Discovering Spanish with Children Blog

Spanish Worship Songs for Kids

2010-08-25T03:01:00.000-04:00

I found some more Spanish worship songs for kids. That I thought you would like to share with your kids. (Click the links to hear sample of the songs)

Enjoy,
James

Kids Songs - Canciones Biblica (Bible Songs) - Spanish

Bible Songs - Spanish

Jaida's Spanish Paper dolls

2010-07-20T00:18:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone,
I (James) just wanted to share a video my daughter and I put together today. A friend sent Jaida a paper doll and she wanted to make it into an animation. I've been messing around with some software (Anime Studio Debut). So we went for it.

We had a lot of fun animating the paper dolls!

Well here is the video

Thanks for watching
Jaida and James

Jim de la Luna with Closed Captions on V-me

2010-03-17T07:02:00.001-04:00

I was getting in some Spanish time with my 3-year old son by watching Jim de la Luna on V-me. He really enjoys the show. He sits through both episodes totally focused on what's going on. I, on the other hand, get a little lost--actually a lot lost--trying to follow what the characters are saying. I rediscovered that Jim de la Luna has [CC] closed captions in Spanish! This was good for me because I can follow Spanish better by reading it. Here's a clip:

For more fun, kid-Spanish shows like Las Tres Mellizas Bebes, Lazy Town, Plaza Sesamo visit V-me (in Spanish) and try turning on the [CC], some but not all the shows will have it in Spanish.

Learning Leaders: Helping Students Succeed

2010-03-15T10:01:00.002-04:00

Back in Oct or Nov the kids’ school had a 3-day training for parents to be Learning Leaders. This program establishes volunteers to assist with reading, writing, ESL, math and other academic activities at the elementary, middle school, and high school level, as well as non-instructional aid such as general office and library assistance.

I volunteer once a week for 2 hours, helping the English side of a class in the dual language program.

The teacher asked me to work with students who are English language learners. This prompted me to research more about ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching.

The kids I've been working with are wonderful and very receptive to my help.

For more information about this NYC program, visit Learning Leaders today.

K-2 Testing Forum: Six Questions to Ask Your Child's Teacher (in Spanish too)

2010-01-28T11:36:00.002-05:00

Six Questions to Ask Your Child's Teacher

Seis Preguntas que puedes preguntar a la maestra de tu hijo/a

The teacher facilitator in our workshop mentioned that oftentimes parents just ask about behavior and let the teacher do the talking regarding academics. Asking about behavior is good, of course, but here are some other questions parents can ask their child's teachers:

"Can you show me how my child is progressing in his/her work? (ask for running records, writing folders, math work, science, social studies)
"¿Puede mostrarme como esta progresando mi hijo/a in su trabajo escolar?

“What are my child's strengths?”

“What does my child seem to like to do the most?”
¿Qué es lo que mas le gusta hacer a mi hijo/a en la escuela?

“How are my child's social skills?”
¿Cómo es el comportamiento social de me hijo/a?

“What would you like to know about my child that would be helpful to you as his teacher?”
¿Qué informacion necesita saber sobre me hijo/a que le pueda ayudar a conocerlo mejor?

“What can we do at home to support you?”
¿Cómo puedo ayudar a mi hijo/a en casa para apoyarla?"

K-2 Testing Forum: Six Questions to Ask Your Child about School

2010-01-24T11:22:00.000-05:00

From the K-2 testing workshop I mentioned earlier:

One action step parents can do to see how their child is doing in school and what they're learning is to ask questions:

Yeah, I know...usually, when we as parents ask our children questions, the conversation may go something like this:

Parent: What did you do at school today?
Child: Nothing
Parent: Well, what did you learn?
Child: Nothing much.
Parent: How was lunch?
Child: Fine

You’ll see this conversation is going no where. But depending on the kinds of questions you ask your child, you can actually learn more about how their day was and what they did.

Here are some suggestions:

• “Tell me about the best part of your day.”
• “What’s your favorite time of day at school?”
• “Who did you sit with at lunch today?”
• “What was the hardest thing you had to do today?”
• “Who did you play with today? What did you play?”
• “Can you show me something you learned (or did) today?”

Move beyond "fine" and "nothing" answers by asking your child to describe his world. The key is to ask about things that are specific, but still open-ended.

NYC: Proposing K-2 Testing

2010-01-20T03:10:00.006-05:00

!Feliz cumpleaños a mí!

Today is my birthday and I’m celebrating by participating in a forum at my daughters’ school.

The city is proposing standardized testing for K-2^nd grade students.

Can you believe that?!

My 5-year olds can barely copy down a sentence that I write for them, but the city thinks it can accurately assess how kindergarteners are doing, ascertain the quality of teaching, and determine teachers’ salaries based on these young children bubbling in answers on a Scantron sheet.

Some teachers and parents organized the forum to get the word out and make other parents aware of what’s brewing in the pot. The forum was divided into 4 workshops:

1) What is the difference between authentic assessment and standardized tests?

2) What is the difference between an authentic reading lesson and a “test preparation” lesson?

3) What is the emotional and developmental impact of standardized testing on young children?

4) How do we know what our children are learning?

I participated in workshop #4. Basically, we stressed that while it is important to know how our children are progressing and to ensure quality teaching, standardized testing for k-2^nd graders is not the best means for doing so. We gave parents 8 action steps they can take to make sure their child is learning. We gave them examples of questions they can ask their children about their day. We gave them questions they can ask their child’s teachers. And we explained what the principal and administrators are doing to maintain quality instruction. (I'll post these steps and questions later)

Taking part of this forum was a pleasure for me. It felt good being part of a team of teachers, parents and administrators who are active, organized, and have a sincere passion for the children at the school. This was the first time I participated in a forum.

*Please visit these websites to learn more about this K-2 testing proposal.

Campaign to Stop K-2 Testing in Our Schools

Time Out from Testing

*Protest the plan by completing this online petition:

Stop K-2 Testing Online Petition

If you live in the NYC area, please help pass this information along.

Welcome to a New Year and My Blog's New Look!

2010-01-06T02:59:00.002-05:00

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

A lot has happened since I last posted, especially at my daughters’ school and with my son. I’ll fill you in on all the details over the next few posts.

For those who are new to my blog, let me describe a little bit about my daughter’s school:

They attend a dual-language school. My oldest daughter is in the 2nd grade and my twins are in kindergarten. In kindergarten, they learn mostly in English and have 45 minutes of Spanish, where they may listen to stories and learn songs. They also play games in Spanish on the computer. I would have preferred more Spanish time during the school day, but they’re latching on to the Spanish they do get.

Starting in 1st grade the dual-language model is one day instruction in English and the next day the instruction is continued in Spanish. The class consists of 50% English-dominant speakers and 50% Spanish-dominant speakers. The students have a Spanish teacher and an English teacher and they’re taught all subjects (including science, music, and art) in both languages.

The school also provides a Spanish enrichment program. The girls go twice a week for a little over an hour. The program is additional Spanish immersion for the children where only English is spoken in the home. So, the girls get a lot of support in Spanish. The English portion was a concern for me, I wondered if they would be challenged and supported as they go beyond grade level. Well, they are. My oldest daughter is reading above grade level and her class library has books readily available to support and encourage that. And, of course, as parents we give them additional work.

This school is like a dream come true for me because I spent years preparing my oldest to speak Spanish and the private schools and programs were unattainable financially.

Does your child attend a dual-language school? Are you considering it? I’d like to hear from you. Please comment below.

Spanish, Bilingual LeapFrog Toys--a lot to choose from...

2009-10-28T06:00:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to spread the word about a new blog I started showcasing learning toys from LeapFrog called LeapFrog Learning Toys Review. I'm very excited about LeapFrog because they offer so many toys and reading activities not only in English, but in Spanish and bilingual.

What I've done on the blog is searched out the Spanish and bilingual toys on LeapFrog (as well as English) and put up a post about one toy a day.

The toys are also categorized for visitors to easily search for the type of language learning toys they want.

Please visit and if your child has any of the LeapFrog toys displayed, leave a comment to let us know how it's doing for your family.

These toys would make wonderful gifts for little language learners and enhance any preschool's language program!

Nos vemos a LeapFrog Learning Toys Review.

Jessica

Moving Picture Books Giveaway--Ending Soon!

2009-10-27T13:48:00.002-04:00

Visit Wanna Jugar with Migo? to enter for a chance to win a DVD with wonderful animated short stories in English w/captions, English and Spanish.

(excerpt...)
Moving Picture Books takes adorable children's picture books and then animates, adds sound effects and puts music to them. They have them in English, English with read-along text and Spanish! The animation is well-done and perfect for kids to help them understand even if they know only a little Spanish.

Hurry, giveaway ends 10/27 TONIGHT at 10 central/11 eastern.

***

I think my family will enjoy just about all of them, but I liked the Bible Stories one, and I especially liked "On Top of Spaghetti." My husband sang that song to the kids from the time they were babies. The animation was so funny. They'll get a kick out of it.

And of course, I appreciate any audio resource that will help my children and me learn and practice Spanish--in a fun way, of course.

¡Gracias Tati!

Is Bilingual Education Best for American Students?

2009-10-27T06:53:00.002-04:00

(excerpted from SchooDoodle.com)

I watched the piece featured below on the Today Show this morning that presents the pros and the cons of bilingual instruction in U.S. public schools. This is an ongoing debate, some feel that Hispanic students are better off being completely immersed in English so they may adapt to an English speaking nation- while others fear that teaching only in English limits what students will learn and will subsequently fall behind.

The Hispanic population is growing rapidly and is playing a significant role in American society and the workforce. Public schools in cities such as Charlotte, NC have embraced teaching students both English and Spanish and are reporting positive results. Where do you stand on this debate? Watch the piece below and let me know what you think- share your comments in Twitter and on our Facebook Page.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Unraveling how children become bilingual so easily

2009-10-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Baby brains offer clues to learning new language

By Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer
On 3:01 pm EDT, Monday July 20, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The best time to learn a foreign language: Between birth and age 7. Missed that window?

New research is showing just how children's brains can become bilingual so easily, findings that scientists hope eventually could help the rest of us learn a new language a bit easier.

"We think the magic that kids apply to this learning situation, some of the principles, can be imported into learning programs for adults," says Dr. Patricia Kuhl of the University of Washington, who is part of an international team now trying to turn those lessons into more teachable technology.

Each language uses a unique set of sounds. Scientists now know babies are born with the ability to distinguish all of them, but that ability starts weakening even before they start talking, by the first birthday.

Kuhl offers an example: Japanese doesn't distinguish between the "L" and "R" sounds of English -- "rake" and "lake" would sound the same. Her team proved that a 7-month-old in Tokyo and a 7-month-old in Seattle respond equally well to those different sounds. But by 11 months, the Japanese infant had lost a lot of that ability.

Wait a minute -- how do you test a baby? By tracking eye gaze. Make a fun toy appear on one side or the other whenever there's a particular sound. The baby quickly learns to look on that side whenever he or she hears a brand-new but similar sound. Noninvasive brain scans document how the brain is processing and imprinting language.

Mastering your dominant language gets in the way of learning a second, less familiar one, Kuhl's research suggests. The brain tunes out sounds that don't fit. (read more)

LeapFrog Wants to Put Tag in Kindergarten Classrooms--FREE!

2009-10-19T12:08:00.008-04:00

If you're a kindergarten teacher, you may be interested in learning how to integrate LeapFrog's Tag Reading System into your classroom for free.

Helping teachers inspire children's love of reading

Thank you for your interest in the LeapFrog® Tag™ Kindergarten Program!

With this exciting new program, LeapFrog partners with teachers, families, and schools to inspire the love of reading and learning in children during their critical early years. The centerpiece of our program is the Tag School Reading System, which features a pen-like tool that provides students with an easy-to-use, multisensory, independent reading experience.

Children touch the Tag School Reader to a page of a Tag book to hear an entire story read fluently, hear a page from a story, hear the pronunciation of a single word or, in some cases, a word part, or initiate comprehension exercises in the form of fun games that extend learning and provide immediate feedback.

All of this can be done independently, which is a crucial feature in a busy classroom where it simply is not possible for teachers to give all children one-on-one attention at the same time. For example, if a child reading a Tag book gets stuck on a word, he uses the Tag reader to touch the difficult word and hear the pronunciation, allowing him to continue reading and enjoying the book independently.

In this program, LeapFrog provides teachers with Tag School Reading System kits, including several Tag Readers plus books that focus on phonemic awareness, vocabulary building, comprehension and other key reading skills. Teachers agree to integrate Tag and Tag content into their classroom curriculum and to give feedback on the program. (Read whole article and FAQ's)

Application Deadline is November 11, 2009.

Let us know how it went! (and maybe they will develop a Tag reading system in Spanish!)

Yo quiero un 'snack-o'

2009-10-18T13:59:00.004-04:00

¡Hola todos!

I've totally slacked off in doing Spanish Discovery Time with my kids.

I guess with them being in school most of the day, by the time they get home from school it's homework, eat, ready for bed.

They do somehow manage to get Spanish in themselves, though. Earlier today, they were playing with Dora action figures and the dollhouse. And they were playing pretend in Spanish, saying things like "hola" (hello), "pase, pase" (come in, come in), "Yo quiero un snack-o." I know, 'snack-o' is not a Spanish word, but my oldest daughter corrected her younger sister and said, "Oh, not 'snack-o'. You mean, 'Yo quiero una merienda.'"

I also have her read her Spanish books to us, when she does her homework.

So, that's what we've been up to.

!Hasta pronto!

Our Spanish Alphabet Song on You Tube

2009-08-11T06:05:00.002-04:00

¡Saludos todos!

I'm inviting you all to check out a video/slideshow my daughter and I did and put up on You Tube. This was our first multimedia project for Spanish. Please write a comment and let us know what you think.

Dual-Language School, Aquí Vienen!

2009-08-08T05:45:00.000-04:00

In September, my 3 girls will be off to school-FULL TIME. This is an exciting year for our family because the twins will be starting kindergarten, and now all of them will be in a dual language school.

My eldest daughter will be entering 2nd grade and she'll be continuing the bilingual model of one day English, next day Spanish.

The kindergarten classes operate differently. As of last year, the school day is conducted in English with a portion of day in Spanish with a Spanish teacher. I had spoken with the dual language coordinator who said they're thinking about changing the model to 90/10 - Spanish/English. I told her that I am for that because I do believe immersion is the way to go.

So, I will find out later this month how the K class will be handled.

As an aside:

Even though I believe immersion is the way to go, it was a challenge for my family to do that totally for even 30 minutes. And immersion schools were out of the question because of the cost. That's why I sought other ways to create a bilingual environment in our home. And I'm proud to say that everything we've done and are doing at home have been good for the girls and my son: they embrace Spanish, they're familiar with the language, they question how to say words in Spanish, and they have fun with it.

