Bebes Bilingual

Sandra - posted on 06/29/2011

Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con Camille.

Sandra - posted on 06/29/2011

Hola,
I am a mother and a language teacher. Speak Spanish to him and he will learn English, you are not going to confuse him. I grew up trilingual and I did fine. You do not need to teach him you need to be yourself, if it doesn't come natural to you, let the father speak spanish to him and you speak English. That is my advice. My daughter Alba is 3 and she is completely bilingual. She also knows some Catalan, language we speak in north of Spain, because we go there at least ones at year and all her cousins speak catalan. She does not get confuse, kids are very smart, she knows what language to use for different people.

Camille - posted on 06/29/2011

Jessie: Eso no es cierto. Los nenes pequeñs (hasta los 7 años) tienen la capacidad de aprender dos idiomas simultáneamente. Lo que tienes que hacer es hablarle español en tu casa y enseñarle a leer y escribir el español. La mejor forma es con la cartilla fonética. Los fonemas son cruciales para hablar y leer español. Con los fonemas formas palabras. Vienen juegos de fonemas. Si no consigues una cartilla fonética allá, pídele de favor a algún familiar en Puerto Rico que te envíe una.

Camille - posted on 06/29/2011

Jessie: Eso no es cierto. Los nenes pequeñs (hasta los 7 años) tienen la capacidad de aprender dos idiomas simultáneamente. Lo que tienes que hacer es hablarle español en tu casa y enseñarle a leer y escribir el español. La mejor forma es con la cartilla fonética. Los fonemas son cruciales para hablar y leer español. Con los fonemas formas palabras. Vienen juegos de fonemas. Si no consigues una cartilla fonética allá, pídele de favor a algún familiar en Puerto Rico que te envíe una.

Jessie - posted on 02/26/2009

Hola!!! Mi nombre es Jessie y vivo en Colorado.!!Hay bendito yo tambien estoy pasando por lo mismo, ha diferencia que mi esposo y yo hablamos espanol los dos( Somos de Puerto Rico), mi hijo tiene casi dos a~os y dice muy pocas palabras y muchos garabatos!!!! Pues yo no se que hacer para que aprenda a hablar, el ve todos los programas en Ingles. E escuchado que se tardan en aprender cuando escuchan dos idiomas!!!!

Elizabeth - posted on 02/25/2009

You don't want to confuse him you can teach him the spanish the english her learn at school.

Sandra - posted on 02/19/2009

Make it a regular, normal part of his environment.  Sing songs, read books etc. You're right its never too early to start.  I find that bilingual books work really well.  My daughter is 18 months old and i've been reading to her since birth.  She loves books and now expects me say things both in english and in spanish.  I worked for the early head start program for many years in the bilingual intiative program, and they recommend that you start as early as possible.  Dont worry, there is no confusion issue as they get older. By 3, kids can differentiate between the languages.  good luck

Ferchu - posted on 02/17/2009

hola krista yo tambien soy de argentina!! Buenos aires. mi nena tiene tres años y habla los dos idiomas pero me han dicho que lo mejor es hablarles español en la casa ya que una vez que empiezan el preeschool muchos de ellos si se les habla ingles tambien en la casa lo pierden. tambien es muy importante que aprendean a escribirlo, veo que vos lo haces muy bien. Mi esposo tambien es argentino, estamos en lake in the hills IL, Ustedes en donde residen??? serai lindo tener mas contacto. saludos

Christina - posted on 02/17/2009

I think it's soo reassuring to hear from those who were brought up bilingual! I'm trying so hard to make sure my daughter knows espanol because it is so important these days! My husband is black and I am Mexican but English is my first language and talking to my daughter in Spanish is really helping me with my spanish as well! I would also suggest encouraging family members who speak Spanish to talk to your child in spanish as well!



Thank you for everyone's replies! It's great to know I'm not the only one out there!

