Why can a disabled boy speak 2 languages?
So in this video, I would like to show you why Takeru, who is Japanese, whose IQ is 36, and has moderate to severe intellectual disability can speak English.
Please pay attention to his reading and beautiful pronunciation.
Let me get straight to the point, the reason he is Japanese but can speak English is because I (Takeru’s mother) talked to him all in English, and the DVDs which Takeru often watched were mainly in English until he turned 4.
I am an English teacher, so I can speak English decently.
Also, like eating 3 times a day is a natural thing, I wanted to provide a natural English environment for my kids. So I talked to him in English as much as I could.
The DVDs I showed him in our car were also all English.
Because at that time, I didn’t even imagine that Takeru has disability.
The time I started to talk to him in Japanese is when he was around 4.
Until then, I was fixed English because I believed “When he will become independent and start working, we may move to other countries where employment supports for disabled people are very nice.”
But, as I started to understand the severeness of Takeru’s disability and see the reality, I finally realized “He should have a minimum ability to converse in Japanese, as long as he lives in Japan and needs lots of supports by many people.”
That’s when I accepted “real Takeru”, not “Takeru whom I have exceptations for”.
Since then, I have talked to him in Japanese as much as I can.
When I observe Takeru and his little brother Yuzuru (4), many interesting questions arise.
Which are, his little brother Yuzuru, who seems to have no disability so far, speaks Japanese and English very well, but Takeru prefers English and understands more in English than in Japanese.
Does it mean learning 2 languages at the same time is possible for people with no disabilities, but the 1st and 2nd language are clearly defined for handicapped people?
Or, there are some vague expressions in Japanese, but English is more clear, so is English easier to understand for people like Takeru?
Or, with or without disability, is it just individuality like suited and unsuited?
It has been only 2 months since he entered special needs school, but he is learning Japanese very rapidly.
He became able to sing his favorite song “The very hungry caterpillar” all in Japanese.
When I ask him “Do you want banana?”, before he just repeated what I said, but now, he says “Iranai yo(No, I don’t).”.
But if he wants it, he says “Yes!”. Also, he often talks to me in English with beautiful pronunciation like ”Mama, snacks?” “Candy?” “Popcorn?”.
He frequently talks to himself, and when he does, it’s always in English.
The YouTube videos he likes are all English.
I guess, his mother language is still English.
I wonder how he will grow up. Don’t miss his future videos!