If you like to learn more about what I've done with my children so that you can do it too with yours, visit www.ourspanishlessonplansonline.com

¡Hasta pronto!

How I'm Improving My Spanish in 15 Minutes with a Study Partn

2009-08-05T17:12:00.005-04:00

I have a Spanish study partner. Her name is Ino. She's from Puerto Rico. She's a friend I've known for a long time through my husband's friend. I've been very slow going in calling her just to practice Spanish.

Last Saturday I called her. We talked about our kids, she mentioned that she took them to the circus, and she talked about plans for a birthday party for her daughter. The conversation was great, but it was all in English. I told her, "Ok, how are we going to do this Spanish practice. I would not have a clue on how to talk about what we just talked about in Spanish."

So, she reviewed everything we talked about in Spanish and had me repeat words and phrases. If I didn't understand what she wanted me to repeat, I said, "No entiendo." Then she helped.

I enjoyed it.

She also gave me study and practice help:

1. Watch the news in Spanish or telenovelas. She said that's what she did when she was learning English, and that's all she would watch.

2. Have a Spanish word of the day and create as many sentences I can using that word. For example, house. The big house. The little house. The pink house. The house is over there. Come to my house. So, in Spanish this exercise would be casa. La casa grande. La casa pequeña. La casa rosa. La casa está allí. Ven a mi casa. (The next time I speak with her I'd ask her about using allá and aquella for over there.)

3. She also recommended a website called Live Mocha - where you can study Spanish (or any other language) for free and have community members help correct your usage. I'm trying it now, and will write a post about it later.

¡Hasta luego!

Comment on Tortilla Española Recipe Video

2009-07-29T07:21:00.001-04:00

¡Saludos a todos!

For those who are subscribers to my Spanish Discovery Time! e-newsletter, I just sent out my very own video recipe on como hacer tortilla española. This is the first recipe video of many that I plan to do with my girls.

So, let us know what you thought about it by leaving a comment below.

¡Gracias!

And if you have other simple Spanish recipes you'd like us to do a video on, please write your suggestion below.

Finalmente, if you're not a Spanish Discovery Time! subscriber, you can sign up by filling out the form to the right of this post. It's FREE and it's FUN!

Let's Play Chess - Juguemos al ajedrez

2009-07-18T07:25:00.007-04:00

Let's Play Chess - Juguemos al ajedrez

This summer my girls (ages 7, 5, 5) are learning to play chess with their dad. He's tried to get them into the game for about a year, but now they're really into the pieces and how they move. They play Chessmaster on Playstation 2 and are actually having fun doing the tutorials.

They were able to visit a chess club once at a local library before the club closed for the summer. My husband was impressed with how the chessmaster (that's what the girls called him) there was able to keep Jaida focused. And then when they played at home, he was thrilled that she was using what she learned on him.

And of course, I seized this chess learning opportunity to weave in Spanish.

Beginner's Chess Terms in English/Spanish
chess - el ajedrez
chess board - el tablero de ajedrez
chess pieces - piezas de ajedrez
king - el rey
queen - la reina
knight - el caballo
bishop - el alfil
rook - el roque
pawn - el peón

checkmate - el jaque mate

Visit here for more (advanced) chess terminology in English/Spanish

Christian Music in Spanish for kids

2009-06-21T07:25:00.002-04:00

Recently I had a visitor to my blog looking for Christian music in Spanish for kids.

I remembered that I've had these cd's for years since my oldest was little. We've thoroughly enjoyed the songs. I chose these cd's because we're already familiar with the tunes to these songs in English. Totally surprised that I didn't put these up before.

Visit the link below to hear audio clips of songs:
Songs Kids Love to Sing: Cantos de Escuela Dominical
2003

Visit the link below to hear audio clips of songs:
Himnos: 16 Himnos Para Niños
Cedarmont Kids
2004

Please share with us albums like these you may have in your collection.

A School Near You?

2009-05-22T06:00:00.004-04:00

I like to get updates on where public schools are opening up to and growing their dual language programs.

Here's a recent article about the progress of a school in Johnston County, NC:

SES reviews progress of Spanish/English program
By Rebecca Piscopo

Selma Elementary School is one of 21 other schools in North Carolina, and the only one in Johnston County, to have a first grade class and two kindergarten classes taught every other day in Spanish and English, according to the school’s program sponsor company Splash! CEO Alan Young, who spoke in the school’s cafeteria Thursday night, March 26.

SES administration welcomed interested parents of rising kindergarteners to inform and answer questions about its Spanish/English Dual Language Immersion Program, an educational program designed to teach students in two languages, which is entering its third year.

The school has one of the highest Hispanic student populations in Johnston County, and it is a program, Young said, that is proven to help students of all backgrounds perform higher on standardized tests.

The program currently has 60 students. In each of the dual language classes, there are 50 percent native English speaking children, and 50 percent Spanish speaking students. There are 70 families, according to SES social worker Kristen Percy, who have filled out applications for the program.

Young was there along with SES administration and other Splash! – a company located in Chapel Hill that provides schools across N.C. with bilingual education programs -- to talk about how first grade and kindergarten students currently in the program were performing in class by showing a video. (Read more)

Triumph Over Autism Bilingually

2009-05-15T06:00:00.002-04:00

Something I've been mulling over is what to do with my son in teaching him Spanish. We were advised to teach him English only for now, so that he's learning the same terms for things at school, with his therapists, and at home with us.

I'm so used to doing the bilingual method* with my girls that I have to stop myself with my son. But deep down inside I don't think exposing him to Spanish will confuse him. It's just hard to know because he's not saying any words.

*speaking English and Spanish side by side. For example, "Are you thirsty? ¿Tienes sed?"

I came across this article about a little girl the doctors said would never speak, yet now she's bilingual!

EXCLUSIVE LAURA, 9, IN TRIUMPH OVER AUTISM

Little Laura Cuthbert's parents were delighted when she learned to speak after doctors warned she would never talk properly.

But it was nothing to the couple's joy when their autistic daughter astounded experts by becoming BILINGUAL- chatting away in English AND Spanish.

The nine-year-old's amazing achievement is a tribute to the devotion of mum Gill and dad Dave, who refused to accept predictions that she would never have a normal life.

Gill, 43, said: "The doctors said she would probably spend most of her time in an institution. Now we have a happy daughter who never stops talking - in two languages. (Read more)

***

The parents used a therapy call the Son-Rise Programme. I decided to look more into this program and wrote about it in Jaden's Travels.

**As this post becomes old, the source for this article may be archived or removed.

TV and Professor Pocket

2009-05-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

Last year my oldest daughter started a dual language school. It was such an exciting time for us because after much searching, disappointments, and prayer, she's finally in a dual-language learning environment.

It's fantastic that more and more public schools and districts are offering dual language schools and programs.

At my daughter's school, she has an English teacher and a Spanish teacher. One day she's in English world and the next day Spanish world (el mundo de español.)

She seems to be enjoying her time there. One of my concerns was would she be able to keep up with the other children in her class since she didn't do kindergarten there. But that didn't turn out to be a problem at all. Her teachers are impressed with how much Spanish she knows. They love her enthusiasm for learning the language and her courage for speaking Spanish.

One teacher told me that she asked my daughter, "How do you know all of this Spanish. Who speaks Spanish to you at home?" My daughter told her that she learned from TV and Professor Pocket. So, the teacher said she had to ask me if I speak Spanish. I said I know just enough to teach them the basics, but I'm not a fluent speaker.

Then she wanted to know what we're doing at home. I told her about the lessons we do, songs we sing, and shows we watch during our Spanish time.

It's certainly possible for monolingual parents to teach their children Spanish. We're doing it and so can you.

Keeping the Spanish Alive!

2009-05-01T09:44:00.008-04:00

Well, hello everybody...I'm back!

And Sarah I can totally relate to how easy it is for 5 or 6 months to pass by without reading, writing, or doing anything with blogs.

Along with starting a children's ministry at my church, dealing with a child's (then children) illnesses, my Mom in and out of the hospital, and driving my children to and from school, another big adjustment for my family and I is having 2-3 therapists come into our home 6 days a week for 3-4 hours to work with our son. I also take him to school for 2 hours in the morning.

You might remember in one of my e-newsletters, I mentioned that his speech was delayed. Well, in August or so, he was diagnosed with PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). At the moment he's not saying any words and, according to the dr., demonstrates some characteristics of autism. I started a blog about it called Jaden's Travels.

***

I thought long and hard about whether to close my blog and bid every one "adieu" or should I say "adiós." But then I saw that there are 2 people following my blog. That really encouraged me to get it going again. ¡Muchas gracias!

And the desire for my children to be bilingual never went away. So, here's to overcoming challenges and keeping the Spanish alive!

Christian Music in Spanish

2008-12-01T11:00:00.005-05:00

I was delighted to find that many of the worship songs that my family enjoys in English are also recorded in Spanish. My children have even started singing the songs in Spanish.(For Spanish Worship songs Especially for kids CLICK HERE)

I Will Sing of Your Love Forever - Cantaré De Tu Amor Por Siempre
Shout to the Lord - Canta al Señor
Our God is an Awesome God - Admirable Dios
Trading My Sorrows - Cambiaré Mis Tristezas
This is the Day - Este Es El Día
Who is Like the Lord? - Quien Como el Señor
It is Well - Estoy bien
Come, Now is the Time to Worship - Ven, Es Tiempo De Adorarle
My Life Belongs to You - Mi Vida Tuya Es
What a Friend We Have in Jesus - Oh, Qué Amigo Nos Es Cristo

To hear audio clips, just click on the following links.

Songs 4 Worship: Glorificate
Songs 4 Worship: Canta Al Senor
Songs 4 Worship: Sendas Dios Hara
Songs 4 Worship: El Poder De Tu Amor
Songs 4 Worship: En Espanol EuTu Presencia

¡ Feliz día de acción de gracias!

2008-11-27T06:07:00.004-05:00

¡Saludos a todos!

(May God bless you in this day of thanks)

from Jessica and family!

A little tidbit: Some people also say Feliz Día del Pavo (Happy Turkey Day).

Barack Obama Speaking Spanish

2008-11-24T13:42:00.004-05:00

I came across an article that spoke about Barack Obama speaking Spanish. The author was impressed by his almost impeccable pronunciation. Unfortunately, I can't find the article anymore but I was able to get this video of the ad the author was referring to.

What do you think of President-elect Obama's pronunciation?

How to Type Spanish Characters

2008-11-20T18:45:00.001-05:00

When preparing lessons and labels to help me teach and learn Spanish with my children, I had to find out how to type the special characters and accent marks of the Spanish language.

So here's a chart for PC users:

Hold down the ALT key and type the followings numbers for:

á ALT 160

é ALT 130

í ALT 161

ó ALT 162

ú ALT 163

Á ALT 0193

É ALT 0201

Í ALT 0205

Ó ALT 0211

ü ALT 129

Ü ALT 154

ñ ALT 164

Ñ ALT 165

¿ ALT 168

¡ ALT 173

To learn how to type Spanish characters for Mac Users visit www.spanishnewyork.com

Here's a Clever Bilingual Joke

2008-09-16T19:19:00.007-04:00

My oldest daughter is into doing magic tricks and telling jokes. I'm thinking about having her do a little show and posting it up.

I received this cute joke from SpanishPod today called Pescaditos Joke. My daughter really got a kick out of it, so I wanted to share it with everyone:

Amigo: ¿Te cuento un chiste?

Amiga: Bueno.

Amigo: ¿Por qué el mar es azul?

Amiga: No sé. (I learned it as "no lo sé")

Amigo: Porque los pescaditos hacen, "Blu, blu, blu, blu..." (make the sound of bubbles)

Translation:

Friend 1: Can I tell you a joke?

Friend 2: Okay.

Friend 1: Why is the ocean blue?

Friend 2: I don't know.

Friend 1: Because the fishies say, "Blu, blu, blu, blu..."

:-)

A little note: I'll be away from blogging for a couple of weeks.

Brillante Blog Award

2008-09-10T19:57:00.004-04:00

Merci -- Diane at Foreign Language Fun nominated my blog for the Brillante Blog Award.

When I read Diane's comment about an award waiting for me, I couldn't imagine what award that could be. Getting this really brightened up my day.

Here's how it works:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least five other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

My nominees are... (I could have gone on and on, but I narrowed it down to these)

Voices en Español

Boca Beth

Teaching and Learning Spanish

We are Little Amigos

Raising Cultured Children

Teaching Generations

Thank you all and I'm so proud to be a part of this growing and giving community.

Found in Translation: Sled or slide? The meaning of toboggan

2008-09-04T06:31:00.001-04:00

Found in Translation: Sled or slide? The meaning of toboggan

Cape Coral resident Alessia Leathers, who is from Peru, writes about how words in Spanish and English can often be misinterpreted.

I just came back from my country of Peru. It has been a month pampered by family and friends. It also has been a month of surprises.

As usual, my annual visits open unavoidable opportunities to revisit childhood memories. This time, I discovered with great amazement that the word used to describe one of my favorite plays is not a Spanish one.

That is the word "tobogán" (toboggan), which I wrongly assumed was part of the Spanish vocabulary since the oldest existing epic poem "El Mio Cid" was composed, written long before Cervantes published "Don Quijote" in 1605. (Read more)

excerpt from juantornoe.blogs.com/hispanictrending/blog_index.html

Ideas for Boosting the Minority Language

2008-09-01T06:23:00.000-04:00

10 Tips for Boosting the Minority Language

The truth is as long as you're talking and having fun with your child, you're doing fine. There is some opposition along the lines of 'I really think my child should learn how to play on her own, and not have to be entertained all the time.' Agreed, but if your goal is to provide an enriching learning environment, we need lots of talking. A language can only be learned by continuous input by someone who masters it, you. So, reading the newspaper while she is playing with the dollhouse doesn't work, but an engaging commentary of world events at least provides a compromise.

Lena Sandvik in Boston says 'I'm amazed that my 15 and 11 year olds have grown up to be completely bilingual. My own accent and those silly, grammatical errors I make in English still haven't disappeared, even after 15 years in the country.' As easy as acquiring multiple languages is for small children, the single most important factor in language learning is the quantity of spoken language addressed to the child. So, if you worry that you aren't providing enough, here are a few tricks to boost your superhero's inherent powers. (Read more)

excerpt from the Multilingual Children's Association

How Children Can Learn Spanish - Developing Literacy

2008-08-29T06:21:00.002-04:00

Goals and Literacy For Your Multilingual Child

If you're raising a multilingual child, what proficiency are you expecting? What does he need? Considering the particularities of your own child, you can figure out what is practical. Are you aiming for full literacy skills or merely speaking the languages? Consider setting some goals both for your child and yourself.