Natali - posted on 02/17/2009

Definitely focus on spanish! I speak both english and spanish with my husband but I tend to speak to my kid in spanish. She's 6 mts. and although both grandparents speak both languages I want her to stick close to her native language. English is a language that a child will learn at school, from friends, all over so coming from a home with blended cultures I think that it is important to focus on the culture that is rarely taught outside the home. Good luck! And great spanish!

Lisset - posted on 02/10/2009

Hola Krista, Tu escribes el espanol mui bien :) I am Cuban/Dominican and my husband is of Moroccan/African descent. Since our son Zaid was born, we have spoken to him in both Spanish and Arabic. We know he will learn english in school. He understands perfectly when his father or I speak to him in the different languages. The pediatrician also told us that it is the best thing to do, since he will have a big advantage over other children who can only speak one language. He said it may take him a little while to decipher them, but it will be well worth it!

Melanie - posted on 02/10/2009

I am not latina though my husband is from Mexico.  Although my Spanish is HORRIBLE, I still try to teach my children Spanish.  They understand a bit more english than Spanish, but my husband speaks only Spanish to them.  They are 21 months old.  It's really cute when they talk.  They say, "thank you, welcome, gracias, denada" all at the time when they want to say thank you.  My 4 yr old is learning Spanish too as my husband is teaching her and she is really catching on! We're hoping to have all of them bilingual although it'll be easier with the younger ones.. Don't worry about them getting confused..even if they do, they'll figure it out.

Melanie - posted on 02/10/2009

I am not latina though my husband is from Mexico.  Although my Spanish is HORRIBLE, I still try to teach my children Spanish.  They understand a bit more english than Spanish, but my husband speaks only Spanish to them.  They are 21 months old.  It's really cute when they talk.  They say, "thank you, welcome, gracias, denada" all at the time when they want to say thank you.  My 4 yr old is learning Spanish too as my husband is teaching her and she is really catching on! We're hoping to have all of them bilingual although it'll be easier with the younger ones.. Don't worry about them getting confused..even if they do, they'll figure it out.

Veronica - posted on 02/09/2009

HOLA KRISTA NO TE PREOCUPES QUE EL NIÑO SE VA A CONFUNDIR, ELLOS ABSORBEN TODO LO QUE UNO SE LES ENSEÑA, MI ESPOSO ES DE NUEVA YORK Y YO SOY ECUATORIANA, YO LE HABLO A MI HIJO DE 5 AÑOS 99% EN ESPAÑOL Y MI MARIDO SOLO EN INGLES YA QUE EL NO HABLA ESPAÑOL, MI MADRE VINO A VISITARNOS Y MI HIJO A ELLA LE HABLA EN ESPAÑOL Y A MI ESPOSO Y A MI EN INGLES YA QUE EL SABE QUE MI MADRE NO ENTIENDE NI HABLE INGLES, COMO VES ELLOS SON MUY INTELIGENTES, TE ACONSEJO QUE SIGAS HABLANDOLE LOS DOS IDIOMAS, SUERTE. BYEBYE

Sylvia - posted on 02/08/2009

Buenas Krista,

Yo naci en los estados unidos, pero soy salvadorena, En otras palabras mis padres son salvadorenos. Yo le hablo en espanol a mis ninos, debes en cuando una y otra palabra en ingles o frase, pero majormente en espanol. Soy haci con el porque de todos modos va ha aprender ingles, en la escuela, con la television, y fuera de la casa. el espanol no lo va ha aprender ni ver tanto como el ingles, y es por eso que he decido hablarle en espanol. Es importante que sepa que esa es su lengua natal. Vi un programa que el papa hablaba manderin la mama espanol, y cada uno le hablaba en su lengua al nino, y el ingles lo sabia por la escuela y la tele, y el nino era muy intelligente, y no estaba confundido sino hablaba muy bien el ingles y las otras lenguas.

sabes por veces hay padres que les hablan a sus hijos en espanol y ellos les responden en ingles y crecen haci. Te dire que no es bueno eso si quieres que tu hijo sepa hablar el lenguaje con el cual le hablas. Mi hermano es un ejemplo, el mas chico. Mi mama le habla espanol y el responde ingles, y si le dices que hable solo espanol no puede. Revuelve las palabras, espanol y ingles, y no entiende bien porveces.

no se si ayude pero haci es como planeo educar a mis hijos.

sylvia

Wendy - posted on 11/14/2008

No te preocupes, los ninos son muy inteligentes y no se confunden para nada. He notado por mi sobrino que tiene 3 anos que sabe diferenciar los dos idiomas.

