[jenniferw223]

I was wondering if anyone knows how old a child has to be to retain their Spanish? My son will be two on Saturday. He has been going to a private sitter for about four months now and she only speaks Spanish. He is learning so much. He says several words in Spanish and translates sometimes from SPanish to English. Like if his sitter says give mommy a besito he will say kiss. We don't know how to speak Spanish at home so he only hears it when he is with the sitter which is about three days a week. So how long do you think he will need to hear it on a regualr basis to where he will remember what he has learned? I plan on leaving him with our private sitter for atleast another year possibly two. He is really happy there but I feel like he should at some point start preschool. I do really want him to learn and remember his Spanish so if I need to leave him with our private sitter longer I will. Any thoughts?

[bizzee]

Language skills are something that, unless used on a regular basis, will be lost over time.

The best thing you could do is learn to speak Spanish yourself. There are many online "classes," and language lesson CDs available on the market if you feel like going the self-taught route. Otherwise, you can check with your local community college or even a local adult education program. I learned conversational Polish through our village adult ed program. Classes met once a week for a few hours and it was fun

[JosieWales]

I agree w/PP 100% GL! How fun!

[godfrey544]

We're encountering a similar situation. Our son is 2.5 yrs. He's not home yet, but I hope by end of next month he will be.(Please, Mr PGN man!!) On our last visit in July, he was speaking many spanish words. I came home and enrolled in a conversational spanish class at our comm. college. I learned a lot, but not enough! We don't want him to lose it. So, we've decided to hire someone, probably a college student who needs some money, who is bilingual to come spend time with our whole family at our house once a week. It will be comforting for Sergio to hear his native tongue, but I'm hoping my bios will also learn. Kids pick it up so much easier than adults! I also am enrolling in the Conv. Spanish II class next semester. I'm a school teacher, so it's a win-win situation for me to become more fluent.
Anna

[ez4me2remember]

You could host a Spanish exchange student. We are doing this. Though we have had some "bumps" it seems to be working out well. Just wish our baby would come home now!!!!

[annaguat]

Well my now 16 yr old DS came home at 5 1/2 yrs old and he did not retain it despite living in an area with about 50% Spanish speaking people. Neitehr did DD now 15 who came home also as a slightly older child. DS does have good aptitute and has relearned Spanish. I am bilingal myself but came to the US at 13 yrs old and speak my native language nealry daily. I think I would hav elost it if I would not have spoken it. Anna

[coolwhip]

We have some good friends where the wife is from venezuela and hubby from michigan. She had six year old when they married and moved to the states. There son is now an adult and the reciently went back to visit family. Carlos still remembered some of his native Spanish but His parents who are both bilingual said that he had a hard time communicating and definately spoke like a gringo. He also heard it every day of his life but English is what he heard most after starting school.