[JosieWales]

I teach high school, and have a Hispanic girl who is extremely smart (she scored the highest in our school on the English component of a standardized test, and Eng. is her 2nd language!!) and she has offered to teach Owen Spanish. I know enough Spanish to get by, but I'm not confident enough to really teach him. (Plus now that I'm back at work, I'm not exactly wallowing in free time.)

The girl has a 2 1/2 yo brother who only speaks Spanish, as well, which I think would be great exposure for Owen.

My question: What is the best approach for her to take? Talk to him in Spanish only when we're w/them? Let him play w/her little brother, and w/or w/o guidance? Both? Talk to him in English but tell him the names of things as a starting point? I'm just not a language teacher. I'm thinking, kids learn English by first learning the names of things, so that's a good place to start?

Any help appreciated!!!

[judymend]

Firstly Becca, AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME opportunity!!!

I am not a teacher or expert on languages. I am simply a Spanish speaking mami .

I say, immerse him in full Spanish! I might get slammed for saying this, but I truly believe that Owen will pick this up with no problems and with no interruptions to his current English and I truly believe, with no confusion. I think he will simply conform to the teachings. I think it is a wonderful opportunity for him to be exposed to the semi-new language. It sounds like you are already giving him some basic Spanish, and if he listens and watches the Spanish Television Programming, he is getting it from this source as well. So he is already receiving Spanish.

I say, go, go, go for it...let her speak to him in ONLY Spanish, and let the two young ones interact - they will soon be teaching each other the alternating language!

This is my take on it...Peter Jack has been immersed in Spanish since the beginning, but of course, he came into a family of Spanish heritage and full language, but he has been exposed to three languages so far (Spanish, English & some French) and does so well in all three. They retain so much in these formative years (0 - 3 years old) - I also have the Sitter, who is Colombian, and speaks both languages perfectly, speak to Peter Jack in pure and only Spanish. He converses in both with no confusion, this is the way my brothers and I learned and grew up learning, as well as all of my cousins.

Becca, CONGRATULATIONS, you are Blessed to have this wonderful Student become your Son's Teacher!!!

Keep us updated on what you decide to do and what Baby Owen's progress is, in the near future

Much Love and Many Hugs & Kisses to my sweet baby Owen!

Blessings

[JosieWales]

Judy! I had no idea! How AMAZING you are! (We knew that already, but this just adds to that!) I appreciate your insight, as a bilingual mommy.

So you don't think, even though he's already 2, he'll have any trouble? I am guilty of not speaking Spanish much at all lately, since Ian was born and back to work especially. But it's not hard to do, so I can start doing it again, as lousy as my Spanish is. Every little bit must help, right?

I AM blessed--this girl is amazing.

How many times a week, do you think? How often?

[JustBarbara]

Becca - I agree with Judy - what an amazing opportunity. I too would suggest that this girl/ young lady speak to Owen in Spanish only and definitely immerse as much as you can - playing with her younger brother sounds like a great plan. DS is 2 1/2 and is exposed to English, Russian, Spanish and some French and German and he just soaks it up. He understands when I speak to him in French and Spanish (though certainly not fluent) - we watch Elmo in Spanish - and he is exposed to Russian (and English) at his daycare. Sometimes I'll ask him something in English and he'll respond in Russian. Take this wonderful gift and let Owen run with it.

Where I work I get to practice my Spanish and German so I try to keep up as much as possible.

[ej-momtobe]

I agree with Judy. The best way to learn (for a child or an adult) is to be immersed in the language. Our son is bilingual, DH and the Nanny speak only spanish to him, and I speak english. He knows when to speak spanish and when to speak english. its pretty amazing. Be careful not to mix english and spanish together (i.e. Spanglish) or he will do the same.

[drasusi]

I speak only Spanish to my two and a half year old son, and have been SOOO lucky as to find a dual immersion (English/Spanish) pre-school 5 blocks from our house. I am impressed at how much having other friends who speak Spanish has motivated my son, and also at how much Spanish the kids who came in speaking only English have picked up in only two months.

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity....I say have her speak only Spanish to him, do it as often as your schedule and hers allows, and incorporate her little brother at least on occasion, as that will likely be a HUGE motivator to your son.

Buena suerte!

[drasusi]

Oh, just read EJ's post....Spanglish....that's what my husband speaks. And yes, then the little one carries it on.....Yes, if possible try to keep Spanish and English separate.....
Though Spanglish was what almost everyone I knew in California spoke all the time, here in Chicago it is most frowned upon.....

[AdoptAmiga]

Ditto to what Judy and Barbara already said. I'm a language professional and a bilingual mom. My kids understand, speak, read and write in three languages (Spanish, English & Mandarin) appropriate to their age levels. Exposure, consistency and a good role model (for imitation) are essential for language learning. Just be prepared that you won't have much output at age 2. His spoken Spanish vocabulary will equal his English vocabulary. Receptive skills come first. While learning a language every person at first understands more than they can produce. There is also the phenonomen of the "silent period". Do a little research on second language acquisition (SLA) or bilingualism to familiarize yourself with the various theories and methods.