Karina - posted on 11/14/2008

Hola Krista:

Yo soy mexicana y mi esposo de Estados Unidos. En casa hablamos inglés cuando toda la familia esta junta, pues mi esposo no habla mucho español. Cuando solo estoy con nuestras hijas Enya y Grace, hablo únicamente español. Enya tiene 3 años y 2 meses y tardó en hablar hasta que tuvo casi 2 y medio, pero valió la pena pues, como en otros de los casos, al hacerlo ya empleaba ambos idiomas. Si en tu área hay más gente que hable español, te recomiendo que procures hacerte de amistades que también hablen el idioma para reforzarlo más, pues el resto del tiempo tu hijo escuchará inglés.



Buena suerte.



Karina

Rebecca - posted on 11/12/2008

Hola Krista!



Guille is from Mendoza province from a small town called Bowen, outside of General Alvear. About 3 hrs. south of Mendoza city. Rural!



Casa Argentina is a group of argentineans who meet for social events, etc. Here is the link to the Houston page:

http://www.casaargentina.org/

In Denver we had a close knit group of Argentineans (they have a casa arg there, but we weren't members) that got together for asados and parties, anyway, it was important fo my husband culturally and when esteban arrived even more so he grows up around people speaking the language and with the culture (and food!) :)



I hope you find one or start one where you are!



We also listen to Spanish songs and radio, I picked up some great traditional children's songs, but redone by a modern performer last time we were in Mza.



Oh--my foto is of me cutting chumbo in AR--does your husband eat that? :)

Krista - posted on 11/12/2008

Rebecca,
That is too cool. What part of Argentina is your husband from? Mine is from Resistencia, Chaco. What and Where is Casa Argentina? I am hoping there is one in or near NC.

Rebecca - posted on 11/11/2008

how funny...I am American and my husband is Argentinean, too...and I was thinking of posting a thread about raising bilingual babies! We also live in the US now but want to go back to AR eventually.

We speak both. Esteban is almost 2, so he isn't speaking yet (his 'real ' words are mostly in English, but some are his own form! Mami=mamoo, etc. ) But he understands Spanish and responds to commands in both, knows his body parts in both, etc. I heard that each parent should speak whatever their first language (ie less errors) is, that seemed natural to us, but whenever my husband is home we sort of naturally do both.

Some Argentinean friends of ours speak castellano en casa but their son goes to a school here in the US and is completely bilingual.

Anyway, good to onnect with other Argentinos! We joined Casa Argentina where we live so Eteban can hear more Spanish (castellano). Let me know your ideas, too!

Nadia - posted on 11/11/2008

My husband and I are both bilingual teachers and spoke both lanugauge to my daughter since she was born. Her sitter spoke all Spanish. Both sets of grandparents speak Spanish and we wanted her to be able to communicate with them. After seeing the other grandkids who couldn't have a conversation with them, we decided this would not be our daugther! Mireyli started Pre-K last year and was very quiet all year, she understood English but Spanish was her first language. This year she speaks more English since it is her 2nd year in school. She is a true bilingual child, she can think in both languages and can switch with out a problem.... I am currenlty seeking a DUAL Language school, which can nuture both languages and she learn to read and write in both. A child will not be confused with 2 languages. We were taught that children can pick up different lanuages quicker when they are toddlers. You'll be surprised!! Designate your husband to be the Spanish speaker and you the English...what ever he says in Spanish, repeat to the baby in English. And vise-vera if you are speaking, have him repeat it in Spanish....this way you are learning too!! I hope this helps!





