I am raising my daughter to be bilingual. You would think that since I am bilingual it would be easy. Well, guess what? It’s not easy at all. You see I am the only Spanish speaker in my home and I have not lived in a predominantly Spanish speaking home since I was 18 years old.
I was born in the United States and I am bilingual because I was raised in a home where Spanish was spoken. I did not have a choice. I truly mastered English when I started school.
Nowadays, my English is much stronger than my Spanish. I was educated in English, I no longer live around my Spanish-speaking family and although I can use my Spanish during some day to day transactions it is just not woven into the fabric of my life the way it once was.
In order to teach my daughter Spanish, I have to make an effort to speak to her only in Spanish. This is particularly challenging when non-Spanish speakers like her dad are around. Sometimes it feels like a monumental task, but I know it is well worth it.
Spanish has given me so much. It has allowed me to communicate with family members in Mexico that only speak Spanish. It has provided me with jobs I would not have gotten otherwise. I want my daughter to have those same opportunities.
Since my Spanish has atrophied, I find reading books to my daughter in Spanish to be a really helpful tool especially when they use words that I might not otherwise say to her. I do not find it all that easy to find children’s books in Spanish at the store or at the library, though.
Recently, I was contacted Sherrie A. Madia, Ph.D. and asked if I would be interested in reviewing, “Alphabet Woof”, a book she created with her two daughters. Honestly, I was going to say no, until I saw that the book was offered in Spanish as, “Sopa de Guau!”. Then I was all over it.
The book is delightful. The illustrations are colorful and fun and the story has a little magical realism a la, “Like Water for Chocolate” going on. I enjoyed it, but more importantly my daughter likes it and she gets to have a little more Spanish in her life because of it.
Disclosure: I received a copy of “Sopa de Guau!” in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. The opinions are mine and mine alone.
ALSO READ: 101 Ways to Praise a Bilingual (Spanish/English) Child {Printable}
I understand that it would be tough to learn/teach two languages at once. She sure will have a good background in Spanish if she ever desires to learn it better. Maybe in the future she could spend time in Mexico with relatives and be immersed in it.
My mom was born in Slovenia and I feel cheated that she didn't teach me some Slovenian. It would have been good to know even a little of it.
Those are all such positive things and it's so much easier to pick up on a language when you are younger. I took 5 years of German in high school and college and still can't really speak it at all. I would have loved to be exposed to another language growing up, but it definitely sounds like it will be a challenge in your home!
My friend married a french man and her daughters are billingual. He only spoke french in the home and she only spoke english. Somehow they picked it up. Your right it is much easier to get a job now days if you are billingual…and they usually pay more!
hmm something strange going on here in blogland specifically blogger.
I first noticed a post about it at Savannah's http://savmarshmama.blogspot.com/2010/07/answer…
Then this morning I was confused about a comment from JJ being placed on the wrong post on my blog. http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/2010/07/fragmenter-…
Since you, umami, are the queen of comments and creator of a comment meme what do you know of this? Did your move from blogger have something to do with it?
Have you messed with the forces of comments?
Fess up
That's awesome! I think being bilingual has opened many doors for me too! Hell, I get a stipend at work because I'm Level III bilingual in Spanish. That's as high as you can go in our company. 🙂
How cool – that a book fell into your lap just when you were looking for one…My husband is first generation American – his mom came over from Germany when she was about 7. His grandparents forbid her and her sister to speak German in the house – they were American now. Now my children are learning German (even though I pushed hard for Spanish, Mami, I did!) and I know he feels bad that he can't be more helpful.
I've been known to mess with things, but in this case I would be innocent.
Keep at it! I would love to have had your opportunity to speak two languages…the only way you really learn…immersion.
I think you're finally in my reader, thank God. It was so hard for some stinkin reason!
I kind of wish I were bilingual… but not enough to do something about it, haha.
Actually, I could have been bilingual. English is not my father's first language. If you wake him out of his sleep he will start “babbling” at you until he remembers what country he's in. Actually, most of my cousins on my father's side are bilingual, but most of them have two parents who are from the same country and who are very garrulous and also bilingual. It's funny watching my aunts and uncles get together: “Blah blah blah blah but no, wait! Blah blah blah blah understand?”
