I got married last two weeks and my husband brought me to lagos for the very first time. My husband is an igbo man but was born and bred in lagos. Because of this, he doesn't understand nor speak his language.

I don't want my children to grow up without knowing their mother's tongue.

Is there any way my kids can learn igbo in a strange land??

Tolubigyansh:

Is there any way my kids can learn igbo in a strange land??

Lagos is not a strange land!

Use your mother's tongue to communicate with them frequently.

As they grow they get use to it even if the speaks just English,but if they grow with that tongue they'll get use to it

Zonefree:

Lagos is not a strange land!

It Is. Tribalism is rampant here

Being born and bred in Lagos is not a good enough excuse for your husband to not know his native language.
He just never made much effort to learn.
His parents also are majorly to blame.

Tolubigyansh:


It Is. Tribalism is rampant here

Only on nairaland.

I wouldn't say it's nonexistent in Lagos, but being rampant is exaggerating it.

Tolubigyansh:


It Is. Tribalism is rampant here

Are you a victim?

Bro, It’s not just Igbo. I don’t know what’s wrong with dis generation, they barely speak their language. Everybody wants to be speaking English, even the English dem no sabi speak am well.
I be confirm Edo guy, when I was growing up as a kid, we use to speak our language (Esan) everywhere… at school, at home, market e.t.c but that’s doesn’t mean we no sabi English.

But if you go to village now, Majority of the children and youth can’t even speak their language. It’s so sad.
They are all forming mumu English.

That’s why God would continue to bless Russia 🇷🇺, Spain 🇪🇸, Croatia 🇭🇷, Finland 🇫🇮, China 🇨🇳 and Sweden 🇸🇪. They fvcking don’t care about English. They speak their mothers tongue to the fullest, dem no send ur papa. God punish English.

Lol

Tolubigyansh:
I got married last two weeks and my husband brought me to lagos for the very first time. My husband is an igbo man but was born and bred in lagos. Because of this, he doesn't understand nor speak his language.
I don't want my children to grow up without knowing their mother's tongue.
Is there any way my kids can learn igbo in a strange land??

In my opinion, there are lots of way more important things to worry about than this as a newlywed in lagos abeg!

Hmm

mariahAngel:
Being born and bred in Lagos is not a good enough excuse for your husband to not know his native language.
He just never made much effort to learn.
His parents also are majorly to blame.

Most Igbo parents in Lagos speak their children English.

From English at home to English in their private primary and secondary schools.

Unfortunately these kids wouldn't understand the basics in Igbo. Because Lagos is a yourba state. So if their parents don't speak them Igbo, where else would they learn it from?

I was a victim of this, my only saving grace was that in had my university education in the SE. So it improved my Igbo. But I'm still not very perfect in it even though I'm much better than how I was before I gained admission.

And my parents aren't helping matters because if I should call them now, we still communicate in English.

Nazgul:

Most Igbo parents in Lagos speak their children English.

From English at home to English in their private primary and secondary schools.

Unfortunately these kids wouldn't understand the basics in Igbo. Because Lagos is a yourba state. So if their parents don't speak them Igbo, where else would they learn it from?

I was a victim of this, my only saving grace was that in had my university education in the SE. So it improved my Igbo. But I'm still not very perfect in it even though I'm much better than how I was before school.

And my parents aren't helping matters because if I should call them now, we still communicate in English.

My dad made sure we spoke Igbo back to him from when we were little, even though it was kurukere at the time, and he had all the patient in the world.

mariahAngel:
My dad made sure we spoke Igbo back to him from when we were little, even though it was kurukere at the time, and he had all the patient in the world.

You're lucky then.

My own parents spoke me and are still speaking me English.

Do you know that as I am, I even speak yourba more fluently than Igbo.

Because all my Igbo friends are like me, they can't speak Igbo. Whereas my yourba friends speak their language fluently, so I started understanding yourba language.

I think Igbo parents should look into this as a matter of urgency. Because if they continue this way, more than half of our population wouldn't be able to communicate in igbo.

Nazgul:

You're lucky then.

My own parents spoke me and are still speaking me English.

Do you know that as I am, I even speak yourba more fluently than Igbo.

Because all my Igbo friends are like me, they can't speak Igbo. Whereas my yourba friends speak their language fluently, so I started understanding yourba language.

I think Igbo parents should look into this as a matter of urgency. Because if they continue this way, more than half of our population wouldn't be able to communicate in igbo.

That could've been me.

