[Mamiverse’s Bilingual Plus is an online channel devoted to bringing parents and educators the bilingual learning tools they need in the form of digital picture books, sing-alongs, and free curriculum-based family activities.]
One summer afternoon, as we were getting ready to leave the local public pool, my 5-year old son dropped his towel on the muddy floor.
“¡Poné la toalla en el banco! (Put the towel on the bench!),” I shouted across the crowds flooding the locker room. “What?” he asked. I repeated this twice, raising my voice each time.
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This article breaks my heart as I too am struggling with two children. My oldest now 6 was in French Preschool all day and at home with me 100% french until she started school. The best school in our area’s school daycare was English only and my husband who is anglophone spoke to them in English. My daughter went from almost completely French to refusing to speak French and now as she is learning French all day in an immersion program except for before and after school. She is starting to come around but struggles with words. She says I speak too quickly at times. This article made me realize I have to be dedicated and ‘strict’ to enforce her practicing French in order to achieve my goal of raising bilingual children and an English dominated environment. My husband said it was rude to speak French to her when others who solely spoke English were around. I do have French play dates, but it is clear that it is not often enough. Thanks for the tips and making me realize I must enforcing French at home even if my husband does not understand well.
This is a great article that hits close to home. Growing up in Queens in the 80’s, my sister and I both attended an Argentine school in Queens. It made a huge impact in our Spanish fluency. I now have two girls of my own and have moved back to Queens. I have been searching for this Argentine school that you have also mentioned but cannot find any current information on the internet. Would you have contact information you can share with me? I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much.
hi, me too i second Rose’s request… i live in Queens and i have never heard of a Argentine school… can you give us some info please?
many thanks!
Diana
It is a wonderful and sincere article. And, yes, you are write: raising bilingual children is very hard work and what it takes has not been sufficiently emphasized. But what’s essential is to never forget the great rewards, not only for ourselves, but for our children. Nothing will enrich their lives as much as that second language! While I try to be serene and non-dramatic in my life when it came to raising my 4 fully bilingual children I was adamant: when they refuse to speak Spanish I compare it to allowing them to throw themselves in front of a running train. I would never allow either of the two actions. I also used the “I can’t understand you” approach when they spoke English, and never gave up. When asked what did it take for them to be fully bilingual I always responded “25 hours a day” that means never ever a word of English in my part.
All my best wishes to every one who reads these words and my encouragement to never give up. Your children will certainly thank you one day!
I loved this article! When my son was born 8 years ago I swore to myself that he was going to be bilingual. I speak Spanish to him and this rule is strict and unbending, regardless of where we are or who we are with. He must speak Spanish back to me and that has always been the rule. I have devoted a lot of time and resources to raise him bilingual, nonetheless. I designed a course that I teach him at the house every week. We spend a lot of time together reading and in conversation. We travel to Puerto Rico and he gets motivated by realizing how his Spanish serves him well in order to be able to relate to friends and family there. But it’s a constant quest. I can’t say it has been hard for me but it has taken a lot of determination and a commitment to not stray away from it. My son is grateful of the fact that he can speak Spanish, English, and some French. Like education, our native language is a precious gift that we can give our children and that keeps on giving!
This is a wonderful article! You are absolutely right that raising bilingual children is very hard work, and it is complicated by hundreds of factors. I had the huge advantage of being a language teacher and understanding how children learn language, not to mention having the resources to travel, invest in materials and spend lots and lots of time with my kids. Even so, I was often exhausted and discouraged. Intellectually, I knew it was their journey, but accepting that was a entirely different story. It worked out well, but if it hadn’t I am not at all sure I would have handled it gracefully.
I know that summers in Mexico and spending a year going to school there were key to my kids’ motivation and skills. The greatest opportunity we can provide them is to learn the language from others. It is also such a relief not to be responsible for all that input!
And if they make other choices in spite of our best efforts? They have to right to do that and our role is to love and support the people they are and the people they become. Thank you for the reminder.
Thanks, Jennifer! Glad you liked it.