Different levels of multilingualism

What is multilingualism? What is fluency? Actually, no clear-cut definition exists, only degrees of proficiency from rudimentary to native skills. Many parents don't have explicit goals, but here are some examples:

* 'I want another language for my sons so they will be one step ahead in school.'
* 'We want to share the culture and heritage of our native country with our kids.'
* 'We'd like her to be able to play and talk to her cousins and Grandma when they visit.'
* 'Spanish is necessary if you're going to live in the USA, and the children may as well learn it now.'
* 'The best job opportunities are always for those who have can both speak and write in both languages.'
* 'We hope for her to be able to read and write in two of the three languages, but we'll see what happens.'"

The article goes on to discuss:

what is fluency
moving from verbal skills to literacy
and tips for developing literacy

(Read more)

Is French Being Left Behind?

2008-08-26T06:23:00.000-04:00

Is French Being Left Behind?

Are schools bidding au revoir to French classes for children? The New York Times reported in March 2006 that thousands of public schools are bending to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind by cutting resources for non-mandated subjects like foreign languages. Meanwhile, trendy Chinese has become the language du jour, and Spanish classes are enjoying a new surge in popularity as the nation grapples with immigration issues. Where does this leave French for children?

Most parents considering French for their children need no convincing of the language's merits. High above the inane cries of 'Freedom Fries' and 'English First,' French has retained its allure of sophistication, impeccability and culture. It is also the only other language besides English to be considered an official working language of the United Nations Secretariat. From truffles to François Truffaut, and the Little Prince to Camus - learning French, for children, may be the best thing to happen since they outgrew their terrible twos." (Read more)

Develop Your Spanish Listening Skills

2008-08-22T06:13:00.000-04:00

Five Easy Steps to Develop Your Spanish Listening Skills

by Steve Dimeck

The second largest problem that a Spanish language student faces is to develop his or her listening comprehension. If you are like most people studying Spanish, you can probably comprehend a good portion of what you read and are able to write at least a little bit in Spanish. But you get totally lost when it comes to understanding what a native Spanish speaker is saying during a regular conversation.

So, if that sounds like you, here is an easy five step exercise that you can use to practice and develop your listening ability.

For this exercise you will need a recording of a short text that you can have a native Spanish speaker create for you. Or, you can just record one yourself from a Spanish movie or Spanish speaking TV or radio station.

Step One - Now that you have your recorded Spanish text, go find a nice quiet place where you won't be disturbed for the next forty-five or so minutes. Once you are there listen to your Spanish recording three to five times straight through without stopping. Each time you go through it, write down how much you felt you understood on a scale of one to ten.

Step Two - Listen to the Spanish recording a couple more times. But this time, pause about every fifteen seconds. At each pause think about what you heard...the sounds, pronunciations, intonations, and make note of those parts that seem to give you the most trouble so you can come back to them later. Then move on. Don't waste a lot of time here with what you don't know yet. It will only frustrate you.

Step Three - This time you will listen to the Spanish recording again, but do so with a transcription of the recording in front of you as you follow along. This means that however you obtained your recording, you need to have it in written too. So, think about it before you make the recording. While listening it, pause every fifteen seconds or so, and underline the sections that you noted earlier. See if you can understand the text now that you have seen it written out. Note the sections where the Spanish speaker seems to jumble words together so you can later ask if that is really how those words are pronounced...or if the person who spoke was just a sloppy speaker and slurred his or her words together.

Step Four - Listen to the whole text a few more times while following along with the transcription. This time, however, do not pause the recording. Just let the recording roll, and keep up with it as best you can. Keep doing this until you feel comfortable listening to the recording and following along with the transcription at the normal rate.

Step Five - Once you feel comfortable with the text, and have a good grasp of what the Spanish speaker is saying...put away your transcription. Now listen to the recording several more times and make note of how much you now understand each time on a scale of one to ten.

Finally, to wrap things up...ask several people that you know speak Spanish well to read the text out loud to you. This will develop your listening skill as each one person's voice is different. They may even have different accents, pronunciations, intonations, etc.

Do this everyday...or as often as you can. You will soon notice a large improvement in your Spanish listening skills.

For health safety, consumer alerts please visit http://www.myproductalert.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Dimeck

I also like Karen's suggestion of listening to www.spanishpod.com

Learning Spanish Memory Tricks

2008-08-19T06:35:00.002-04:00

I came across this blog post and was quite amused at some of the associations they came up with to help remember Spanish words and meanings.

Easily Remember Dozens of Spanish Words and Meanings

Is this is another magic memory trick?

“I’ve never met anyone who hasn’t at times come up with a similar-sounding word or phrase when thinking of something completely different– like can’t elope and cantaloupe” writes memory expert Harry Lorayne in The Memory Book which inspired this article.

So how can you use this to remember Spanish vocabulary?" (Read more)

excerpt from David's post at Tomísimo.org

Dual-Language Instruction: Coming to a School Near You?

2008-08-14T06:30:00.001-04:00

Way to go, Public Schools!

Every month or so I get news alerts about public schools introducing in kindergarten dual-language or immersions programs in Spanish or Mandarin.

There are still many issues for school districts to work out--the how-to, funding, resources, bilingual teachers--but hopefully, with demand from parents, it will continue to catch on.

I've provided links to some most recent articles.

Schools Might Expand Language Lineup - (Smithfield, NC) School board members are looking for money to expand foreign-language programs in the lower grades.

Elementary School Starts New Bilingual Program - (Washoe County, NV) When most of the students started kindergarten in Gisela Daniel's class they hardy spoke any English. "These days speaking two languages is so important. It has opened so many doors for me."

Moms Proposing an Immersion Language School - (Denver, CO) Two Denver moms tired of driving their young children to Aurora are proposing the city's first public Chinese and Spanish language immersion school. "We're trying to build this program from our kitchens," Camilla Modesitt told Denver Public Schools board members on Tuesday.

Dual Language Session Draws Crowd - (Palo Alto, CA) Hundreds of parents packed a Palo Alto school on Wednesday night to learn more about enrolling their children in the district's new Mandarin immersion program. After a year of divisive debate over whether to start dual immersion classrooms in Mandarin next fall, the crowd of between 200 and 300 parents at Ohlone Elementary School on Wednesday night attested to a strong base of interest in the fledgling program.

School District to Expand Dual Language Program - (Blaine County, ID) After seven years of providing a special curriculum to help students become proficient in two languages, the Blaine County School District plans to double the size of its Dual Immersion Program beginning next fall.

(Some news sites archive their articles after 1 or 2 months. So, sorry in advance if the articles are no longer available after this post gets old.)

Non-Native Speakers: Teaching Children Spanish (or a Language Not Your Own)

2008-08-12T06:25:00.004-04:00

This interesting article doesn't totally reflect our family's situation because we're still learning to speak the foreign language, but it's still a good read.

Raising Your Child in a Language Not Your Own?

Many parents speak a foreign language well but are non-native speakers. Yet, they wish to raise their children with that language. Is it realistic, or even practical, to attempt to raise a multilingual child in a language that is not your mother tongue? Tim from London, shares his concerns:

'My partner is bilingual French-English, whilst I am an English native speaker. My French is really quite good, but we speak English to each other. We are now expecting a baby whom we would like to bring up bilingually. My partner is committed to speaking French to him, but what do I do?

What I like about both of us speaking French to him is that it helps to cement the minority language; on the other hand, I know I would make mistakes, and, at times, be at a loss for the right word. I also -- and perhaps more importantly -- imagine that I would feel rather unnatural communicating with my son in what is not my native tongue.'

Why would you speak to baby in a language not your own? My answer would be -- why not? Maybe it is the only option you have for raising a bilingual child, you may simply like the language, or as in Tim's case, you'd like to reinforce the second language. All of these are completely understandable and valid reasons; (Read more)

excerpt from the Multilingual Children's Association

Spanish Time! Lesson Plan: My Family ~ Mi familia

2008-08-10T06:39:00.003-04:00

Spanish Time! Lesson Plan: Family Portrait

Vamos a Cantar – Let’s sing
Song: "Canción de Saludar/Greeting Song"-Track #6 Boca Beth’s My 1^st cd
Song: Spanish Vowel song Bonus #1*
Song: "I Love My Family" - Track #9 Mas/More Boca Beth cd

Vamos a jugar –Let’s Play
Game/Activity: Family Portrait ~ Retrato de la familia
Talk about your family with your child. Then go over the Spanish word for various family members. Tell your child that she's going to draw a picture of her family. While looking at your child’s family portrait, you could ask:

¿Quién es éste? (kee-AYN ehs AY-stay) Who is this?

madre (MAH-thray) mother

mamá (mah-MAH) mommy

padre (PAH-thray) father

papá (pah-PAH) daddy

hermana (ehr-MAH-nah) sister
hermano (ehr-MAH-noh) brother
abuela (ah-BWAY-lah) grandma
abuelo (ah-BWAY-loh) grandpa
tía (TEE-ah) aunt
tío (TEE-oh) uncle
primo (PREE-moh) cousin (boy)
prima (PREE-mah) cousin (girl)
mis primos (mees PREE-mohs) my cousins

Visit my PDF of more family words in Spanish and to see a Family Tree activity.

Check out 123 Teach Me Spanish to hear how family words in Spanish are pronounced and used in conversations.

Showing love to family

abrazos = hugs
besos, besitos = kisses
dame un beso = give me a kiss
te amo, te quiero = I love you
te quiero a tí = I love you too
te quiero tambien = I love you too

Es la hora de decir adiós (It’s time to say goodbye)
Song: “We are Little Friends” – Track #2 We are Little Friends cd

Try to use 3 Spanish words of praise and encouragement today and throughout the week. Fill in the third one. (You’ll find the list in Bonus #2*)

1. Déjame ver – Let me see.
2. ¡Qué bonito/a! – How beautiful!

The Spanish-English family book that we have at home is My Family and I/Mi familia y yo by Gladys Rosa-Mendoza.

Backyardigans "Boinga" in Spanish

2008-08-09T19:07:00.006-04:00

Are your kids into the Backyardigans?

After watching several episodes of Pocoyo, my girls found clips of the Backyardigans songs in Spanish. They were so amazed that the Backyardigans can speak Spanish.

"Boinga"

Hazme un favor, por favor. If you any of you, our Spanish-speaking friends, have a moment, please give us some Spanish keywords and phrases in this song to listen for. While my children enjoyed watching these clips, my eldest exclaimed, "I can't understand a word they're singing. I want to understand." She said this after we listened only once. I told her that I'm sure she'll recognize many Spanish words when we listen to the songs over and over again. But your help with specific keywords would help.

Gracias,

Jessica

Juggling Career, Family and Learning Spanish

2008-08-08T06:15:00.002-04:00

With all the focus on my children's learning Spanish and other family things, I find myself neglecting my own Spanish learning. I learn a lot of Spanish just from teaching my kids, but I want to step up my speaking and listening comprehension. I've even started to record a telenovela to watch. Now, it's carving out the time to watch and study them.

Juggling Career, Family and Learning Spanish
by Steve Dimeck

Finding the time to do it all at once - career, family, study Spanish ...? Having trouble juggling? These problems that people face are very similar to those of the beginning juggler. According to "The Instant Jugglers' Manual", four common problems are: handling two areas of focus at the same time; moving forward while you try to juggle instead of standing still; not being able to juggle in a third area of focus; and keeping all three areas from bumping into each other or overlapping.

Translate this to the everyday human life, and you would get: handling multiple areas of focus at the same time; moving forward with your life while you try to juggle your work, family and all other daily tasks instead of standing still, finishing them and then moving on; not being able to juggle in a third area of focus, such as studying Spanish; and pulling a miracle of keeping all three areas from bumping into each other or overlapping.

How are you going to fit your Spanish learning project into your daily commitments? It's easy to become overwhelmed and lose focus. Losing focus will cause you to take no action. And, action is essential to moving on from where you are now, to where you want to be. Here are a few tips to stay focused on your "learning Spanish language" project.

1. Chunk down

If you have a large task to tackle, it is always easier when you break it down into smaller components. You'll find it easier to focus because you won't feel as overwhelmed. Also, a large task would take all of your time to undertake, while smaller tasks would give you more time in between to fit in your Spanish language project.

2. Keep a 'to do' list

Once you've broken down major tasks into smaller ones, make and keep a "daily 'to do' list". In your "daily 'to do' list" always or as much as possible have the Spanish Learning time included.

3. Schedule your time

Every evening, decide on three to five tasks along with your Spanish studying time that you wish to accomplish the following day and put them on your 'to do' list. Stay focused on these tasks and only add new tasks once these have been completed.

4. Say no

Be assertive and carve out more time for your Spanish Study project. Saying 'no' to that extra demand by your boss every once in a while, can get you home one hour earlier a couple of days a week. How about cutting back on the amount of housework or side activities that you do? Imagine how you could channel that extra time into your Spanish learning task.

5. Once you get to your study time, organize your Spanish learning project to gain maximum results:

- First of all, you will want to set aside certain hours that are designated "Spanish Study" hours. Not that these study hours need to be rigid, but the times when changes are made should be the exception, not the rule.

- Have a certain area which you set aside as the "Spanish Study area". This doesn't mean that you have to have a special room that is set aside with a desk etc., but it does mean having one spot, such as the dining room table, or the basement, or even the attic. This will help you develop a mind set of thinking of this as a time for learning as separate from a time for other activities.

- Try to make sure that there are as few distractions as possible so you can maximize your focus.

- Engage your family and friends in this. Maybe ask them to test you, or assist you in reviewing your material, or ask them to do something for you while you are on your study time as a mean of helping you along. Making them feel a part of this can go long ways towards avoiding hurt feelings.

- If you are used to having a regular telephone "gabfest" with a friend or family member at a certain time each day, maybe you can rearrange it. Most important, be sure to communicate to others the importance of you learning the Spanish Language.

- Perhaps someone likes to stop in and get you to go on a little spur of the moment trip with them. Explain beforehand that you won't be able to do this as regularly as before.

- Plan ahead. Have your study planned. Don't just sit down at the table with your open book to see what you will be studying next. Respect the study hours the same as you would if you were doing something else. You can accomplish much more when you take your study time for serious and not just a minor thing.

If you put these few tips into practice, you'll definitely find it easier to focus on and achieve your ultimate goal of learning Spanish.

For health safety, consumer alerts please visit http://www.myproductalert.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Dimeck

Teaching Children Spanish Even When You Speak Only One Language

2008-08-04T20:15:00.002-04:00

Five Easy Steps To Help Your Child Prepare For A Global Future
Even When You Speak Only One Language

by Beth Butler

How often have you found yourself thinking that perhaps you should have asked for a class on parenting in college? And how many times have you and your friends, who are also parents, commiserated over how many times you skipped Spanish II in High School? We all see it coming. That is if you have not already felt its presence in your current daily existence. Speaking more than one language is truly a necessity.