And I'm like “no, I didn't understand, actually…”
How wonderful for your daughter to be bilingual. I think American children miss out on so many opportunities because learning a second language is not a priority in our elementary schools.
I regret not working harder on my German from college.
Ok, first I have to say that I was trying to find you because my blogroll said you hadn't posted in FOREVER! Then, I realized that your new URL was not on my feed. So here you are! I was actually just wanting to say hello and see how you are.
I have a close friend married to a man born and raised in Mexico and she is fluent in Spanish herself. They found it a challenge because they speak Spanish at home, but she had trouble with English at daycare/preschool.
Hope all is well?
Best,
Tina
I wouldn't be able to do it. Sometimes Diego and Dora confuse me. Cuz I'm stooopid.
So, here's a stupid question…do you think in english?
I heard that it's best for each parent to choose and stick to one language, so you're doing it the right way. Perhaps your skills will become stronger again the more she speaks with you!
I think that is fantastic and I am thrilled for you that a Spanish alternative was available. I would love to teach my children to be multilingual. 🙂
Cool! As you know most of the English speaking do speak only that or one other language.
As a Finn I had to study Swedish, English..after school Spanish, Arabic (words) and now French. Spanish is a really good to know here in Casa. I've met quite a lot of people who don't speak English but they speak Spanish. oooh, but it's been hard for me because it's been too many years since I was in Spain for two years…but I still have it. It will come when I'm forced to find the words – and it feels great! To communicate with people is the most important thing in life! (but grammar…argh! do not even mention that please!)
Hasta proxima vez!
Que?
Well, that almost exhausts my Spanish.
I think it's so wonderful that you are bilingual and are attempting to give your daughter that same opportunity. Growing up in Phoenix I learned enough Spanish to know when someone was talking trash about me, how to roll my R's and pronounce things correctly. It was my minor in college, and I was fluent for some time, but then lost it. I still live in the Southwest, and would love for my kids to learn it. Good for you! Keep at it!
I think this is great Mami. In fact, just so you know, the kids that can read and speak in Spanish and English are generally SO much further along than any other kid in my first grade class that speaks primarily English or Spanish. Kudos for being a cool mom.
Watch for the Cheerios that have the books in the box. They are in Spanish / English.
We have some of those, actually. I just read her one yesterday.
Very cool. I try to have an Arabic day with my son once a week or so. I know it won't make him fluent, but it'll get those pathways laid in his brain if nothing else…
Keep at it. I think being bilingual is a good quality.
I have a blog break for few days. I just popped in to say hi!
Love and hugs,
~B xx
very cool you are carrying that one with your little one…i think that is vastly important…sounds like a cool book as well…will check it out…
I have a son that is half Greek, and a daughter that is part Mexican. My son wants to learn Greek, which I have no background in, so his dad will have to help him with that. My husband definiately wants to teach my daughter Spanish as a second language.
I am always regretful about not learning my mother's native language as a child. Since my dad is an english only speaker it just never happened. I wish I could speak to her in her native language.
Your daughter will be grateful she learned two languages.
I had always wished that I had a bilingual parent. I envied my friends who had relatives that could speak another language. Nowadays, my sis-in-law is the tri-lingual one and she is teaching my nieces English, German and Dutch. – G
I can completely relate. Although I grew up in a Spanish-speaking household, I've lived in the states since I was 8. So, I had all my education in English, worked professionally in English, and my husband speaks English. It takes a lot of effort to “switch” my brain to speak Spanish to her – it just doesn't flow as naturally as English does, unfortunately.
Great story. I think your daughter will some day be grateful for your decision to help her learn two languages. When two of my grandkids came back from a family vacation one time they were so anxious to tell me about watching Scooby Doo and they were able to understand the Spanish words because they were learning English and Spanish in their home. We ran around singing Donde Esta Scooby Doo for weeks after that.
I am sure Unknown Baby will love speaking the caliente language :).
Wow, I have a big task when I am Mama then. Because I have been brought up speaking three different languages.
In an ideal world I would like to teach my litttle ones how to speak Ghanaian and Italian. I was raised in a household in which I spoke Ghanaian with my mother, Italian with my brother. When I was with my friends I spoke in Italian and the same at school.
