Researcher needing help

[Pauline]

I've been asked by a researcher, Dawn, if any of you would be able to help her. Here is Dawn's request:

I am a freelance writer and am currently writing an article about bilingual children. I am particularly looking for English speaking childminders who are looking after (or have looked after) a child with another language as their main language. For instance their parents may both be Chinese, they always speak Chinese at home and know very little English. How would you deal with this? How would you show them you valued their mother tongue, at the same time building some confidence in English. What sort of balance should there be... or shouldn't there be? How would you integrate them with other children?

If you have any experiences to share, or ideas about this, I would love to hear from you. You can email me at dfpapc@aol.com and if you can leave a phone number I can call you for a 5 or 10 minute interview whenever is convenient.

Many thanks in advance.

Dawn Francis-Pester

[Blaze]

I have emailed her.

[breezy]

my mindees only other language is double dutch

[crazybones]

my mindees only other language is double dutch

Wonder who they learnt that from Oh no sorry you talk a load of something else.

[breezy]

Wonder who they learnt that from Oh no sorry you talk a load of something else.

True but at least I havent got a funny accent

[ajs]

nice one breezy

[sarah707]

Sorry Pauline, I can't help. All my lot speak English

[Shar]

Have left a message, I have looked after a child who spoke no English. Was a team effort between me and parents. It worked!!