Hopefully you realize it is never too late to pick up a second or third language. No matter what you read you must believe that even if you have passed that well publicized window of opportunity age, you are still capable of learning and becoming fluent in a new language. Just like getting back into good physical shape takes commitment and regular exposure to good eating habits and exercise, so too does the challenge of mastering a new language.

There are five simple steps you can take today to help your child prepare for tomorrow. It is going to take you some time to get even the basics of your new language and, if you have children now, you really should get them started on their bilingual journey as soon as possible. Remember, you do not have to have a degree in teaching. You do not have to have command of the new language you are trying to introduce to your child in order to give them the daily exposure they need to get a sound foundation.

Step One is to show your child you have respect for fellow human beings, no matter the race, no matter the language they speak. Children listen to everything we say, do they not? Little ears hear big thoughts! So be aware of the messages you send as parents about those people from other countries, about other cultures around the world and about the more than six thousand languages that make up the communication of our world. You are the best role model your child has in the early years. Make certain you show how much you value the acquisition of more than one language.

Step Two is to choose a language that will be practical for the child to use in his future. If you are going to reside in Europe due to job relocation, then choosing Mandarin might not be the wisest choice. Flip side of that scenario would be forcing your child to learn Latin because you have always heard it is the root of most languages while you know you will be residing in California where Latino population growth is explosive. Make a good decision, not based on political feelings you might have about immigration or border control or even bilingual education. Make the decision based on the future of your child.

Step Three is to decide to introduce the new language as early as possible in the life of your child. It is so true what continues to be reported. Experts say the sooner the better when it comes to introducing a second and third and fourth language to little children. A study out of Texas reported only a few years ago that up to the age of five a child can learn five languages simultaneously and not be confused or language delayed or experience speech problems. In fact, the studies prove bilingual children read sooner and experience advanced cognitive development.

Step Four is to choose a method of introducing the target language in a format that your child will embrace, that allows native language placed alongside the new language, and that teaches to all types of learning styles. More than 68% of the population must see it to learn it. While we all witness how much children love learning through and with music. Then there are those children who are tactile learners and want to feel something physically to connect with the lesson at hand. Music, movement and creativity should be major components of any language learning program you choose for young children. Experts also advise that you choose a program featuring a true bilingual format where the native language of the child is placed right alongside the new language. Think about it. While your child is still acquiring skills in his native language does it really make sense to totally remove that comfort level and language out of the picture as a new language is introduced? Some still try to force immersion on our young children while others have embraced the benefits of higher self esteem and the strong point of reference for both child and parent that are evident in the bilingual programs available.

Step Five is the final and easiest step once you have given some thought to the first four. Daily exposure to the new language is necessary if you want to provide your child with the best jump start on learning a new language. Once a week classes are helpful. Yet experts agree that repetition on a daily basis, if even only for a few minutes at a time here and there throughout the day, will truly link those neural pathway connections in the brain of the young child. This type of regular reinforcement of the new language placed right alongside the native language is the key to a lifetime of language learning skills.

Who knows? You might even be giving besos to the baby and toddler before the month is done! Make it a commitment today to get these five steps on your radar and begin the second language journey with a positive attitude, a can do mentality, and a we are all in this together campaign!

Beth Butler is the founder of The Boca Beth Program Scoop your child up onto your lap and sample the Boca Beth bilingual music for free now! Order online or call toll free 1.877.825.2622 today!

70% Off Spanish LeapPad Learning System Books

2008-07-24T07:28:00.004-04:00

¡Buenos días a todos!

If you're child owns a LeapPad Learning System, www.leapfrog.com is running a 70% off sale. They have many Spanish book titles selling for $3.99. When you get to the site, do a search for spanish then View All, and just scroll down to see what they have to offer. Supplies are limited.

Chao.

15 Minute Spanish Time! Lesson Plan: My Family ~ Mi familia

2008-07-22T07:03:00.006-04:00

Topic: My Family ~ Mi familia (Day 5)

Vamos a Cantar – Let’s sing
Song: "Canción de Saludar/Greeting Song"-Track #6 Boca Beth’s My 1^st cd
Song: Spanish Alphabet song Bonus #1*
Song: “I love my mommy” - Track #16 We are Little Amigos cd

Vamos a jugar – Let’s Play
Game/Activity: Go online to PBSKids Dragon Tales. The character Quetzal reads a cute storybook called, Search for Mami. As the friends travel through Dragon Land to places like the playground and Rainbow River, there are many pictures and Spanish words for your child to click on to hear the Spanish pronunciation.

Es la hora de decir adiós (It’s time to say goodbye)
Song: “We are Little Friends” – Track #2 We are Little Amigos cd

Praise and Encouragement in Spanish: Try to use 3 Spanish words or phrases of praise and encouragement today and throughout the week. Fill in the third one. (You’ll find the list in Bonus #2*)

1. Déjame ver – Let me see.
2. ¡Qué bonito/a! – How beautiful!
3. ___________________________________________________

Throughout the day and week, in addition to Spanish Time! above:

Review all activities while in the car, bathtub, or whenever teachable moments arise.
Put on Spanish kid shows, let your Spanish music cd play as background music while your child is eating or playing.
Read the English version of your Spanish-English book to your child a few times to get her familiar with the vocabulary and story. At other times, read it in Spanish. You could also turn your bilingual books in audio books by asking a Spanish-speaking friend to record herself reading in Spanish.

The titles for songs and books in these lesson plans are suggestions. They are what I use at home with my children. Feel free to use and recommend other resources for this lesson topic.

*from our easy-to-follow Spanish lesson plan resource with many other games, activities, and projects.

Spanish-speakers Threatened That English-speakers are Learning Spanish?

2008-07-19T08:23:00.006-04:00

Here's an interesting blog post where the author, who's not bilingual, explains why she's teaching her children Spanish and the need she felt to sometimes defend that decision to friends and family.

What struck me the most was, from her experience, some Spanish-speakers felt threatened that English-speakers are learning Spanish--better than they are.

I thought for the most part Spanish-speakers would be receptive and even flattered that English-speakers are learning their language.

What are your thoughts?

The 5 Best Steps to Teaching Children Spanish

2008-07-15T08:14:00.003-04:00

Congratulations! ~ ¡Felicidades!

You recognize the tremendous benefits and importance of your children being able to communicate in a language other than English. While many English-speaking parents desire for their children to have a bilingual upbringing, they struggle with questions of how to get started, how to keep it going, and how to get over the insecurities of teaching a language that’s not their native language. Today you’ll learn the steps you can take to teach your child Spanish as a second language.

1. Make a decision. Once you’re convinced that teaching your child a second language is something you want to do, commit to that decision. Teaching your child a second language comes with challenges as well as triumphs. But with ample preparation, heart, and a plan, you’ll be amazed at how much Spanish your child has learned from you.

2. Create a Spanish-English bilingual home environment. You want to offer your child as much Spanish-language exposure and interaction as possible. The following is a list of what you’ll need to accomplish this:

~Bilingual books. I can not stress enough how important reading Spanish to your child is. First of all, reading to your child is quality, interactive time between you and your child. Simply cuddling up on the sofa or sitting on the floor looking at the pictures will be an invaluable experience. And if your toddler/preschooler does not sit for the whole book, don’t worry. Just do a little at a time. Or, read the book aloud to yourself while she plays with blocks or something.

When looking for books to help your child learn Spanish, look for Spanish-English bilingual books with vibrant pictures and short, simple sentences. Also, you’ll need to get books that cover the common topics (ie. colors, my family, shapes) you’d like to do with your child.

Read the book in English a few times before reading it in Spanish. This will get her familiar with the pictures and words and help her make connections between the two languages. If you’re intimidated about reading in Spanish because you don’t speak Spanish, do your best. Perhaps you can read the vocabulary words that go with the pictures. Or, turn your books into audio books by asking a Spanish-speaking friend to record herself reading the book.

~Music and songs are an integral part of your child’s Spanish language learning. The catchy, upbeat tunes will help him remember the Spanish words and meanings and get him active and dancing. Not to mention, singing and dancing are always fun things to do. Playing instruments every now and then adds a fun dynamic to your child’s language learning time as well. Bilingual songs are a great choice. Spanish-only kid songs are great too provided that they come with the lyrics written out in Spanish and English. When deciding what music and songs to purchase, make sure the cd has song titles that cover a wide range of topics that you’d like to do with your child.

~Spanish kid-shows are another must in your child’s Spanish-learning quest. Children love cartoons and kiddie shows and even if they don’t totally understand what’s being said, they’re well able to put the story together from what they’re watching. I record some of the Spanish kid-shows that come on Saturday mornings on our local Spanish channels. One of our favorite Spanish kid-shows is Las Tres Melliza Bebés that comes on the Spanish public broadcasting station, V-me. I also recommend that when you purchase dvd’s make sure they have a Spanish-language audio track.

~Charts, posters, and labels help transform your home into a bilingual environment. Their colorful presence will serve as instant Spanish-teachable moments. In a spur of the moment, you could point to the chart and say, “Show me the color that is rojo.” And of course, during your Spanish-learning time charts, posters, and labels are excellent teaching aids.

continued in next post

2008-07-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

continued

~Spanish area. This is a place where you’ll keep your Spanish resources. The area could just be one shelf on your bookcase or two or three baskets. You’ll need this Spanish area to help keep your materials organized and accessible. Having to constantly look for your Spanish books or cd’s can take the momentum out of your learning time excitement—and we don’t want that to happen. Also, when it’s time to put your Spanish materials away, your child will know exactly where to put them.

~Spanish language-learning time. This is a time set aside for learning, playing and having fun in Spanish. There are many suggestions for how to set a language-learning time. Some families set one day on the weekend as the time to speak only Spanish. Other families decide that during dinner time for that week, they’ll only speak Spanish. And yet, other families call a certain room in the house the Spanish room and any time they enter that room, they speak Spanish.

The above methods didn’t work for my family because my husband and I are not fluent Spanish speakers and it was difficult to speak only Spanish for a long period of time. In our house, our designated language-learning time is called Spanish Time! I believe that there should be a little Spanish exposure and learning every day. And we have Spanish Time for at least 15 minutes every day.

Over time, though, the 15 minutes can grow to 30 minutes and from 30 minutes to 45 minutes and so on. You don’t have to speak Spanish the whole hour, but there are many other things to do. Also, while I like to keep our Spanish Time set at the same time every day, you certainly do not have to. There’s room for flexibility. You could even do your Spanish time 2 or 3 times a week. The most important thing to keep in mind is BE CONSISTENT. You want your family’s Spanish time to be a part of the day that your child looks forward to.

~Optional resources for you to consider are Spanish-learning computer software and Spanish-learning programs. These resources will enhance and add variety to your family’s Spanish-learning adventure.

Okay, you have the books, shows, posters, music and you’ve set up a Spanish-learning time. You’re probably wondering, “What exactly do I do during our Spanish-learning time with all of these resources?” I’ll answer that question in my next post as I explain the remaining steps for teaching your child Spanish.

continued in next post

2008-07-15T07:45:00.001-04:00

continued

3. Have a plan. Planning out your Spanish time will help you organize all the resources you have around your topic for the week, and it will help keep your family’s Spanish learning on track for the long-term.

Your plan should have a list of common topics or concepts you’d like your child to learn (ie. shapes, colors, greetings) and a collection of Spanish-learning games, activities, and projects for those topics.

4. Enlist the help of other Spanish-speaking friends or relatives and send your child to a Spanish music or immersion program. This step is extremely helpful, but not a necessary part of your child’s Spanish-learning mission. My husband and I don’t have Spanish-speaking relatives to send our kids to in the summer, and he only has a couple of Spanish-speaking friends. When we only had our daughter, we were able to enroll her in Spanish programs. Now that our family has grown to 4 children, doing so is not a viable option for right now.

So the best that we can at the moment is expose our children to as much Spanish as possible at home and have fun learning Spanish with them.

5. Invest in your own Spanish learning. Studying a Spanish program geared toward adults and covering pronunciation, grammar and sentence building, will bolster your confidence in reading and interacting in Spanish with your child. Furthermore, we don’t want to end up like the singer Madonna and her husband. Their kids attend a French immersion school and when their kids are home, they have these “secret” conversations because Madonna and her husband don’t understand French.

Teaching your child Spanish is a commendable goal. It requires preparation and dedication, and the 15 minutes or so a day you spend teaching your child Spanish will reap bountiful rewards that will last a lifetime.

¡Hasta luego!

Tools to Help Make Teaching Your Child Spanish a Success

2008-07-15T07:30:00.001-04:00

Spanish-English bilingual books
Look for bilingual books with vibrant pictures and short, simple sentences and pronunciation help. Our family has many bilingual books, but I like Gladys Rosa-Mendoza's series of bilingual board books.

Music and Songs
Music and songs are a fun way to liven up your family's Spanish time. Choose cd’s with bilingual songs that cover a wide range of topics.

Spanish kid-shows
Try to find your local V-me station and record kid shows on Spanish channels. Also, search for dvd’s that are bilingual or have English and Spanish-language audio tracks. Some dvd's that come to mind are: Professor Parrot, Brainy Baby, Spanish for Beginners** and Plaza Sésamo**.

**These shows are in Spanish only, but can still be entertaining.

Charts, posters, and labels
Two places I would like to recommend for finding an assortment of Spanish language posters and charts are Classroom Direct and Lakeshore Learning.

Spanish-learning computer software and programs
There are many good Spanish software available for children. Look into Knowledge Adventure's JumpStart Spanish.

If you have a Leapfrog Learning System, they have several popular character titles in Spanish like Finding Nemo, and Disney Princesses and a bilingual title Fiesta in the Town.

A lesson plan filled with Spanish-learning activities, games, and projects
Having a lesson plan helps you to make the most out of your family's Spanish learning time. Save yourself time and energy by using an easy-to-follow lesson plan resource for your family's 15-minute Spanish-learning times.

Resources for Your Own Spanish Learning

2008-07-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a program that offers a simple method that takes only 138 words to express just about anything you want to say in Spanish.
Just 138 Words!

This program teaches you how to learn Spanish in sentences and phrases. Speak multiple sentences and understand an entire Spanish conversation in no time.
Learn practical Spanish in sentences and phrases.

Take all the frustration, difficulty and headache out of your Spanish practice time using this interactive 'learn Spanish' program.
Speak Spanish Confidently and Naturally In Less Than 8 Weeks

This next program uses a complete immersion environment allowing you to learn Spanish easily and naturally by connecting words to objects and events around you. The fastest way to learn Spanish

Learn to communicate in Spanish with a college educated Latin American as well as the common Latin American person.
Learn Real Latin American Spanish

Chao!