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Diana - posted on 11/11/2008

Hola Krista,

I would like to encourage you to continue speaking to your child in both languages. My mother is from Sevilla, Spain and my father is from the U.S. I was brought up speaking Spanish to my mother and English to my father. I am now 30 and bilingual. Hablo los dos idiomas y nunca me he confundido. I can't really explain how, but because my parents both spoke to me in different languages, I know them both. I was never confused and took to both languages easily. We do visit Spain often which has also helped in maintaining the language. I now have 2 sons and speak to them only in Spanish while my husband speaks to them in English. My oldest son is now 2 and it's amazing to see how great he understands and is now speaking both languages. Consistency is the key!!

Carolina - posted on 11/10/2008

Hola Krista,
Mi caso es igual al de Nuria, mi hija tienes 3 y 3 meses, y tambien trata de hablar mas ingles pues yo so lo unica que le hablo espanol. Pero ella lo entiende perfectamente, habla bastante espanglish, y aveces enredado pero es un proceso, y como dicen se demora mas que otros ninos, pero va a tener la ventaja de tener dos idiomas. Aparte es la manera de comunicarse con mi familia. Cada vez que vamos a Colombia trato de comprar nuevos, libros, videos y CD de ninos en espanol, y cuando alquilamos los videos de disney siempre los pongo en espanol y subtittles in english so my husband can understand.
Incluso cuando le leo sus libros favoritos siempre se lo traduzco a espanol y mi esposo lo lee en ingles. Asi se ha ido acostumbrando a los dos idiomas.
Trato de que escuche la mayor cantidad de espanol que pueda, pues el resto de su mundo aca es ingles.

pero sigue adelante que el esfuerzo vale la pena.

abrazos
Carolina

Cindy - posted on 11/10/2008

Hi Krista,

I am so happy to hear that you are raising your child blilingually. I have a twenty three month son and he is understanding and speaking both languages. I think that it is great that you are speaking both languages to your son. I read that it is beneficial to speak both languages at the same time so that the child becomes fluent. My husband speak English to my son and I speak Spanish to him.

Nuria - posted on 11/09/2008

Hola Krita,

Yo soy the Espana y mi marido de Estados Unidos. Tenemos un nino de 3 anos y uno de 4 meses. Yo les hablo en Spanish y mi marido, la escuela, etc. son en ingles. Mi marido no habla espanol o sea que en casa hablamos mucho en ingles. Mi nino de 3 anos entiende perfectamente el espanol pero habla mayoritariamente en ingles, a menos que yo le pida que me lo diga en espanol. Tardo un poco mas a hablar que otros ninos... tenia 2 anos, pero estoy muy contenta de la decision de hablarle en dos idiomas des del principio. Aunque no hable mucho el espanol ahora mismo, como lo entiende, no me preocupa... tiempo al tiempo y estoy segura que acabara hablando los dos idiomas perfectamente. Y en cuanto a la confusion, el no los confunde, sabe perfectamente que es inlges y que es espanol. Don't stress too much about it, just keep speaking to him in both languages and I am sure it will be fine :-)

Nuria

Carmen - posted on 11/09/2008

Hi Krista,
I'm Hispanic and grew up bilingual, because my grandparents didn't speak English. I can't remember having any issues of language confusion growing up. I wouldn't worry about it with your child. I think it's great that you're wanting to raise your child to be comfortable with both languages, I only wish we had done that with our daughter. Quite frankly, I didn't think of it at the time. Too bad for her, now she's having to learn Spanish the hard way!

Sandra - posted on 11/09/2008

Hola Krista,

I am the opposite case, I am from Spain and my husband is from Boston. Yo le hablo espanol a mi hija Alba y mi marido le habla en ingles. En daycare le hablan en ingles y ahora estoy buscando una escuela, pre-school, bilingue, para no perder el espanol. Vamos a Espana una o dos veces al ano y por lo menos 15 dias cada vez que vamos. Alba solo tiene 8 meses pero espero que siga pudiendo mantener el espanol. Do not worry about confusing your baby and it is ok if you talk english and your husband Spanish. I am a Spanish teacher, and according to studies the best each to introduce to different language is when they are babies, so, the more the better.