Then I met my Hubby who is English.
Now, my dream is to let my future children learn Ghanaian in this way they can speak with Ghanaian relatives. Also I want them to learn Italian so they can find it easy to travel to Italy. English will be must due to their father, English relatives and school.
I have to find a way to do that in due course ;).
I think it's great you're doing this for her. I would love to have learned at a younger age. Good for you!
I'm working on unfollowing you so I can follow you again…..Trust me, it's hard. I'm not that smart.
I know!! I want to teach my daughter some spanish too, but it is soo hard!! Not to mention neither hubby or I actually speak it. and really the only people around here who do are high school kids who are taking it in school! and then they only use it during that hour! ahhhh! I just think it would be such a great gift though!! I'm still trying. I'm working toward building her library up with books and movies and I'm using livemocha.com when I can, as well as my english-spanish dictionary! sigh. Oh well. Some is better than none!! (another idea I was just given, which I need to look into, is to get a regular babysitter who is probably one of those high school kids, who would ONLY speak to her in spanish.)
Thanks for the book rec. 🙂
I just heard a story of a family who was living in France when their little one was learning to talk, so they only spoke French to him. But they spoke English to each other. When they moved back to the states they realized that their child didn't speak English!! 🙂 He'd just learned to tune mom and dad out when they talked to each other!! 😀 LOL I thought that was kinda cute. 🙂
I bet she will be grateful in years to come that you taught her Spanish. It is such a valuable “skill” to be able to speak it — especially when it comes to future employment.
I have zero knack with picking up new languages, but my son has been taking Spanish for years and he is a “natural” – which makes me happy to see 🙂
I love that you're raising her to be bilingual. I wish I could do that with my wee ones. We tried to get into the dual language program in our district for both of them, but it was full and we never made it off the wait list. *sigh*
FYI if you're looking for cheaper books in Spanish, I've found Scholastic to be a great resource. The preschool I was at the PTO for has a huge Spanish speaking population (>40%), so we did a lot of work trying to find good Spanish titles for them!
That's awesome. Good for you, and good for Unknown Baby–Learning the Spanish language is a great gift to give her. 🙂
My hat's off to you! The “One Parent One Language” rule is really the way to go if you want to raise bi-lingual kids in a country that is mono-lingual. People in Europe grow up with multiple languages all at once with no problem at all. I tried with my oldest and I gave up when he was 3. Not having anybody that speaks Chinese around me makes it really really hard, and mind-draining too. The tragedy is that my kids will not be able to communicate with my families at all. I may go to hell for this.
ok, I found ya…I think Im following you now….I hope this makes you show up in my blog roll now 😉
I'm sorry to be such a pain in the butt, but you know I treasure your visits.
Don't give up on this challenge as to be bi-lingual is one of the greatest gifts anyone can have I think.
I love living in Italy but the language is always going to be a challenge. I can speak enough but I would oh so love to be fluent.
Mami
I lived in Texas for 10 years and feel a special kinship to my Latina sisters. I tried to learn Spanish and become a bilingual teacher but it got too hard (or I'm too old to learn a new language). Anyway, because of that, I have a rather long list of bilingual books and resources that might help you. If you are interested, please email me and I will forward them to you!
I can't imagine how hard it would be to only speak Spanish to a child in a bilingual home. Good luck! You are giving your daughter a great gift!
I never learned a language. I think what you are doing is important for her and it will help her in the future.
Children who learn a second language as children tend to be able to pick up languages easier than those like me that just know English and Bon Jour! I know Adios, too, come to think of it. How great that you are reading her books in Spanish. You are so great 🙂
It is not easy but you can do it. And later she has to keep it up too. There is no bigger value than to be able to speak more than one language.
I am spanish as well and actually the opposite of you. I was never taught spanish by my parents and only received the rudimentary training in school. Now with my son I wish to learn it so – like you said – he would be able to learn spanish as well.
I am Irish, so English speaking. I'm married to a Hindi-speaking man and living with his family. Our kids attend English speaking schools. At home they speak English with me and Hindi with papa and his family.
It's worked out so far. They prefer are excellent in both.