Teaching Spanish to children - Answers

2008-07-02T20:15:00.000-04:00

Are you concerned that teaching your child a second language will confuse her or hinder or native language development? Here's an article that sheds some light on the question:

Will Teaching Spanish to Children Affect Their English Skills?

A multitude of American preschools are now teaching Spanish and Mandarin Chinese to toddlers, while select private programs offer foreign language instruction for children from six months and up. Children are learning with home programs, enrolled in after school programs and an increasing number now get an introduction to a second language in their elementary school classroom. Who are these little linguists? Many are the children of savvy English-speaking parents who realize that learning a second language is easy for the young.

Despite this growing trend, some parents still struggle with the idea of introducing a second language before their child has mastered his first. Are there any adverse consequences to teaching a second language like Spanish to children too soon? Will it slow down their ability to learn English?" (Read more)

How to Read to Your Child--In Any Language

2008-06-23T20:29:00.000-04:00

Check out this article on reading to your child multilingually. This can seem like a daunting task when you yourself don't speak the language fluently, but remember the mere act of cuddling on a sofa, opening up a book and having book fun with your child will do wonders.

I like to suggest getting bilingual books so that you can read the book several times in English first. Then, at another time like your Spanish Time! you can read the book in Spanish. If you're not comfortable reading the book word for word in Spanish, do a "picture walk." Name things in the book or point out the actions (eg. What is he doing? Running. Corriendo.)

Reading to Your Child - Multilingually!

Reading, for very good reasons, is near the top of every parent's list of educational goals and concerns for their young children. Parents know that encouraging their children to read and fostering a love for reading is fundamental to future enjoyment and success in school and extra-curricular learning.

Reading and books are so important and so powerful that the presence of many books in the home is statistically a better indicator of future academic success than parental occupation, education or wealth. According to one Princeton University study, 'scholarly culture, as indicated by home library size, in the family home gives children a significant, and generally substantial, edge in academic performance… Having a large home library is important on its own.'

So wouldn't it make sense to incorporate reading as an important part of learning a second language? The same benefits which children get from learning to read in their first language are just as available—and just as important—in a second language.

The good news is that parents can do a lot to help their children claim these benefits in a second language. And they can do so by following many of the same strategies and much of the same advice that works so well for learning to read in the first language. (Read more)

¡Feliz cumpleaños - Happy Birthday Janai and Jessica!

2008-06-19T18:46:00.004-04:00

My twins, mis gemelas, turned 4 years old today.

And this September they'll be starting pre-K. When the school secretary said that they will be in two different classes, I protested a little. I asked if that's a school policy or what. She said the school usually separates twins because they're individuals. I told her that I really want them to be together at least for pre-k and especially since the program is only for 2 1/2 hours. She spoke with the principal and was able to get them in the same class.

What do you think? Should I persist with them staying together in kindergarten as well? I would rather they stay together for convenience: so they'll have the same class assignments, deadlines, trip schedules, etc. But at the same time, I see no problem with them being in separate classes either. Right now they sleep in the same room with their older sister, but boy do they feed off of each other at night. My husband always says that they each need their own rooms.

What do you think? Do you have twins? How did you handle your twins and their class placements?

Gracias por tu ayuda.

¡Feliz día de los padres - Happy Fathers' Day!

2008-06-15T18:01:00.003-04:00

Hola James,

You are a wonderful father to Jaida, Janai, Jessica and Jaden, gracias. And thank you for being such a supportive and active participant on our Spanish-English bilingual journey.

I smiled at something you were doing today. Janai brought you a book to read to her. It was a bilingual book. You read it in English and did your best to read it in Spanish too. You looked for some confirmation from me, but you kept on reading. That 8-paged book must have seemed like you were reading a long novel to her, but you kept at it. And what tickled me the most was when she said, "Read it again!"

Te quiero, James.
Abrazos y besos

Hope you enjoyed your day.

Jessica

Language Learning and Learning to Read

2008-06-11T20:05:00.000-04:00

Does Bilingualism Help Children Learn to Read?

Learning and using another language have been linked to all kinds of benefits for children and adults. This is particularly true for young children's expanding cognitive abilities. According to Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto of Dartmouth College, children who have been exposed early to a second language possess an overall 'cognitive edge.' Numerous studies have also linked language education to higher scores on many standardized tests. But can knowing another language also help children learn to read?" (Read more)

Conversational Spanish in Action

2008-06-04T13:29:00.003-04:00

My eldest daughter and I were shopping for summer shoes, when she attempted to make friends with another little girl there. My daughter said "hello" twice to the girl, but the girl didn't really respond. Then Jaida said, "Hola" and the girl looked up.

I asked Jaida what else could she say to the girl and she said "¿Cómo estas?" The other girl was shy to speak much but her mother was trying to encourage her to respond. Then Jaida asked, "¿Cómo te llamas?" The girl said her name, Jaida then said hers.

After leaving the area, I asked Jaida how did she know the girl spoke Spanish and she said, "Because she didn't answer me after I said hello two times in English."

Jaida, te quiero. Soy tan orgullosa de ti.

I still have the hardest time striking up a conversation in Spanish with others. Seeing my daughter in action reminded me that fear and insecurity only holds us back.

So I encourage all of us who want to improve our Spanish-speaking skills:

1. On an index card write down 3-5 sentences that you could say to someone in Spanish.

2. Practice saying those sentences in Spanish.

3. Write down responses and follow-ups to those Spanish sentences.

4. Make a goal: ie. I'm going to practice these sentences on a Spanish-speaking person one time this week.

¡Qué le vaya bien - May everything go well for you!

Jessica

Ways to Teach Baby Spanish

2008-05-28T19:58:00.004-04:00

I recently came across a blog called My Bilingual Kid. In his blog, Josh notes that even though his son is too young right now (4 months old) to do the activities in my Spanish colors lesson plan, he looks forward to using them when he's older.

Es verdad - It's true, I wrote those lessons when my twins turned 3 years old, but I offered ideas on how I interact in Spanish with my 17 month-old. Usually he's napping when I do Spanish Time with my girls.

So here are some simple ways you can teach and interact in Spanish with your baby (infant/ toddler.)

1. In the morning, sing a Spanish “hello” or “good morning” song.

2. Gently lift your baby up and down say “arriba” “abajo.”

3. Open and close your hands and say “abierto” “cierre”

4. Name the food and beverages you give in Spanish.

Aqua = water
Leche = milk
Jugo = juice
Jugo de naranja = orange juice
Jugo de manzana = apple juice
Jugo de uva = grape juice
Cereal = cereal
Bread = pan
Rice = arroz
Galletas = crackers/cookies

5. Make simple comments and ask simple questions when it’s eating time.

Here you go = Aqui tienes
Let’s pray (say grace) = Rezamos
Mmm, yummy = muy rico
Almost finished = Casi terminado
Finished? = ¿Terminado?
Want more? = ¿Quieres mas?
Yay! You ate all = ¡Comiste todo!
No more. = No mas.
Do you want something to drink? ¿Quieres algo beber?

6. Diaper time is the perfect time to sing the Spanish alphabet song or the songs you learned from the Boca Beth cd’s .

7. Go over the parts of the body in Spanish and ask, for example, ¿Dónde está tu nariz? Where is your nose?

8. I like to see the big smile on my 17 month-old’s face when I take him by the hand and say “Corre, Jaden, corre.” Run, Jaden, run. And we run (at his pace of course) across the room.

There's a whole lot more that we do and as I think of them I'll post up some more ideas for how you can teach your baby Spanish.

¡Hasta luego!

Jessica

Teaching Preschoolers Spanish

2008-05-20T20:15:00.003-04:00

My twin girls and I went to see an African-drum show at my eldest daughter's school. On the way back, it started to rain. I beamed with pride when I heard Janai exclaim, "¡Lluvia, lluvia! That means rain in Spanish."

This may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me it is because her reaction showed me that Spanish is becoming a part of her. She said it with no prompting and with no singing to the tune of a song. She simply made the connection and verbalized it.

It also showed me that even though we're not a Spanish-speaking family or come from Spanish-speaking families, our children are learning Spanish from the activities, environment and exposure we've given them.

Yes, it is possible for monolingual parents to teach their children Spanish. Doing so is worth the time and effort--with benefits to last a lifetime.

¡Hasta la próxima vez!

Jessica

It’s Breakfast Time – Es la hora de desayuno

2008-05-18T11:47:00.002-04:00

Es la hora de desayuno - It’s Breakfast Time

My twins are at the age (preschoolers) when they want to help me do everything--like prepare breakfast. So this is a good time to learn and practice using Spanish with them as well.

Here are some words and sentences you can use to make Spanish a part of your breakfast time. I included help with pronunciation.

Es hora de desayuno. It's time for breakfast.
(ehs OH-rah day day-sah-YOO-noh)

¿Qué quieres para desayuno? What do you want for breakfast?
(kay kee-AYR-ays PAH-rah day-sah-YOO-noh)

¿Cereal o wafles? Cereal or waffles?
(say-ray-AHL o WAH-flays)

Bien, necesitamos un tazón, el cereal y la leche. Ok, we need a bowl, cereal and milk.
(nay-say-see-TAH-mohs oon tah-ZOHN, ehl say-ray-AHL, ee lah lay-chay)

Vierte el cereal en el tazón. Pour the cereal into the bowl.
(bee-AYR-tay ehl say-ray-AHL ehn ehl tah-ZOHN)

Entonces vierte la leche en el cereal. Then pour the milk into the cereal.
(ehn-TOHN-says bee-AYR-tay lah lay-chay ehn ehl say-rah-AHL)

¿Qué más necesitamos? What else do we need?
(kay mahs nay-say-see-TAH-mohs)

Las cucharas Spoons
(lahs koo-CHAH-rahs)

Vamos a comer. Let’s eat.
(bah-mohs ah koh-mayr)

TIP: Remember you don’t have to use the whole Spanish sentence in order to make Spanish a part of your day. (That will come as you learn more and more Spanish). You can just focus on vocabulary.

Example:
It’s breakfast time. In English we say “breakfast,” in Spanish we say “desayuno.”

What do you want for “desayuno.”

Hope this helps. Let me know by commenting below.

Jessica

¡Feliz Dia de las Madres - Happy Mothers' Day!

2008-05-11T01:52:00.009-04:00

from Jessica and family.

Here's a little background on the Pink Rose:

Roses are a symbol for love and gratitude. While different roses may have more specific meanings, these are still the underlying message of any color rose.

Pink roses now carry a connotation of grace and elegance, as well as and sweetness and poetic romance. Different shades of pink also carry their own significance. Dark pink roses are symbolic of gratitude and appreciation, and are a traditional way to send a message of thanks. Light pink roses are associated with gentleness and admiration.

excerpt from FloraPedia

Babies Discern Languages Through Visual Cues

2008-05-09T08:00:00.002-04:00

An amazing article about babies and multiple languages:

Babies discern languages through visual cues - BabyCenter: "Babies discern languages through visual cues

THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) — Infants can tell the difference between two languages without hearing the spoken words, simply by watching the face of the adult who is talking, a Canadian study says.

'It is important, because it tells us how babies are prepared to learn multiple languages,' said Whitney Weikum, a doctoral candidate in neural sciences at the University of British Columbia who led the experiment."

(Read more)

Spanish Time! at Our House

2008-05-07T08:00:00.001-04:00

Hola,

Here are some snapshots of my girls during, what we call Spanish Time! It's a time when we focus on learning and having fun in Spanish. We have a lesson plan topic for the week, and we do the Boca Beth songs, bilingual books, dvd's and activities that go along with our topic.

Janai, Jaida, Jessica
They just finished "Movin' and Groovin"

They're dancing along to "Five Little Monkies - Cinco monitos"

This is the arts and crafts part of the lesson.

I don't remember what song they're clapping to.

My little boy is sleeping during all of this, but very soon he'll be in on Spanish Time! with his sisters too.

Learn how to have Spanish Time! with your family!

!Hasta luego!

Jessica

Cinco de Mayo - Courage, Teamwork and Triumph

2008-05-05T15:33:00.000-04:00

I've always heard of "cinco de mayo" being a Mexican holiday, but I've never really known what it meant. I mean, I know "cinco de mayo" means the 5th of May, but what does this day celebrate for Mexican culture?

I did a little research and came across this thoroughly informative article. In addition to giving a brief history of this holiday, it gives "cinco de mayo" party ideas, activities and kid crafts.

What Is Cinco de Mayo? The History Behind the Holiday
By Cara J. Stevens

Hola! Get ready to become acquainted with the history, traditions, recipes, and crafts of Cinco de Mayo--a vibrant and festive holiday celebrated by people of Mexican heritage.

Cinco de Mayo, celebrated on the 5th of May, commemorates the triumph of a small Mexican army over French forces in an 1862 battle.

The Battle at Puebla took place only 14 years after the United States defeated Mexico in the Mexican-American War. With a weakened army and lagging national pride, the odds were against the Mexican people. But when French forces..." (Read more)

Jessica

Let's Learn Spanish Today! Pt. ll

2008-04-28T20:19:00.004-04:00

Here's a quick schedule of my Spanish learning with Visual Link. For the 30 days I want to cover the following topics: a) Basic Needs b) Greetings c) Survival Expressions and d) Comprehension.

Basic Needs

Day One
1) Sección 1
a) Movie #1
b) Vocabulary #1
c) Verbal Quiz #1

Day Two
2) Sección 1a
a) Movie #2
b) Verbal Quiz #2

Day Three
3) Sección 1b
a) Movie #3
b) Vocabulary #2
c) Review Game - Group 1

Day Four
4) Sección 1b cont'd
a) Movie #4
b) Vocabulary #3
c) Review Game - Group 2
d) Verbal Quiz #3

Day Five
5) Sección 1c
a) Movie #5
b) Review Game - Group 3
c) Verbal Quiz #4

Day Six
6) a) Review Game - ?/Ans/Links
b) Practice Quiz

My schedule for the other topics will follow. I plan to start Monday, May 5. You could follow along to some extent with the free lessons they have.

Jessica

Let's Learn Spanish Today!

2008-04-25T20:18:00.001-04:00

I’m so excited about my blog. I’ve always loved keeping journals as a youngster. Writing about my day, my friends, my hopes was like a way of escape for me.

Anyway, I was looking over the Visual Link Spanish program website the other day to see what was new. I bought this program 5 or 6 years ago to help me learn Spanish again. I liked the program. It helped me learn Spanish in sentences.

I took a look at their guarantee again:

With approximately 30 minutes of study per day, become
conversational in 30 days - GUARANTEED.

“Yes, this is what I want!” I was immediately motivated to take them up on their promise. This time around I’ll have my blog and you visitors to help me stick with it. So along with posting my Spanish lesson plans for children, I’ll keep you posted about how I’m doing with this program.

