens of times, it becomes exciting and stimulating. I first read one or two sentences in English by following the words with my index, then retell them in Indonesian by pointing at the pictures. Like any other kids, Joseph asks me to read the same story again and again until he remembers everything by heart. Later on, he loves to shout out the English words while I'm reading it in English, and excitedly speaks Indonesian while pointing at the pictures. To tell you the truth, I was not so keen reading to him until this translation thing came up. Joseph had only an eye for trucks, cars and trains and they bored me to death. Until now he still prefers to read trucks etc, fortunately the story lines become more elaborated and varied as he's getting older, which please me. Besides, translating French and English books give me a thrill since I just love working with languages.
In addition, Jo now insists me to read him not only Indonesian and English books, but also French ones. Of course he perfectly knows I don't speak French, but yes he still wants me to read those French books anyway. So I tell him that mama does not read the French writing, and that mama merely translates the words into Indonesian. He understands and happily follows my free-style translation. For simple French books, it's not a big deal as I understand most of the words. However as he's getting older, the stories are getting more advanced with sentences and vocabs too complicated for me to comprehend. Luckily the father-and-son story times come to the rescue. After many nights listening to Nicolas' reading, I'll usually understand the content nearly as good as himself *thanks to his passionate and lively way of reading* and can tell the story to Joseph in Indonesian. I enjoy Nico's story time and sit with Joseph whenever I need to get some insights on French books.
You know, since we don't have so many collections of Indonesian books, I feel I've got to do something to balance the readings. I do it by translating the English stories also. It's kind of tiring and challenging at the beginning as I have to tell twice the same story and quickly switch from English to Indonesian and then back to English. However after doing it tens of times, it becomes exciting and stimulating. I first read one or two sentences in English by following the words with my index, then retell them in Indonesian by pointing at the pictures. Like any other kids, Joseph asks me to read the same story again and again until he remembers everything by heart. Later on, he loves to shout out the English words while I'm reading it in English, and excitedly speaks Indonesian while pointing at the pictures. To tell you the truth, I was not so keen reading to him until this translation thing came up. Joseph had only an eye for trucks, cars and trains and they bored me to death. Until now he still prefers to read trucks etc, fortunately the story lines become more elaborated and varied as he's getting older, which please me. Besides, translating French and English books give me a thrill since I just love working with languages.