speaking "normal"

A preschool mate of X asked him this morning why he spoke English with me and his sister. This led to an impromptu learning moment about speaking "other than Swedish" languages at home. The teacher tried to stimulate an examination of the diversity by asking the children with non-Swedish parents which language they spoke at home. One boy when asked which language they spoke at home replied that he spoke "vanligt" --normally-- at home.

This isn't the first time that preschool mates have reacted to our speaking English around them and each time I wonder how this affects X's willingness to use English in front of his pals. Most often our use of English prompts the other children to show off their language skills, counting out 1-10 in English while beaming with pride. Children I don't even recognize yet smile sheepishly at me and say "Bye bye" as they leave me. Only occasionally does the query of language usage imply a subtle criticism or oddity. Kids don't like to be odd. They want to be "normal."

I wonder if this is the age when the resistance to the "abnormal" language they speak at home starts. I wonder if I can put a marketing spin on it and sell it back to X and his pals as a privilege rather than an oddity.

Today's Svengelska word is "tills" instead of until. This one has been around for a while since I continue to fail in introducing into usage the English word 'until.'