Hello, I have 4 year old twins, who have a very short attention span, and I was looking to start a topic where we, English spouses with Turkish partners can help eachother with advice on how to get our little ones to learn Turkish.

I have many DVDs, VCDs, and books, in Turkish, but my boys are 4 now, and Baba is not too happy with the speed at which they are learning, or not learning rather, their Turkish.

I have a slight advantage, as I speak Turkish myself, but because of their resistance to sit and listen to a story, or actually listen to the Turkish DVDs instead of just watching, they are still not quite up to scratch.

Does anybody know of any PC learning games, not 'Learn Turkish' games, just educational games for Turkish children, in Turkish, that my 4 year olds might want to play? As they have started playing games on my PC, but as we are no where near London, and postage from Turkey is silly money, I can't find any easy Turkish PC games for kids.

And, of course, any other suggestions are very very much appreciated.

(Oh, the joys of a single child!! Advice: try not to have twin boys if your partner is foreign!! )

Turkish Cartoons re one of the best ways i think..
let them watch turkish cartoons for ex : temel reis .. or bugs bunny's turkish version.. and they re not that hard to find as Turkish games ...i dunno about there but in Turkey it's easy to find kinds of cartoons.. one of ur relatives can send u ..

I agree about the cartoons.
I came to Turkey over three years ago when my boy was three years old. When he watched TV I always set it to Turkish, infact I told him it wasn't available in English!!
He speaks fluently and I am still struggling three years later. Maybe I should have been as tough on myself!
I think though that if your husband spoke to them always in Turkish, and perhaps yourself they would pick it up.
Children don't need to be 'taught' a language they absorb it. You didn't teach them English did you.
Good luck,
Etty.

Can I just say (gently) that perhaps Baba should be doing a bit more himself, its his language and he's 'not too happy' - is he doing enough himself to teach them? Young children learn their parents tongue by being immersed in the language in everyday life. If you speak only turkish to them at home, they will learn naturally. When they go to school they will learn english and speak english with their friends and they will naturally become bi lingual. Good luck!

This is a cute little learning programme. I use it myself, but it has Bart Simpson characters, it might be a little advanced for the twins at the moment, but it will be useful as their vocabulary improves.

http://www.downloadarsivi.com/8646/Ev---Egitim/Dil/Kelime-Ezber/download.html
you can download it from the above link and its free.

I am also very eager for my two year old daughter to learn turkish, and it is a bit frustrating as whenever my husband talks to her in turkish she doesnt appear to be paying any attention at all! but I'm hoping she is silently taking it in, and one day will use it.
I have been thinking of getting her some turkish DVDs, as i think this will help her, im not sure where i can get them though? I was either going to ask my husband's family to send her some, or apparantly there is a large turkish bookshop in Harrengey, London, that might have some.
I think it is brilliant when kids are bi-lingual, it gives them an advantage.

Of course there are book and DVD shops in London, but, if you live far away, like me, it's a hell of a way for some DVDs.

I do all my DVD/VCD shopping at www.turkishbooks.com they have millions of dvd's, vcd's and books, as well as music.

I recommend buying the VCD version of whichever film you like, although they are only in Turkish (maybe better anyway!?), whereas the DVDs can be English/Turkish/Spanish whatever, the VCD's are around £4-8. Compared to the DVD's which can be £20.

They deliver, for a small price, but if you order, I think, over £45? then it's free delivery. But, I assure you, once you get browsing on there, you'll find it easy to cover the free delivery minimum!!

It is true about my hubby putting more effort in, but unfortunately, he is self employed and has two businesses, so, he works silly hours

When he is here, he reads to them, or watches DVDs with them. But, I guess it's just the frustration there that they don't seem to be listening.

But, since writing the first message, I have tried ridiculously hard with the Turkish, and they are saying words that I haven't even said for a week or so. It proves, thankfully, that they do listen, and the words will come back out eventually.

We are so much happier now that they seem to be taking an interest, and repeating things happily, instead of just looking at us blankly, or walking away, or saying 'I can't say that Mommy', as they used to.

We are going to Turkey for 7 weeks in the summer, so they will definitely pick a lot up whilst we are out there, as none of my hubby's relatives speak English. So the temptation isn't there to speak English to them, as some of my husband's friends do over here, because they know that the boys will understand them.

Yeah, I just went on there too, it pops up for a second, then decides that there is an error.

I also went on the address thought it would be good for my 2 year old son. his father dont talk much turkish to him,and he really wants him too.but when the site loaded it read an error straight away. please check and let me know. and if any one knows a way of learning my son and myself turkish please let me know. thanks.

Before my family left England to settle here in Turkey we purchased from Eurotalk interactive, a rather good Turkish language CD from www.eurotalk.co.uk
It is quite a fun way to learn being aimed at every level from children to adults,using a question answer method with plenty of illustration informing you if you have answered incorrectly and allowing you to have another turn.
It can be fun for all the family to use together,if your scores are good it even allows you to print a fun certificate.
My daughter was helped immensley by using it,she has been at school here for three years and is virtually fluent in Turkish now, but still uses the methods as a fun thing.
Check out their webb site, numerous other methods to use as well.
Good luck to all in learning this interesting language,I just wish that I could be as good as my daughter.

for people from about age 4 and up i reccommend "talk now" if u look into it im sure you will find it.. its a cd rom and is a great way of learning basic words and phrases!

Ohh ladies!!

Why you give permision to childs to see very bad boy "Bart Simpson"???

In my humble point of view, he is a very badly example for the children, Bart is limp, gross, does not respect his parents, neither to his sister. Also he is a potential violent boy.

If one day I have children... I never will give permission to see "The Simpson".

Pardon if there are some American people here, but i think these cartoon is trash.

I'm sorry again.

Mery.

I agree with Mery.

But neither do I have kids

Haha well I think 'The Simpsons' are great. It's funny and kids are normally sensible enough to realise that people like Bart get punished for being bad. And that they should never be bad like him. Trust me, I'm a kid, I do know. Plus, all kids go through a 'naughty' stage. Some last longer than others. Kids do know what's right and what's wrong most of the time. But sometimes they just need a push in the right direction.