My focus these days is to get P to speak Spanish fluently. If I don’t pass it on to her I will feel like I failed her in a big way. I’ve landed jobs, made friends, gotten bonuses, been able to communicate in many countries because of my ability to speak Spanish. Even in places where they don’t speak Spanish I’ve been able to learn the native tongue easier. In France, Italy and Brazil for example I’m ok to order food and ask my way around and I don’t speak French, Italian or Portuguese.
This past week there was a post on Ohdeedoh that was quite timely. The post was called “Raising a Bilingual Child“. So many moms posted with great advice. All comments had one thing in common: it takes a lot of discipline and tenacity on the parent’s part to pass on a second or third language. All moms said they had to make it a priority. Some suggestions were to switch tv to the language you’re trying to teach, set up play dates with families who speak the second language and make that language the only language the on one you speak at home. Basically your child has to want and need to speak the second language so you need to make it fun and make it so that he/she needs it to communicate with friends.
I’ve started by getting books for P in Spanish. I have English/Spanish word books but now she is at the point where she needs story books only in Spanish. I ordered Ferdinand the Bull, Corduroy, Clifford, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Harry the Dirty Dog all in Spanish.
Next I need to transition her tv shows into Spanish. This morning I found Pocoyo on youtube. I think we’re going to have to order the Spanish package on Uverse because Discovery Kids in Spanish only comes with that package. They have the Backyardagains, Caillou, Pocoyo, Tut and Puddle and Angelina Ballerina in Spanish…among many many others.
Third, I’m going to have to find play dates. About a year ago, I met a woman and her daughter who is almost a year younger than P. They are from Spain. We caught up a few times but because of schedules etc. we haven’t seen each other in a while. I need to call them. They also use to go to a “gymboree” type play space for kids that was only in Spanish. It’s in Pasadena which is a drive but I really need to make a big effort for P’s future.
And fourth, D is going to have to learn more Spanish. My aunt said he is understanding a lot more and speaking much more since she last saw him. Something is sticking. With D, I’d at least like to get to the point that he can fully understand everything we’re saying so I don’t feel bad about speaking a different language in front of him. I’d also like for him to be able to speak some with out kids and family. He always makes himself understood and loved no matter what language is spoken. I have no fear he’ll pass that trait onto P.
