Hi, my family and I speak another language outside of English, but I always felt “uncomfortable” talking to my son in anything other than English. He is 3 and a half years old, and I am wishing I would have taught him sooner. We have family over seas so it’s important that they are able to communicate. We speak one of the most difficult languages in the world, and I’m worried I’m too late and he wont catch on. Any tips or ideas on how to get him to understand and speak in this language? Much appreciated!
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Teach him the same way you taught him English. When you’re cooking or doing daily activities start pointing out different things and saying what it is or what you’re doing in your language. He’s still young enough you can teach him a second language.
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If he has a favourite show and its available on netflix maybe you can translate the language?
My son is an 8th polish/polski. He’s 7 years old (his great grandad came from poland in ww2 to fight for england as he met someone here…they married and had 7 children here in the uk so grandad is british born) he sometimes changes blaze or paw patrol language to polski.
Never too late to learn a new language.
Or go basic. Like cup bowl cat dog please hi bye etc and use your native tongue then and he’s bound to copy
You should have started that when he came out!!! Why would ever be embarrassed!! Remember you are teaching him that also
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Just talk to him more in that language. He’ll pick it up.
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Just speak the language to you baby, why feel uncomfortable when knowing another language will be beneficial to him later on.
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Just start saying whatever in both languages. Like do you want a cookie then say it in other language.
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It’s never too late! Just start with basic words like when you were teaching him to speak English and say his first words. Kids have brains like sponges until 5 years old so I bet you’ll be amazed at how fast he’ll pick up a second language! From there, you just practice with him and soon he’ll be fluent in basic conversation and then you can teach him more advanced words as he gets older. Good luck momma, you’ve got this! 
And that language is… ?
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Three is said to be the best age to start bringing in a second language to teach that’s when their little brains are like sponges… so when your talking maybe say it in English and repeat it in your language…
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He is still young an picks things up fast my 4 yr old is learning Spanish now an she picking it up pretty fast
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French immersion in schools starts at preschool age 4 so it’s definitely not too late
At home speak your native language and in public speak english that is how my parents taught me to speak spanish
Everything u say in English say it in the other language right after
If teenagers can learn another language in highschool, then it is not too late for your son to learn another language.
The sooner the better. My mother never spoke to myself or my brothers in spanish and we hold it against her! Good luck momma!
3 to 5 is perfect sponge age to teach a language…you can speak to him in the language…put up flash cards around the house…we started around 3… and is now 6 and is learning 2 other languages…and uses them regularly…
Speak to him daily & maybe make 1 day all Spanish day for instance! Hell retain it! So important to remember our heritage! 
Just start speaking to him in the other language. He’s still young and can catch on easily. My boys are half white half Burmese and their dad speaks to them in Burmese and I speak to them in English. Now that they are older I am teaching them Spanish also. It’s nice to know more than one language, you should never feel embarrassed or anything to speak your native language😘
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It is never to late to teach a different language. Easier at a young age then older. When at home, speak to him in your language and he will eventually respond. Maybe not speak, but ubderstand it. If you and your husband speak it he will learn!
Start speaking your native language to him. He will pick it up quickly
Start blending your languages, translating back and forth. He can understand that objects can bear more than one name. Good luck!
It’s never too late! Start now his brain is still a sponge he will soak it uo
Why would you ever feel Uncomfortable talking to your kid on your language? Doesn’t make sense to me. You can start now and he’ll still catch up.
My kids first language is Spanish as so is mine.
Find a popular cartoon in said language and have him watch it, speak to him in said language and go over basic words and numbers. Kids that age are like sponges and can pick it up quick.
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Teach him the same way you taught him English. He will pick it up. I speak both English and Spanish to my son and started speaking Spanish late to him (he’s 4) and although he speaks more English, he does understand some Spanish. Label things in both languages, play and label…label label label in both English and the second language you wish to teach. He will pick it up.
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Hmmm…what language?? I would speak one word in English, and speak the same word in your native language. And keep doing that for a while.
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Get English down, then work on the second language.
Not sure why you feel uncomfortable speaking to him in your language. Start using it at home. Lots of good advice on here alread. Flash cards,cartoons, just use it. This is the perfect age. The sooner the better so dont wait.
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I think you should start now. It will be okay
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Humans acquire language the first 3 years of life. Not meaning they can’t acquire a new language. But the first 3 years are crucial for language development.