Go and live in a neighborhood surrounded by igbos

No time is late Just start.
I made the mistake at the initial time but at 2 yrs old,I insisted nothing other than Igbo would be spoken in my home.
My husband speaks English to our kids but me Igbo.
4 yrs down,We have made so much progress and I couldn't be happier.
I started by teaching them "M CHORO"(verb for "I want") because children always want something
We greet Ibola chi at home not Goodmorning/ututoma
It's Dede not brother for elderly ones
Our prayers must be in Igbo.
If you want my attention,speak in Igbo.

Tolubigyansh:
I got married last two weeks and my husband brought me to lagos for the very first time. My husband is an igbo man but was born and bred in lagos. Because of this, he doesn't understand nor speak his language.

I don't want my children to grow up without knowing their mother's tongue.

Is there any way my kids can learn igbo in a strange land??

There is nothing strange about Lagos, I was born and raised in Lagos but very fluent in communicating in igbo, Yoruba and English because my parents were very intentional about it.

Tell your husband to make effort to learn and speak it in the home because when your baby is around 6 months old, he/she will be staring more intently at your mouths, when you both talk in his/her presence as part of his/her language development.

Tolubigyansh:
I got married last two weeks and my husband brought me to lagos for the very first time. My husband is an igbo man but was born and bred in lagos. Because of this, he doesn't understand nor speak his language.

I don't want my children to grow up without knowing their mother's tongue.

Is there any way my kids can learn igbo in a strange land??

Speak ibo at home..let them learn English at school.....

One of those tribal threads.
He has quickly deleted his implicating comments.

That's a guy by the way.

I got an online Igbo teacher for my kids.

I can speak Igbo very well but we don't speak it at home. My wife will respond with English.

mariahAngel:
That could've been me.

Do you speak yourba?

Nazgul:

Do you speak yourba?

Yes, I do.

mariahAngel:
Yes, I do.

And Igbo as well...that's good.

My problem with Igbo is that I don't have anyone who speaks constantly to me. If I had, I believe I would have improved. Whatever I learn stays with me cos there's no one to speak it to. 😔

Nazgul:

And Igbo as well...that's good.

Yeah. Thanks.

My problem with Igbo is that I don't have anyone who speaks constantly to me. If I had, I believe I would have improved. Whatever I learn stays with me cos there's no one to speak it to. 😔

Even up till now? Don't you have village cousins you can speak Igbo with?
At least, you're willing.

mariahAngel:
Even up till now? Don't you have village cousins you can speak Igbo with?
At least, you're willing.

My cousins within my age bracket that I relate with are in the same situation with me. They too only speak English. No thanks to their parents.

The ones in the village, I barely know them cos we don't relate that much.

My cooperate friends are mostly yourbas. The few Igbos within my cycle can't speak Igbo as well.

Nazgul:

My cousins within my age bracket that I relate with are in the same situation with me. They too only speak English. No thanks to their parents.

The ones in the village, I barely know them cos we don't relate that much.

My cooperate friends are mostly yourbas. The few Igbos within my cycle can't speak Igbo as well.

Wahalur!

May I ask what part of the southeast you're from? I mean, your state.

mariahAngel:
Being born and bred in Lagos is not a good enough excuse for your husband to not know his native language.
He just never made much effort to learn.
His parents also are majorly to blame.



Only on nairaland.

I wouldn't say it's nonexistent in Lagos, but being rampant is exaggerating it.

I believe his parents are majorly to blame. My parents only spoke Igbo at home and we had to choice but to catch on.

mariahAngel:
Wahalur!

May I ask what part of the southeast you're from? I mean, your state.

I'm from Abia state. (That's where my dad is from)

My mom is from Ebonyi state. So I claim both states.

How about you?

Nazgul:

I'm from Abia state. (That's where my dad is from)

My mom is from Ebonyi state. So I claim both states.

How about you?

Thoroughly Imo state.

Skyview01:


I believe his parents are majorly to blame. My parents only spoke Igbo at home and we had to choice but to catch on.

Same here. Especially my dad.

How are your kids doing so far with the online class?

mariahAngel:
Thoroughly Imo state.

The only thing I know about imo state is your cut-throat bride price.

Where in imo are you from?

Nazgul:

The only thing I know about imo state is your cut-throat bride price.

Where in imo are you from?

People exaggerate things.


Isi-ala Mbano.

mariahAngel:
People exaggerate things.


Isi-ala Mbano.

It's not exaggeration o!

It's known all over the south east that you guys extort prospective in-laws a lot when it comes to bride price. Followed by Anambra.