My name is Garbagh Kaur, my husband is Herrai Singh. We have 2 children, one is called Gurmukh Singh. What?
Herrai
I'm just looking, oh my god.
Garbagh
I thought you did something with your leg!
Garbagh
One is called Gurmukh Singh, he is 6 years old, the other is Sunmukh Singh, he is 3 years old. And we live with Herrai's mother.
We use music while we're teaching them Punjabi.
Herrai
The singing it helps because you're gonna repeat. When they're singing the hymns they're picking up words.These words then come back into their language when they're speaking as well. Times have changed and when I was younger and I learnt
Garbagh
You were told to do things and that was it. Whereas now, it's not that easy. I think you have to change the way that you interact with your children.
Herrai
Sitting down, singing, having fun. Teaching through fun is more beneficial. If he's not going to enjoy it, there's no point in forcing him. I think a parent really has to grab a child's strengths.
Garbagh
We teach Sunmukh using the blackboard.
I think the main advice that we can give any parents who are bilingual is starting them off young and also within your home, try and speak it as much as you can, because it is very difficult once they start school.
Herrai
They're learning at school in one way, they're learning another way at home. It's the same life. Just two different environments really.
I really want them to be very academically clever so I can retire.