[GabeMom]

We are home with Gabriel and we think it is important that he learns both Spanish and English. The problem with this strategy is that neither me nor my husband are bilingual. My husband's ten year old daughter is also excited to learn. We realize that he will not truly grow up bilingual, but will acquire a second language. We just want to do whatever we can to support that and hopefully learn in the process.

I know the best way to learn is immersion ( I actually have experienced that on my trips to Guatemala over the last three months), but not really doable at this time.

I am looking for ways to incorparate Spanish into our lives through books, DVDs, etc that will help all of us learn (especially Gabriel). I have checked out "the book website", but I wanted to see what the opinion was on the boards.

Has anyone used:
Learning Spanish Like Crazy
Spanish for Gringos
Flip Flop Spanish

Does anyone have any age appropriate suggestions for our daughter?



Thanks for your help.

[DPline]

I know that this isn't exactly what you are asking, but my older son and husband having been taking spanish through our local community ed. and it has been great. In fact the instructor started coming into my son's kindergarten class last year after the teacher found out about it, and has now followed along with the kids and is coming into the first grade classes.

I'll be curious about the responses you get as I would really like Lauren and Daniel to be exposed to spanish as well.

[GabeMom]

bumping this to see if anyone else has ideas

[susanhuff]

I have started recording and watching "Plaza Sesamo" with my son. It's on once a week on PBS. It's a lot like "Sesame Street" only in Spanish. I really like it.

I took a couple of Spanish classes at the local community center. I don't know a lot, but I incorporate some of the language into our daily routine. For example at the grocery store I show Charlie green bell peppers and say, "green! verde!."

I also bought some bi-lingual books and I read to him in Spanish. You can probably find bi-lingual books at the library too.

It's a tough one. I'd like to have WAY more Spanish in our lives. I'd like to become proficient myself and I hope Charlie wants to when he is old enough to decide - until then I will make sure he has lots of exposure.

Good luck! Let me know if you come up with any other good ideas!
Susan