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Her German is changing to local dialect
Written by Silke Rehman
Hi,

3 months after our move from Dubai (English speaking environement) and Chiara's start in German school/environment, I now hear her German changing :-). The melody and rythm now sound much more like her new Bavarian friends which is really funny given she isn't Bavarian (although, I guess, in a couple of years she will be) !

The Bavarians really roll the "r". It is so funny now, when Chiara comes home and sings me a song they have learned in school - full of lovely "rrrrrrrrrrrrr" words. In normal conversation she doesn't do it (yet).

I hope (but what chance do I have....) she doesn't pick up all the bad words normal German kids use like the equivalent of "shit" (when things are not the way they are meant to be/ or not going right). So far she has pointed it out to me and commented how rude that is. I encourage her to continue to think like that.....long may it last.

Overall, she is doing really great considering the change she has just undergone. Her did well in her German tests (they write tests here all the time....) and we were all very proud of her.

I am now speaking a lot of English to her. Before, German was our secret language. Now that's gone. So Chiara has chosen English to be it. Unfortunately, so many people (although not young kids) in Germany speak English that it isn't really a secret language :-). I guess we have to work more on her French. Luckily, another couple from Dubai has moved here with us and the lady is French. Whenever we see here, Chiara gets exposure to French: how lucky !

Cheers,
Silke
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