Here’s a little background on where my spoken Spanish is. I don’t speak Spanish fluently. My Spanish vocabulary is very large, though. So I will admit that I probably know more Spanish words than average. However, when it comes to speaking, I’m not confident at all. My speech is slow, and I have a hard time understanding Spanish that’s spoken to me or played on T.V. I just know enough Spanish to teach my children different words and simple household phrases.

We had the ideal situation when Patricia, our former Spanish-speaking babysitter was around. I did not seize the opportunities to speak with her as much as I could have. My insecurity got the best of me.

And when I go to the corner store—they speak Spanish—the most I’ll say is “hola,” “Puedes ayudarme? (Can you help me?) and “gracias.” I told one of the guys there in Spanish (after much thought) that I want to learn Spanish but I’m shy. He said something about “poco,” then followed up in English with “one word at a time.”

I’m mentioning this just so you’ll have an idea of where I’m starting with this Visual Link Spanish program again. During the 30 days I’ll document what I’ve done each day for the 30 minutes. After the 30 days I’ll let you know how confident and conversational in Spanish I’ve become.

I'll need to come up with an assessment. Maybe I'll strike up a conversation with the Spanish-speaking store owner across the street. Or I could call my husband's friend's wife, she speaks Spanish.

Have any of you used this program? Tell us what you think about it.

Hasta luego!

Jessica

Raising Children to be Bilingual

2008-04-23T18:58:00.004-04:00

A couple of days ago I posted a comment on a blog called Just me - http://milindobebe.blogspot.com. It seemed like she was keeping a blog as a school assignment, but her research topic was how to raise her son to be bilingual in Spanish and English.

I jumped in to add my two-cents worth, but I was astounded by how much I had to say about the topic. My comment was longer than her post-LOL. I guess with at least 6 years worth of researching, teaching and learning Spanish with my own children, I had a lot of information to draw from.

I hope that you too gain a lot from my experience teaching my children Spanish.

Posting has been put to the side a bit because I'm still working on my website. I truly believe that English-speaking parents can teach their children Spanish with dedication and the right mix of resources. It's totally worth it to lay a firm foundation in your child's life for acquiring a second language.

Hasta luego

Jessica

No Harm in Learning Two Languages

2008-04-10T22:30:00.001-04:00

Researchers: No harm in learning two languages
by Susan Knapp

Laura-Ann Petitto, Professor in Dartmouth's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
In bilingual children, brain develops as though there were two language centers

A Dartmouth research team has determined that children exposed to two languages early in life are not language delayed, nor are they language confused, which fuels the scientific and political debate over when to introduce children to a second language.

Laura-Ann Petitto, Professor in Dartmouth's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Department of Education, and Dartmouth graduate student Ioulia Kovelman, report their findings at the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting, Nov. 2–7, in Orlando, Fla."

(Read more)

New Resource of Spanish Lesson Plans for Children!

2008-04-05T13:10:00.004-04:00

Hi everybody!

I took some time from my blog because I've been working real hard on my new website.

The site showcases the eBook resource I've created to help English-speaking parents teach their children Spanish.

Basically, I've compiled 6 of the lesson plans that I've done with my children and made it available in eBook form. In another 3-4 months, I plan have another 4 lessons available.

Hope you enjoy it and find it useful. And sign up for our monthly e-newsletter Spanish Time! where you'll get muchas ideas to help you and your family keep up the Spanish fun.

¡Hasta luego!

Jessica

Bilingual Celebrites and their Children

2008-03-12T16:42:00.002-04:00

Here's another article about celebrities and how they're raising their children to be bilingual. Madonna's piece was a little funny to me because her kids have "secret" conversations with each other in French while she and her husband don't understand a word they're saying.

That won't be our situation, right? Because we're learning Spanish along with our children. And, I hope this blog gives you the help you need to keep the Spanish fun going.

Famous Multilinguals and Their Stories

“If you know two languages, the level of your intelligence is multiplied a hundredfold in other people’s eyes.”

--Bill Cosby, actor

Read on

Quality vs. Quantity Spanish Language Exposure

2008-03-04T16:00:00.001-05:00

Do you feel that your child doesn't get enough exposure to the minority language?

Remember, it is not only quantity, quality matters too.

I really appreciated this article because sometimes I feel that my kids will learn Spanish better if they were in a Spanish-immersion program or playgroup. But until I'm able to make that happen, there's plenty our family can here right at home to provide a rich Spanish-learning environment.

Read on and be encouraged too!

5 Ways to Improve The Language Interaction

No, you don't need to speak differently to your baby, but bear in mind that he can tell if you're engaged and enthusiastic. However, if you feel your baby is getting only a limited amount of the minority language and you want to be as 'effective' as possible in the way you communicate, here are some useful pointers.

Speak TO your child

The sheer quantity of speech addressed to the child is the single most important factor in learning language, regardless of how many languages you are working with. It doesn't help if you talk on the phone all day or make the baby watch television (although TV can be great for preschoolers). Babies will only make sense of what they hear if the words refer to something they can directly relate to -- the here and now. Particularly for young infants, face-to-face contact is key. Babies are absolutely fascinated with human faces which make language even more engaging for them. As early as four months, babies have already started linking sounds to mouth movements, although they can't see how their own faces move. Maybe this is why babies love to be imitated so they can finally see what their faces must look like when they make their sounds. So, coo back to your heart's content."

(Read more)

How do you say "Glue" in Spanish!!

2008-03-01T17:22:00.004-05:00

Hi, I just needed a moment to vent about some frustration I'm having.

I'm trying to find out how to say "glue" in Spanish. I always thought that "glue" was "pega" in Spanish because when my daughter went to her Spanish playgroup, the teacher had a container of Elmer's School glue labeled "PEGA." And I heard her say "pega" when referring to the glue.

So, I've been telling my kids that "pega" is the Spanish word for glue.

But when I looked up "glue" in a Spanish dictionary online recently, "pega" didn't show up. I remember watching an episode of "Handy Manny" and finding it interesting that Manny said "goma is the way we say glue in Spanish." I've seen "cola" and "pegamento" and the closest "pegue" as the meanings of "glue" in Spanish, too.

Which word is it?

Thanks

Another great reason to learn Spanish - More Money!

2008-02-28T21:52:00.002-05:00

Enjoy!

More Money! Another great reason to learn Spanish

To all you parents who wonder where learning Spanish fits into the grand scheme of things, I'm here to remind you of one simple fact...being bilingual means more money! Imagine your child looking for work in a few years (or more) and having double the opportunities and a higher salary to boot.

That's what awaits the bilingual candidates for jobs in the United States." (Read more)

Spanish Praise and Encouragement Words

2008-02-25T19:49:00.001-05:00

When praising and encouraging our girls in Spanish, my husband and I found that we were always saying, "Muy bien." Surely there are other ways to let the children know that they're doing great in Spanish.

So I made a list of 2-pages worth of praise and encouragement words that we commonly use in English and found the Spanish translations for them.

Here's a sampling:

¡Buen trabajo! Good job! Good work!

¡Bien hecho! Well done!

¡Lo hiciste! You did it!

¡Buenísimo! Super!

¡Eso es! That’s it!

¡Puedes hacerlo! You can do it!

¡Fantástico! Fantastic!

¡Fenomenal! Phenomenal!

Have fun encouraging your child in Spanish and let me know how the list is going for you.

¡Chao!

Jaida's Spanish Learning Method

2008-02-22T23:14:00.001-05:00

The other day my daughter asked me to play one of her "Hello, Kitty"** dvd's. I asked her if she wanted to hear it in Spanish or English (it has a French audio track too.)

This is what she said,

"Well, since I haven't watched "Hello, Kitty" in a long time, play it in English first so that I can learn the words again. Then play it in Spanish. That's how I learn Spanish."

I was very impressed with her answer.

From what I remember of my research, some language learning experts say that mere translation is not an effective way to teach/learn the second language. They say that immediately translating one language after the other causes the children to be lazy, and they're not motivated to learn the second language because it's being translated anyway.

I could see that as a valid point. But at the same time, I disagree because--look at my daughter, translation in one way that she learns Spanish. I think the teaching and learning methods used should vary and most of all be FUN. My daughter loves her "Hello, Kitty"** dvd's and it takes no time for her to have those lines memorized. When it's our Spanish Time and we play the dvd in Spanish, she already has prior knowledge of the story and what's being said. She enjoys making the connections in both languages.

So, here's my suggestion. When you purchase your favorite kid shows and movies on dvd's, make sure it has the Spanish audio track as well (Spanish subtitles are a great help too). Watch it in English a few times, then watch it in Spanish. After watching it in Spanish a couple of times, make a game out of it by listening out for the Spanish words and phrases you all recognize.

Buenas noches,

(**As an aside, I don't like to play the "Hello, Kitty" shows too much because the character Catnip is so mean and does too much name-calling. I was disappointed with the purchase because of that.)

More Spanish Teaching Resources

2008-02-21T10:35:00.000-05:00

I'm always on the lookout for more Spanish resources to use. Even though I have my stack of Baby 1st Disney bilingual books, there are some topics that I want to do that none of the books cover, like the 5 senses, family and the parts of the body.

While I was doing some research, I came across these books that I think I'll purchase in the near future: My Family/Mi famila and My Body/Mi cuerpo by Gladys Rosa-Mendoza. I like these books because the language is simple. There's vocabulary, and more importantly for me, they're written in simple sentences.

If you have other recommendations for me to look into, please write me. I'd love to hear for you.

Come back soon and look for my Spanish lesson plans on Family/La familia and the Parts of the Body/El cuerpo.

¡Nos vemos!

My Twins Are Learning Spanish Too!

2008-02-18T11:17:00.001-05:00

¡Mis gemelas aprendemos español tambien!

Yesterday as I watched my 3 year-old twin girls, Janai (pronounced ja-nay) and Jessica play, I couldn't help but be amazed at how much Spanish they know. I didn’t work with my twins with the Spanish as much as I worked with Jaida, but they know a lot.

While they were playing with their Dora castle, I put on Las tres mellizas bebés. It was an episode about thunder and lightning. The girls came to watch some of it. I heard Jessie say, "Let's play the tres mellizas bebés." They wrapped themselves in a sheet, and then Janai said, "Let's pretend that we're scared. Tengo miedo."

Other times I’ll hear one say, "Ayúdame, ayúdame!." And the other respond, "Ok, I’ll save you." And ever since we did the Spanish lesson about colors, they both go around the house naming the colors they see in Spanish. What's funny too is, in the lesson we didn't go over the colors black and white, but they remembered those colors from Boca Beth's song, "Veo colores."

Interaction with children in Spanish is very important. But don't dismiss just playing Spanish music or a Spanish kid show in the background while they're playing or eating. It may seem like they're not paying attention, but their little brains are absorbing the language. Their little brains are absorbing the "feel" of Spanish, the sound of Spanish, the beauty of Spanish.

Another for instance: I had been playing the cd we got from Juguemos a Cantar every day or so. Then one day I heard Jaida singing the Spanish alphabet all the way through! That caught me off guard because I didn't even know the Spanish alphabet song all the way through. So I had to buckle down and learn it so that we could sing it together. And now she's able to identify individual letters in Spanish as well.

I’m trying to document everything that we are doing or have done, so that you too will be encouraged to teach your children a second language even if you don’t speak the language. The fun part is learning the language together. The awesome part is hearing your child speak the language.

¡Hasta luego!

¡Feliz día de los enamorados! ¡Feliz día de San Valentín!

2008-02-14T18:29:00.012-05:00

Thanks to an e-newsletter I received today, I finally understand the difference between saying "Te quiero" and "Te amo" for "I love you." Read the following excerpt to find out what the difference is and how to say other love words in Spanish.

El Amor - Palabras y Dichos (Love - Words and Sayings)

First things first, how do you say "to fall in love"? To fall in love is "enamorarse". Therefore, el "día de los enamorados" literally means the day of those who are in love. The verb is also used with the helper verb estar to say that you are in love. So depending on whether you are a man or a woman, you would say you are in love like this:

estoy enamorada I am in love (feminine)
estoy enamorado I am in love (masculine)

2 expressions you may have heard are "te amo" and "te quiero". You may wonder - do they mean the exact same thing? Essentially, yes. The verb "to love" is properly translated as "amar" but people throughout Spain and Latin American often prefer to use the verb "querer" ("to want"), to express feelings of love towards the loved one.

"Te amo" it is considered by many to be a bit too flowery; more to be used other than in romantic songs, poems and old movies or plays. So instead, you often hear "te quiero" instead.

How do lovers tell each other that they are in love? One way is "con una carta de amor" - a "love letter". May sound old fashioned but this is still practiced in some parts of Spain and Latin America! But for most, their amor is more often expressed with a bunch of roses and a box of chocolates, "con un ramo de rosas y una caja de bombones".

Is there a verb for fallng out of love? Actually there is: "desenamorarse".

Vocabulary for Types of Love in Spanish

amor a la antigua: old-fashioned love, old-fashioned affair

amor al prójimo: love toward your fellow man

amor a primera vista: love at first sight

amor ciego: blind love

amor de madre: mother´s love

amor eterno: everlasting love

amor libre: free love

amor no correspondido: unrequited love

amor platónico: platonic love

amor prohibido: forbidden love

amor propio: self love, self esteem

amor secreto: hidden love

(excerpt from Musical Spanish)

Even though these love words and sayings are geared towards adults, still, enjoy telling your little one "I love you" in Spanish. And "Te quiero a tí" means "I love you, too."

Is It Possible To Teach My Child Spanish When I Just Speak English?

2008-02-04T14:59:00.000-05:00

Yes! Yes! Yes!

This article is at the heart of what I'm doing with my children. As you already know, I'm not a fluent speaker of Spanish. But I'm not going to let my limits/insecurities stop me from laying the best possible foundation I can for my children to be bilingual.

Read on and be encouraged!

What If I Don't Speak a Language, But I Hope My Child Will?

More and more parents are eager to raise their children to be bilingual. They know what an important asset this ability will be for their children down the road—opening doors in higher education, the business world, politics, law, science, the arts and many other fields. In a world that is only getting 'smaller' or 'flatter' as technology bridges nations, learning another language will give the children of today the preparation and the broader outlook they will need tomorrow.

Fortunately, a growing number of parents now recognize that their children are ready to learn a new language. They know that children are uniquely situated to be quick and exuberant learners, 'locking in' cognitive benefits—sharper reading skills, greater creativity and problem-solving skills, and greater overall awareness of language—while having a blast exploring the fun new sounds and words they're playfully encountering.

Children are naturally open to language in a way that often amazes their parents. Less self-conscious and less anxious, they see a new language as a wide open field to do the things they already love to do—rhyme, make up words, create imaginary friends, try out funny sounds. We all could take a page from a child's ready sense of wonder and adventurouness." (Read more)

Improve Your Spanish with Telenovelas!