Say it in your language then repeat it in English… when the child responds to what you say in English then tell him yes and repeat it again in your native … he will pick it up faster then you think
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Not sure why you would feel uncomfortable… I think it’s great to know more than one language. I speak to my 17 month old in both languages back and forth. He seems to understand. Maybe try that? He is still at a good age to get him into another language
If it’s one of the must difficult languages then I can only assume it’s Chinese or Japanese!?
Go wit the above advice. Speak both to him. Children are like sponges. He will pick it up quickly
Speak to him in the language, and continue doing so most of the times. He will learn very fast. Point and show object that you are referring to…
Children learn other languages faster than adults I’d start by talking to him in your native tongue
Start now. Like someone said they are sponges. Name object and actions in both the native tongue and English.
Teach him songs and poems in your language, read children’s books in your language, see if there’s a TV channel or children’s programs in your language; if not see if you can order kids shows or movies on DVD from your native country.
Once she/he learns to read, label things in the house with the foreign words. Give any pets names in the language, have a cute name/expression for your child like “mon petit chou.”
Talk to any relatives in your country of origin on speakerphone with your child listening. Have her/him sing/say whatever learned to relatives & listen for their response.
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This is the best age to teach them 
Best to teach young. They are sponges.
It’s not too late start now
What is this mystery language?
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Say it in your language then repeat it in English… when the child responds to what you say in English then tell him yes and repeat it again in your native … he will pick it up faster then you think
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It’s not to late to teach him. He’s at the age where he is still learning.
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It’s never to late to learn. The way I was taught when I was in kindergarten was my teacher would say the phrase or word in English (my first language) then in German. She spoke both and decided to teach us.
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He’ll pick it up, no worries. What a gift to be able to share with him.
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Start immediately!!!
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I can speak elementary level German and spanish. I taught myself. Never too late.
start now and keep speaking it a friend of mine in service did this with his son. and still . plus his son also knows english as well.his mom is from germany and dads from the u.s.
Kids until the age of 5 have the ability to learn up to 6 languages. Your not too late, start now and be consistent, sent her or him to put something in the bin, in you language, while pointing what u want her to do, or ask her to eat her food and point so she or he gets to know what ur talking about… it’s not easy but if your consistent you will get there eventually
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Start now. Refer to everything in both tongues. Speak English then ur native tongue.
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My child was 5 when she began a dual emergent program at school. She has only been in school since August and has learned how to speak, read, and write in both English and Spanish. She also knows creole as her father is Cape Verdean. At that age they pick up so fast. What she learns at school she teaches her 3 and 4 yr old brothers and they now go around singing or saying the words as well.
Not to late. Start now
Now is good to start. They absorb like a sponge
I moved to Arizona when my son emwas young!! He became quite proficient in spanish!! I spend time in Mexico, my Spanish is still deplorable!! Young children learn easily!!
Start teaching him. Everyone’s tips here are great. What language is it???
Just start talking to him in your native language, and repeat in English…help him learn. Write up some flash cards. If u and the husband both speak it, then talk to each other in that language. Make it part of the home.
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Start now. You should have been talking to your son in both languages so he will understand it. When they are small like that their brains are like sponges and soak everything up. I’m native and the mohawk(kanienkeha) that we speak is also a really hard language to learn you won’t even find it on google translate. But if you know your language and you are fluent you should start speaking now. Simple phrases like hello, thank you, how are you, good bye. And even if you can make pictures to go with it so they know what they are saying. This helps my son and my daughter. I’m even trying to teach my S/O more of our language. It’s a beautiful thing when you can speak it and understand it.
The people laughing at this probably only know how to speak one language smh
He’ll pick it up easily. There are tons of ways too try. Saying the words in both languages is good. I learned flash cards are greasy with things. That helps with both languages and reading at the same time. Im teaching my 3 and a half year old Spanish that way
Start with basic stuff around the house like chair, door, bed, and also greetings like hi, bye, thank you… stuff like that. My son is 5 and is barely learning spanish. He’s catching on pretty well.
Speak your native language for half the time you are with him and English the other half. Like if you are at ho.e with him you speak your native language but when your spouse is home speak English. Also you could speak your language and your SO speak English either way your child will pick it up fast