For people who have adopted an older child (4yrs or older) from China...?

Question

How was your experience in China? Did your child know any English? How long did it take them to be able to communicate with you?

Answer 1

The children are not usually exposed to the English language at all.  Occasionally in some of the larger, more urban orphanages much older children will know a word or two of English.  

The children tend to pick up the language very quickly.  ESL services are a big help.

Answer 2

I have adopted two older girls from China - one age 4 at the time of adoption, the other age 10 at the time of adoption.  They did not know any English, and were not prepared for the fact that they were going to be adopted.  Nevertheless, they are both doing beautifully!    The 10-year-old was able to give her third grade class an oral report on koala bears by the time she had been here for three months.   The four-year-old is now five, has been here a year, and speaks in complete, grammatically correct English sentences.  You will be amazed at how quickly they are able to communicate!