2008-02-01T22:47:00.000-05:00

While it's great that you can go ahead and get started teaching your child Spanish, you do need to think about ways to invest in your own Spanish-language development. When I decided to teach my daughter Spanish, I researched and eventually purchased Visual Link Spanish. Try out Visual Link's free lessons. You could learn a good deal just from those.

I'm posting following article because the author makes a claim that has always intrigued me--using telenovelas to learn/improve Spanish. Over the years I've spoken to many people who said they learned English from watching the soap operas. They always suggest that I try watching telenovelas to learn Spanish.

What do you think? Do you know anyone who learned Spanish from watching telenovelas?

I think I might want to try watching them again. Do you have any to recommendations?

Anyway, check out the article for more ways to improve your Spanish.

Bueña Suerte

Improve your Spanish with Telenovelas! - Spanish Language

5 Easy Tips for Improving Your Spanish
Without Ever Entering a Classroom
by Ruth Kunstadter

Yes, it's true. One hour a night with a Spanish soap opera can improve your Spanish!

So you studied Spanish in high school, but you can't speak a word of it. Or maybe you spoke Spanish at home with your family, your vocabulary is limited and you're not sure of your grammar. Now you want to improve your Spanish, but the thought of heading into a Spanish classroom makes you cringe. And besides, who has the time?

Don't worry, the solution is right at your fingertips - literally - as you take hold of your TV remote control, your radio dial, your computer keyboard, and a host of books and magazines that you never even dreamed you could read. With just a little background in the language, a Spanish-English dictionary, and the tips below, you can increase your fluency without ever setting foot in a Spanish class. And all at no cost to you!" (Read more.)

Boca Beth Rocks in our House!

2008-01-28T22:07:00.000-05:00

It's been a little over a month since we've gotten and used the Boca Beth program. It took me about 3 months to decide whether to purchase this program or not. It wasn't so much that I had doubts about the program. It was all ME. Oftentimes, I have to catch myself or else I'll buy up every Spanish learning book, cd, dvd, software or curriculum I come across.

I'm a Spanish learning product junkie!
LOL!

I had to decide if I should just try the program and buy one cd or dvd. Or, just go all out and buy the full backpack program. I decided to buy the full program because I had a plan in mind. I knew that I wanted to make my family's "Spanish Times" a little more interactive, productive, and cohesive. I knew that I wanted to create multimedia-type Spanish lessons for my girls--where we sing songs, we watch a show, we read a book, and do an activity all around the same topics.

So, Boca Beth's program fit the bill perfectly because her songs are about so many different topics. I wouldn't have to go on a scavenger hunt trying to find Spanish songs for colors, the opposites, the senses, time, days of the week, months of the year, animals (y mucho, mucho mas.)

Boca, your cd's and dvd's covered them all!

The first thing I played was the bonus music videos dvd. My girls loved it. They played with Boca the puppet and the maracas. In the video, "Movin' and Groovin'" Boca plays a little keyboard. We happen to have one too, and the girls love bringing it out for Boca to play. Our only disappointment was that the dvd was too short. Make more videos, Boca!!

The girls weren't as responsive to the "Animals" dvd, but they liked Boca Beth's class demonstration at the end. I appreciated that part too because it gave me an idea of what to do with my girls.

I must admit that at first I was a little critical. I told my husband that I hear more English than Spanish. He smiled at me, patted me on the back and said, "It's in there." He said that I needed to curb my expectations of total Spanish immersion where any English is a no-no.

He was right because the bottom line is--Are the girls learning Spanish from Boca Beth's program?--Yes, they are!

The other night I heard Jessie singing "¿Qué pasa? What's Happenin? No mucho. Not much. No mucho conmigo." And today, I casually asked my girls, "¿Qué pasa?" (without any singing or cues). Both girls paused for a bit and then Janai said, "No mucho." She went on to say, "No mucho means not much."

I'm very happy with my Boca Beth purchase. The program makes my lesson planning easier and more fun.

Check back often to see the Spanish lesson plans I post integrating the songs from Boca Beth and the many other Spanish resources we have, around topics and concepts commonly taught in early childhood.

¡Hasta luego!

Spanish Lesson Plans for Children: Shapes

2008-01-25T20:16:00.000-05:00

Title: Spanish Lesson Plans for Children: Shapes

Materials needed:

United States of America flag (real or picture)
Puerto Rico flag (real or picture)
Shapes cut-outs (circle, triangle, rectangle, and square) in the colors (yellow, blue, red, green, and orange.)
Bebé Donald hace un amigo de nieve/ Baby Donald Makes a Snow Friend: Baby’s 1^st Disney Bilingual Book: A Book About Shapes
Donald: Shapes Exercise #1 (Tuesday)

Shapes Worksheet and Crayons-yellow, green, red, blue, orange

Donald: Shapes Exercise #2 (Thursday)

House Cut and Paste Activity (unrevealed)

Opening* (Transition from speaking English to speaking Spanish.)

In a plane we are going to Puerto Rico.
Fly, fly… (make it more fun by saying: fly high, fly low)
Bippity-boppity-boo
¡Hemos llegado! (We’ve arrived!)
Estamos en Puerto Rico (We’re in Puerto Rico. Hold up the Puerto Rican flag)

Welcome song (La cancion de bienvenido)
“Hola amigo”/ “Hello Friend” Boca Beth’s My 1^st Songs cd

Exercise/Movement/Active Singing/Games
(3-4 activities based on theme)

1. Song/Cancion: The Spanish Vowels song
2. Song/Cancion: “Yo sé mis formas”/ “I Know My Shapes” Track #14 Boca Beth More-Mas cd
3. Song/Cancion: “Veo colores”/ “I See Colors” Track #4 Boca Beth My 1^st Songs cd
4. Game/Juego: Yo espio/I Spy. Cut out the shapes (1 or 2 of each shape)—circle, triangle, square, rectangle--in the colors we learned in previous lesson and post them in different areas of the room. Then I say, for example:

Yo espio un círculo. I spy a circle. (After the child finds a circle, give praise and ask as a review:
¿Qué color es el círculo? What color is the circle?

Another example:
Yo espio un rectángulo amarillo. I spy a yellow rectangle.

(Praise and encouragement)
¡Buen hecho! Well done!
¡Lo hiciste! You did it!
¡Eso es! That's it!
¡Muy bien! Very good!

Vamos a descansar. Okay, let’s rest a little.

Story (cuento) Bebé Donald hace un amigo de nieve
Es la hora de leer un cuento. It’s time to read a story. Or, It’s storytime.
Vamos a leer un cuento. Let’s read a story.

(You can review rules for being good listeners in English.)

En inglés, Remember to be good listeners by sitting quietly and paying close attention to me while I read. Can you do that?

(Interaction with your child and the book).

Hay muchas formas en el libro. There are many shapes in the book.

Muestrame un círculo en esta página. Show me a circle on this page.

La pelota es un círculo. The ball is a circle.

La bola de nieve es un círculo. The snow ball is a circle.

los ojos the eyes

Muestrame un cuadrado. Show me a square.

los bloques the blocks

Muestrame un triángulo. Show me a triangle.

la zanahoria the carrot

los bloques the blocks

la cinta the hair bow (or ribbon)

(Other interactive questions)

Te gusta el cuento? Did you like the story?

¿Cuál es tu forma favorita? What is your favorite shape?

Mi forma favorita es … My favorite shape is …

(Praise and encouragement) En inglés, You guys were very good listeners today. Gracias. And when I say “Gracias,” what do you say? (Most likely she’ll say, “De nada.”)

(Transition) Ahora, es la hora de hacer arte. Now it’s time to do art. Let’s put the book away and go to the table.

Arts and Crafts
Tuesday Exercise #1 Shapes Review Activity

1. Distribute the shapes review worksheet printed out in black and white

2. Have fun naming the shapes (just mention that oval = óvalo)

3. Have fun pointing out which shape is “grande” “big” or “pequeño” “small” in Spanish.

4. Then color shapes using interactive questions, for example:

Muestrame el círculo pequeño. Show me the small circle.

Punta al rectángulo grande. (not sure if this is the correct way to say, "Point." Point to the big rectangle.

Colorea el círculo pequeño rojo. Color the small circle red.

Colorea el círculo grande verde. Color the big circle green.

Colorea el cuadrado grande amarillo. Color the big square yellow.

Colorea el cuadrado pequeno azul. Color the small square blue.

Colorea el rectángulo grande naranja. Color the big rectangle orange.

Buen hecho! Well done!

Thursday Exercise #2
House Cut and Paste Activity (unrevealed)

(Optional activities)

http://pbskids.org/dragontales/dragonfair/s_cassie.html

Find the Shape with Cassie from Dragon Tales (This particular game is not in Spanish, so just name the shape that Cassie is holding in Spanish, you could also say the color in Spanish and say: Let’s find the circles in this picture. Vamos a encontrar los círculos en esta foto.

Good Bye song

“Adios amigas, ya me voy.” Juguemos a Cantar cd

Closing Transition*

En avion volvemos de Puerto Rico (In a plane we are coming back from Puerto Rico)
Vuela, vuela.. (vuela alto, vuela bajo) (Fly, fly… fly high, fly low)
Veo los Estado Unidos (I see the United States)
Bippity-boppity-boo
We have arrived.
We are in the United States

* idea from Five Super-Easy and Fun Strategies to Immerse
Preschoolers in Spanish

¡Feliz Cumpleaños a Mí!

2008-01-20T20:18:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday to Me!

I just wanted to say that I had a blessed birthday today.

I got lots of hugs (muchos abrazos) and kisses ( y besos) and birthday wishes (deseos del cumpleaños) from my girls. I went to church. And, then I got a lot of rest (descansa) because my Mom came by.

¡Hasta luego!

Bilingual Celebrities—Who Knew?

2008-01-14T21:29:00.000-05:00

Hola,

Did you know that Will Smith fluently speaks a second language? How about Kobe Bryant? Find out what languages they speak and which other celebrities have traveled the bilingual journey!

Bilingual Celebrities—Who Knew?

A foreign actor, diplomat, writer, or athlete speaking fluent English is not much of a surprise to American or British audiences. Perhaps a little arrogantly, we expect Penélope Cruz, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Roger Federer, or Charlize Theron to drop their native languages (Spanish, German, Swiss German, and Afrikaans, respectively) and chat in flawless English.

But you may be surprised by the number and the names of the native English-speaking celebrities who speak another language.

Hearing William Shatner, for instance, speak fluent French would probably be about as shocking as a phaser blast. Or watching Kobe Bryant hold an interview in Italian as smooth as his jump shot —perhaps a bit surprising. Watching David Lee Roth do anything is going to be a little startling, but seeing him speak in Spanish? Go ahead and jump! (Read more)

Spanish Lesson Plans for Children: Colors

2008-01-11T10:20:00.002-05:00

Here's my first lesson plan.

Spanish Lesson Plans for Children: Colors

Materials needed:

United States of America flag (real or picture)
Mexico flag (real or picture)
Floor mats or construction paper: in yellow, green, red, blue, orange
Colored props: pictures, scarves or objects to use during songs
Amarillo y muy rico/Yellow and Yummy: Baby’s 1^st Disney Bilingual Book: A Book About Colors
Pooh: Colors Exercise #1 (Tuesday) Worksheet and Crayons-yellow, green, red, blue, orange
Pooh: Colors Exercise #2 (Thursday) Worksheet, Glue, Colored fish cut-outs

Opening*
(Transition from speaking English to speaking Spanish.)

In a plane we are going to Mexico.
Fly, fly… (make it more fun by saying: fly high, fly low)
Bippity-boppity-boo
¡Hemos llegado! (We’ve arrived!)
Estamos en México (We’re in Mexico. Hold up the Mexican flag)

Welcome song (La cancion de bienvenido)

“Hola amigo”/ “Hello Friend” Track #2 Boca Beth’s My 1^st Songs cd

Movement/Active Singing/Games
(3-4 activities based on theme)

1. The Spanish Alphabet song

2. “Veo Colores”/ “I See Colors” Track #4 Boca Beth My 1^st Songs cd

3. “Los Colores del arco iris”/ “The Colors of the Rainbow” Prof. Parrot Speaks Spanish dvd

4. Freeze Dance. Play music. Everyone dances or walks around. When the music stops, everyone gets on a color. Then I ask something like,

Who is standing on the color “rojo”?
Is anyone standing on the color “amarillo”?

(Praise and encouragement)
Que divertido! Oh, what fun!
Muy bien! Very good!
Vamos a descansar. Okay, let’s rest a little.

Story (cuento)
Amarillo and muy rico/Yellow and Yummy

Es la hora de leer un cuento. It’s time to read a story. Or, It’s storytime.
Vamos a leer un cuento. Let’s read a story.

(You can review rules for being good listeners in English.)
En inglés, Remember to be good listeners by sitting quietly and paying close attention to the story while I read. Who can be good listeners today? (Eventually, I will get the translation for this.)

(Read the Book)

(Interaction with your child and the book).

Muestrame el color xx. Show me the color xx
¿Ves el color xx?Donde? Do you see the color xx? Where?
¿Qué color es éste? ¿Rojo o naranja? What color is this? Red or orange?
¿Qué color ves aquí? Azul o verde What color do you see here? Blue or green

(When asking open ended questions, give 2 choices to guide child's thinking or jog her memory)

(Other interactive questions)

Te gusta el cuento? Did you like the story? (If your child answers yes or sí, you can encourage her to speak in a complete Spanish sentence by saying: When I ask you, “Te gusta el cuento?” you say, “Sí, me gusto el cuento or “No, no me gusto el cuento.” (Encourage child to repeat “sí” or ”no” Spanish sentences. Even if she just says, “Sí, me gusto,” that’s cause for applause.)

¿Cuál es tu color favorito? What is your favorite color?
Mi color favorito es … My favorite color is …

(Praise and encouragement) En inglés, You guys were very good listeners today. Gracias. And when I say “Gracias,” what do you say? (Most likely she’ll say, “De nada.”)

(Transition) Ahora, es la hora de hacer arte. Now it’s time to do art. Let’s put the book away and go to the table.

Arts and Crafts

Tuesday Exercise #1:Colors Review Activity

1. Spanish Colors Worksheets

a. Get original, professionally-drawn Spanish colors worksheets when you sign up for my monthly e-newsletter Spanish Time! It's free.

