Television presenter Sarra Elgan and rugby international husband Simon Easterby are expecting their first child and the due date is fast approaching. As soon to be new parents they are faced with all the same dilemmas as every other couple in their situation and are thinking about their child’s future even before it has entered the world. One thing they’re certain of is that they want their baby to be bilingual from birth.
When/ How did you decide that you wanted your child to be bilingual?
Sarra : I don’t think that it was ever really up for discussion. Even before we became pregnant and talked about having kids we’ve always known that we wanted our children to be bilingual. Having been brought up to be bilingual myself I obviously want the same for my child and Simon has always been adamant that he wants our child or children to be bilingual and to raised bilingually.
Simon : Absolutely - it was something we knew before we bought a house or got married. Now that I know that I’m staying in Wales for a long time I think I’ll try to learn Welsh as well. I mean, if I was Welsh and I couldn’t speak the language I’d be gutted! Because even though I’m Irish and play for Ireland I wasn’t brought up there and I don’t speak Irish but there are a lot of guys in the Irish team who do speak the language and I think it’s really important. I know that in Ireland being able to speak Irish depends a lot on your parents or what school you go to, but I think in Wales you could find a school anywhere to learn Welsh.
Sarra : And also our close family really want the baby to bilingual because Simon’s mother is Irish and speaks Irish and she’s really keen, as my parents are, for the baby to have bilingual education.
Simon: I think that it can only be helpful for the child and when they’re really young they just take in so much information – they’re like human sponges! In fact, my sister lives in Spain and her daughter is only three and speaks to her younger brother who is only a year and a half, in Spanish. He obviously understands what she’s saying because he does whatever she tells him to do but also understands English when his mother speaks to him! It’s amazing!
Sarra : It’s fantastic how they can grasp language at such a young age and it’s the same if you speak English and Welsh then they’re going to pick up both languages.
Do you think that there are advantages to being bilingual in Wales?
Simon: Definitely and maybe because I’ve got an outsider’s point of view I can see it in a different light and I’m not so emotionally tied up with what it means to speak Welsh. I mean over the last 8 years since I’ve been in Wales I think Welsh has become a lot more popular. Ten years ago when I was in Leeds I didn’t know that people really spoke Welsh that much. Now I know that it’s a language that’s spoken by thousands and thousands of people and that people are brought up speaking Welsh. I think being able to speak two languages will help you learn in school other languages like Spanish, French or German or it can help broaden your vocabulary and mind when your child growing up. I can just see a lot of the benefits for being a bilingual adult –it opens doors especially in terms of work.
Simon : I understand how important welsh is – especially having married into a welsh speaking family and also the club I play for, at my workplace there’s a lot of Welsh speakers and a lot of our supporters are welsh speaking – whether it by North or West Wales. I certainly respect the language – I haven’t embraced it maybe, as much as I should have done, I’ve had 8 years here I should probably know more than I do hopefully, as our child learns it I’ll be able to learn more with it.
Sarra : I probably am biased but think there’s something very special about being bilingual – especially as far as school and stuff is in the question. I am so glad that my parents sent me to a Welsh school, I had so many different experiences – whether its competing on a national stage at the Eisteddfod’s or taking part in a Cwis Llyfrau (book quizzes) – just little things like that have definitely helped me in the long run. I mean, when I think of the career path that I’ve chosen, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now unless I was bilingual – I got my first break with S4C and still do the majority of my work for them. And I think it helps not just in media but across the board career wise.
You are quite unique in that your home is a mix of Irish and Welsh cultures and English and Welsh languages and so how easy is it for you to switch back and forth between languages?
Sarra : I always speak Welsh with my parents – we always have so when Simon’s around we kind of drift in and out of languages. It’s not difficult but it is odd to change what language I speak with my mum, after speaking Welsh with her all my life. But Simon has picked up quite a lot from just listening to us – I think he understands a lot more than he lets on, so I need to watch what I say!! In that sense then I’ll be speaking Welsh to the baby all the time because it’s natural for me to do it. I mean our dog is bilingual because I can’t help but speak Welsh to her while and Simon speaks English to her!
Also new fathers can feel forgotten about once the little one makes an appearance and mother and baby cement that special bond. Are you worried that the fact that Sarra will speak Welsh to the baby could make feel isolated?
Simon: I know that I won’t understand everything all the time but I haven’t got a problem with it– I think it’s great that my child will benefit from having two languages from day one and that really that’s what comes first.
What about your support network? What role do you think they will play?
Sarra: Without a shadow of doubt my parents will speak Welsh and only welsh with the baby. My mother is already speaking Welsh to the baby when she talks to my tummy! Like all grandparents, will play a really important role in the baby’s life and in supporting the child’s Welsh. My friends will help support a bigger framework of Welsh for our baby as well.
Simon: When we’ll be with the child it will hear both Welsh and English whereas when the baby will be with Sarra’s parents it will be 100% Welsh which! But this is not a unique situation – from what I understand there are hundreds if not thousands of children being brought up bilingually not just in Wales but all over the world.