Most importantly, DO NOT BELIEVE ANYONE THAT SAYS YOU"RE HARMING YOUR CHILD BY EXPOSING HIM TO ANOTHER LANGUAGE. THAT IS PURE NONSENSE!

Thank you for helping to stamp out monolingualism and giving your child the GIFT OF LANGUAGE. Best of luck!

I am one passionate language loving momma!

[guatparents2be]

julian is 2 days a week in a spanish immersion school. we'll put him in a different school full time that is immersion when he is 3.

he understands a LOT of spanish, and he will speak a few words here and there.

i wish wish wish that i knew more spanish so i could talk to him more in spanish but i only know a little bit. i do teach him some words, when we're reading the picture books and i'm working on my own spanish too.

sounds great becca!

[SKL]

I think this is a great idea.

We have a nanny from Honduras whose Spanish is a lot better than her English. She has been with us for about 9 months. Initially, I was most concerned that my girls learn English, and they seemed confused when hearing both languages, so I didn't want to push Spanish early on. They have always been exposed to Spanish, but not as a conversational language. But last month, with my oldest turning 2 and being home for a year, I asked the nanny to start talking to them more and more in Spanish. Eventually I want them to speak Spanish to her and English to others.

I actually think this is the perfect age for a child to start learning Spanish as a second language. It is very true that the child will not try to mix English with Spanish unless he hears others speaking that way. It may delay speech development a bit (and my girls are already reluctant speakers), but in the long run, supposedly they more than catch up.

I have filled my house with bilingual toys and children's books, which the nanny has been using actively with the girls. Recently I started reading the dual-language books with the girls as well. There are some nice ones that include conversations between Spanish-speaking and English-speaking children. The Margaret and Margarita books are good examples. I also have them listen to many Spanish and multi-lingual CDs. But because I know my Spanish skills leave much to be desired, I pretty much stick to English. I just don't want the girls to think that Spanish isn't as good (or whatever) since Mommy doesn't speak it. Does that make sense?

[stacytoadopt]

My little one learns best with songs - so you might ask your student/teacher to sing songs with the boys.

[JosieWales]

Thanks SO much for all the advice!! I am so excited. AdoptAmiga, I may be PMing you!

[mommytoEli]

what an awesome opportunity for owen!!

[judymend]

Originally Posted by JosieWales

So you don't think, even though he's already 2, he'll have any trouble? I am guilty of not speaking Spanish much at all lately, since Ian was born and back to work especially. But it's not hard to do, so I can start doing it again, as lousy as my Spanish is. Every little bit must help, right?
I AM blessed--this girl is amazing.
How many times a week, do you think? How often?

So you don't think, even though he's already 2, he'll have any trouble? Nope, I think Owen will be just fine, he will...just adapt I am guilty of not speaking Spanish much at all lately, since Ian was born and back to work especially. But it's not hard to do, so I can start doing it again, as lousy as my Spanish is. Your Spanish is not lousy, you are wonderful for just trying! Keep up the great efforts, keep at it! Every little bit must help, right? That's the key, every little bit helps, and he will retain it just as long as you are consistent and repetitive...make it fun, make it a routine - if Owen doesn't have a chalk board yet, get one! Peter Jack has had one since last Christmas and we work on it about every two days without fail. I draw simple pictures and words, in English, Spanish and French and we learn together. Peter Jack has also learned lots with the Baby Einstein videos - I couldn't believe it when one evening, we were sitting in front of the one video that teaches sign language, and yep, you guessed it, he was teaching ME sign language!!! I couldn't believe it, I was happy that he had learned it after he learned to speak, because it just affirmed that he had just learned a new skill, developed a new way of communicating and was actually teaching it forward to his parents!! Let me tell you, these children do not stop amazing!!! So back to the chalkboard method...I really think making it a routine and a fun place is key! This Christmas we plan on purchasing a new bedroom door for Peter Jack's room...the door is a chalkboard on one side and a whitewall on the other where he could use dry erase markers!!! FUN, FUN, FUN!!! I can't wait, I can't imagine how he is going to react when he figures out that he can write on his bedroom door and it'll be allowed (just another idea for learning methods).

I AM blessed--this girl is amazing. AMEN.

How many times a week, do you think? How often? As often as this grand opportunity allows! Good Luck, and like I said, let us know how WONDERFUL baby Owen is doing with it!!!!

[AdoptAmiga]

Yes, don't worry how "bad" you think your Spanish is (and it's probably better than you think!). Your tutor will be his primary language model. Repetition and consistency are the main keys.

And yes, PM me if you like.