Or,

b. Distribute this colors review worksheet (printed out in black and white)

2. Have fun naming the pictures in Spanish

el pajaro bird (tweet, tweet like a bird)
la hoja leaf
el sol sun
la flor flower (pretend to smell the flower and say, “Mmm, huele bien.” “Mmm, it smells good.)
el pato duck (quack like a duck)
los calcentines socks (everyone show their socks)

3. Then color pictures using interactive questions, for example:

Encuentra la crayola del azul. Find the blue crayon. Good.
Colorea el pajaro azul. Color the bird blue
Y ahora, naranja. Now pick up the orange crayon.
Colorea el pez naranja. Color the fish orange
Donde esta l hoja? Where is the leaf?
Colorea la hoja verde. Color the leaf green.
Aqui esta el sol.
De que color es el sol? azul or amarillo?
Color the leaf green. Where is the leaf?
Here is the sun. What color is the sun?
And let’s color the apple red.

Buen trabajo! Good job!

Thursday Exercise #2: Fish Bowl Cut, Paste and Color Activity
unrevealed

Good Bye Song

“Adios amigas, ya me voy.” Juguemos a Cantar cd

Closing*
(Transition from speaking Spanish to speaking English)

En avion volvemos de Mexico (In a plane we are coming back from Mexico)
Vuela, vuela.. (vuela alto, vuela bajo) (Fly, fly… fly high, fly low)
Veo los Estado Unidos (I see the United States)
Bippity-boppity-boo
We have arrived.
We are in the United States!

Key
( ) Notes to myself are in parentheses.
Blue font = spoken in Spanish
Purple font = Spoken in English

* idea from Five Super-Easy and Fun Strategies to Immerse
Preschoolers in Spanish

You Can Teach Spanish to Your Child

2008-01-09T21:49:00.000-05:00

If you're like me, a monolingual parent who wants to teach her child another language, you may have some insecurities. You may be wondering, "How can I teach my child a language that I don't speak fluently?" "What if I'm not pronouncing the words right?" "Suppose she asks me what something means and I have no idea what it means?" I will echo what the author of the following article says:

Proceed With Confidence

There is so much you can do to foster and support a bilingual environment in your home. We're doing it, and we're happy to share with you how.

"Calming the Anxiety of Parents Teaching a Second Language"
by Dr. Christine Galbreath Jernigan

I am a researcher of foreign language education, a foreign language teacher for over 13 years, and a mother raising two children to speak my second language. I have interviewed and “play-dated” with over 80 families raising children to speak a language that is not their first language. Before they begin, and even en route to exposing their children to a second language, parents come to me looking for support.

Often I hear parents say, “I’m not good enough at the language and I won’t be myself in another language.” I assuage their anxiety with, “You are learning the language with your children. Throw out the ‘perfectly fluent native speaker’ model of a language teacher. Communicate—listen to music, sing, watch videos, and read read read in the second language.”"
(Read more)

Preparation: Spanish Teaching Resources

2008-01-07T23:18:00.000-05:00

What does it take for monolingual parents to raise their children to be bilingual?

Preparation
Preparation
Preparation
and Consistency

How are we going to accomplish this ambitious feat?

Well, for one thing, we are doing Spanish Time again. For Spanish Time we spend 30 minutes (oftentimes more) a day watching Spanish kid shows, listening to cd's, or trying to speak in Spanish. For two of those days we will do more of an immersion program-type Spanish Time. I'll explain more on another day.

I’ve laid out a simple plan to help us speak Spanish in fun and interesting ways. And this is everyday, conversational Spanish. First I made an extensive list of sentences and phrases that we use every day and got the Spanish translations. For the translations I used my knowledge-base (limited), the Altavista Babelfish website (the results are mediocre), and whatever Spanish I picked up from all of the programs I bought.

Then I gathered up all of those Spanish resources I’ve collected over the years. The most recent purchase being the BocaBeth program.

The picture below shows everything pretty much that I’ll be using for our Spanish Time.

Here’s a breakdown of what I have here:

1) My stack of Baby's First Disney Bilingual Books. We have 25 of them. Most I got when I joined Scholastics-at-Home Book Club. A few I recently purchased from Amazon.com. I like these books because the stories are simple. There are actually sentences to read aloud to your children. So, you not only learn Spanish vocabulary, but you and your child are learning how things are said in phrases or sentences.

2) The Spanish alphabet chart. This was the perfect chart for us because it has “ch” “ll” and “ñ” just like our Spanish alphabet song. I got this chart from Classroom Direct a while ago and as of today I see that it’s out of stock. There is a 5-chart package that it comes in as well, though.

3) My best friend, Lynn, lent me these Barron's Baby Bilingual Books: Spanish. The format is a flashcard-type format. They’re simple, colorful and are good for building Spanish vocabulary. It comes with a simple pronunciation guide.

4) Boca Beth’s Backpack Set program. What I found most attractive about this program is the variety it offers. The songs address many different topics ie. colors, opposites, animal sounds, shapes. There are music CD’s, video DVD’s, an activity book, a puppet, and simple instruments. I won't have to go on a scavenger hunt trying to find songs that will fit the story topics we'll be reading.

5) Muzzy in Spanish. I bought this when my daughter was less than a year old. I learned a good deal from it. But I wasn’t quite satisfied. With Muzzy, I found the storyline was a bit mature for my kids (the princess and the gardener are in love and run away together) That’s for kids?? Also, after watching the DVD’s for about a month or two the show got tired. I was looking for a kid-friendly program with variety (songs, and videos) and some depth and breadth to it.

6) I also have CD’s like Beth Manner's Magic Spanish and Fun Spanish for Kids cd's. I usually let it play as background music while the kids are playing.

7) Someone had recommended Professor Parrot Speaks Spanish . The DVD was entertaining for about a month. It has cute songs and dances. We liked the "Parts of the Body" song the best. Still, we needed something beyond "como se llama," numbers and colors.

8) Visual Link Spanish. The disc shown here is just one of 10 cd’s and cd-roms that come in the program. The program also comes with a mini-Spanish manual, which I found excellent. It compiles all the lessons on the cd’s in one mini-manual. Check back often because I will be taking Visual Link up on their 30-day guarantee.

9) The Cat in the Hat Beginner Dictionary in Spanish. I used to just read through this dictionary to build up my vocabulary. But Jaida knows that this is a Spanish and she'll sit down with it to look at the pictures. I'll try to use it more with her during our Spanish Times.

10) The cd with a picture of two squirrels on it is from Juguemos A Cantar, a Spanish-immersion music and preschool program in Brooklyn's Park Slope. The songs are beautifully sung and the tunes are catchy. My girls and I like to dance to this cd. The only thing is that the disc did not come with lyrics--Spanish or English. So it's hard for me to understand what she's singing sometimes. I can understand fully and sing maybe 5 (out of 19) of the songs. But that's all right because we enjoy dancing to the music.

11) We recently discovered a Spanish PBS station called V-me. We find it on Ch. 199 on Cablevision. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mon-Fri., they show Spanish preschool programs. Our favorites are Las Tres Mellizas Bebés (The Baby Triplets) and Jim de la luna (Lunar Jim). They also show Plaza Sésamo (Sesame Street) and Los Pies Mágicos de Franny (Franny's Feet).

12) A good source for worksheets and coloring pages written in Spanish can be found at Primera Escuela (Preschool in Spanish). The English language sister site is First-School Preschool Activities and Crafts.

13) And of course, there's always Nick Jr.'s Dora and Diego, PBS Kids Dragon Tales and Maya y Miguel, Playhouse Disney's Handy Manny. The Nick Jr. website has very helpful ideas for teaching Spanish to children. It has short video clips, coloring pages and plenty of activities.Please click around to learn more about the various Spanish programs, shows and websites that we're using to help us raise our children to be bilingual.

And in my Spanish lesson plans for children, I'll show you how I incorporate all of these resources into Spanish Times that are simple, interactive, easy-to-implement, and most of all FUN!

Let us know what you think. Also, if you have other resources to recommend, please by all means, write a comment. We'd love to check them out.

¡Hasta luego!

Jessica

Top Ten Benefits of Learning Spanish (or Another Other Language) Early

2008-01-04T20:37:00.000-05:00

In a previous post I promised that I'd respond to "Why go through all of this--the time, the energy, the money to teach my children Spanish?" A desire for my children to be able to speak another language is my prime motivation. Aside from expanding their potential circle of influence in the global economy, I think having them learn another language is excellent brain exercise. I’ve come across many interesting articles on the benefits of learning a second language. Here’s one …

Top Ten Benefits of Early Language Learning: "Top Ten Benefits of Early Language Learning

Ten Great Reasons to Start
Learning a Language Now

Learning a new language at any age is an enormously rewarding experience in many ways. While language learning is an enriching experience for all ages, children have the most to gain from this wonderful adventure. Quite simply, starting early offers the widest possible set of benefits and opportunities.

Children understand intuitively that language is something to explore, to play around with, and to enjoy. Their enthusiasm is both infectious and effective. The quickness with which they pick up their first language is nearly miraculous—and such a joy to watch as a parent. As children grow, all parents can attest to how much fun their children continue to have as they sing new words they hear and even invent new ones with a huge, bright smile. The joy with which children explore their first language makes childhood the ideal time for a second language—even if all the other reasons for an early start didn't exist!

But there are many other reasons, and while this list does not exhaust the number and variety of advantages starting a language early can provide, these are some of the most notable benefits." (Read more)

A Concern About ISB

2008-01-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

Just wondering what you think,

Last summer the International School of Brooklyn moved into a bigger building with more classrooms, bigger windows. Moving into the new location was an exciting time for them. I was extremely happy as well. They were still at the old building when I went on the interview and tour.

After it was obvious that I would have to enroll Jaida in another school, I decided to drive by ISB's new location. (So that I could visualize Jaida going there next year.) My desire for her to go to that school, though, came to a crashing halt...when I saw that the school is right next to and above a dry cleaning facility. I thought to myself,

"What about perc and other chemicals seeping through the walls?"

Man, even if I could enroll Jaida in that school, I wouldn't do it. Perhaps there are newer, safer developments in the dry cleaning industry, I don't know--but for now ISB is no longer an option.

If anyone from ISB would like to address that concern, please feel free to comment. I still love what you're doing and wish you all the best.

¡Qué le vaya bien! May everything go well for you!

The REAL Reason I Started This Blog

2008-01-02T21:04:00.000-05:00

I started this blog because I was upset that I couldn’t get my daughter enrolled into the International School of Brooklyn (ISB). Read on the find out a little bit more about this challenge.

I began searching for Spanish-speaking, immersion-type preschools/programs from the time Jaida was born. I took her to a program Musica Para Mi, when she was 9 months old. While I liked Musica Para Mi, there came a time when I wanted a program where I didn’t have to be present in the class. I came across Juguemos a Cantar. They too had a music program for young children, but what interested me the most was their extended playgroups. The playgroup met once or twice a week for 10 weeks. And best of all, it was a drop-off Spanish immersion class that lasted 1 ½ hours. They also had a preschool program where you can choose how many days your child would attend. So Jaida attended the extended playgroups once a week in the afternoon for 2 or 3 semesters.

When Jaida was around 2 years old, I received an email from Musica Para Mi announcing that a group of parents wanted to open a bilingual immersion school for English and Spanish or French. I went to their first meeting. With 3 babies now and no steady babysitting, I couldn’t commit to the group. But I would occasionally check on them to see how the school's opening was progressing.

For 3 years I set my sights on enrolling Jaida into that school by the time she reached kindergarten. I felt that Jaida and my other children needed more Spanish language exposure than I could give. I knew that the tuition would be hefty, but I felt we had time to plan, save, start a home-based business or something. Things didn't work out for Jaida to enroll.

Today the ISB has grown from just offering playgroups to a thriving school in a bigger and brighter location with 2nd grade added on. Again, things did not work out for Jaida to go. While I was disappointed for a time, I remembered that when things don't work out, my God has something even better in store (Ephesians 3:20.) That's why instead of being burnt about it, I’ve decided to buckle down and re-commit to teaching my children Spanish the best way that I know how with whatever resources and supplies I have at the moment.

All along my husband, James, insisted that we could teach them. But I wanted her to get into that school real bad. James helped me to keep my goal into perspective. Our goal is for our children to be bilingual, not to get them into that school.

My daughter just started kindergarten in public school. I’m so tickled because this is the school that I went to as well. I’ve asked the teacher’s aide to speak to my daughter in Spanish when she can. And, the class is taking French! Praise the Lord, my daughter is working on being trilingual!

Why go through all of this? What’s the benefit of spending so much time, effort, and money to teaching your child a second language?

The next time we meet, I’ll share with you some interesting findings about teaching your child another language and how those findings may be ringing true for my daughter.

Chao!

Kick Off the New Year with Fun and Easy Ways to Learn Spanish!

2008-01-01T00:15:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

As I spend this week preparing Spanish lesson plans for my children, I thought I'd share this article with you. It gives advice on what to look for when shopping around for language programs for your children. Enjoy!

Introducing your child to a new language with Boca Beth is fun and easy: "New Year - New Language - New Benefits for Your Child
Presented by Beth Butler/Creator of the BOCA BETH Program

Remember those language learning labs in junior high school? Those labs with headsets, the classrooms with written workbooks full of verb conjugation and a teacher who followed a curriculum vs. her students' capabilities combined to create absolutely the worst (and least) effective method used to teach a second language. That is why those of us who took languages back in the days of middle school being called junior high school remember just a few choice words (and probably pronounce them incorrectly!).

Today, as parents and as educators, we know the importance of raising our children to be bilingual. We see and experience this ever-shrinking world of ours and encounter endless opportunities to test our own bilingual skills. We know from recent research and the barrage of studies thrown at us that the secret to success is introducing the new language early in life. Why, even TIME and NEWSWEEK Magazines ran feature articles on the window of opportunity to introduce a new language is between birth and around the age of ten to twelve." (Read more)

Ways Families Manage Multiple Languages

2007-12-31T04:00:00.000-05:00

This article talks about the different approaches families could use to support bilingualism. As mentioned in my previous post, the OPOL and Minority Language at Home approaches do not apply to our family, but the advice on consistency no matter what approach you come up with kindled a ray of hope.

Bilingual Families Connect: "Approaches

What are the different ways families manage multiple languages?

Minority Language at Home
Family members speak the minority language at home (or when together) and the community language when outside the home (or with people who speak only the community language). For example, a family in the United States speaks Spanish (minority language) when they are together but English (community language) outside of the home with non-Spanish speakers.

In dual-parent households, this approach requires that both parents are comfortable speaking the minority language to their children. Typically, they are either native speakers of the minority language or fluent non-native speakers. In some cases children have relatively equal exposure to both languages from the start (for example, English at daycare and Spanish at home) and in other cases children have limited exposure to the community language until they start school. Want to read advice from other parents?

One Parent One Language (OPOL)
Each parent speaks their own native language to the children. For example, the mother, a native French-speaker, speaks French to the children and the father, a native English-speaker, speaks English to the children.

Ideally, both parents need to have at least some ability in the minority language to make this a viable..." (Read more)