Hindi is the native language and English is a foreign language where I live. The toddler (2 years old) gets sent to the daycare. They speak Hindi there.
I speak English at home with the child and the other person too.
I have found that child is more comfortable with Hindi words rather than the English.
Example:
Child easily says:
"Paani" rather then water.
"De Do" rather than give.
"Aao" rather than come.
"Dekho" rather than look.
I do force the child to say these English words and she does comply.
I can feel that it is not easy for her. When I ask her to say give, she says pig. I ask her to say look, she says took.
She can say thank you, please, mole, eyes, nose, hands, snake (with not so correct pronunciation though.).
She speaks tortoise, monkey, and money correctly.
She is NOT hard of hearing. She does understand what I say. She does understand the long English sentences I speak to her.
Should I actually force her to speak these/the English words at this age (by repeatedly asking her to speak)?
or
Should I continue talking in English and pretend to be deaf and let her learn at her own pace when she grows up?
or
Is there a third option?