Comments on: We Must Be Doing Something Right…

By: AnaGloria Rodriguez

AnaGloria Rodriguez — Mon, 11 May 2009 05:39:58 +0000

My daughter has been attending preschool two days a week since last September and she has done quite well. I, too, love our preschool because they also have parent/teacher conferences which are insightful. But I really love it because they are completely supportive of bilingual families. They often tell me how great it is that my daughter is learning two languages. They tell me that they ask her to tell them words in Spanish so they can learn. They did have trouble understanding her in the beginning because she didn’t know as much English vocab as Spanish, but it wasn’t a problem. Her vocabulary is much bigger in both languages now that she is 3.5. It’s amazing to me how well she speaks in both languages! My two year old is also doing extremely well in both languages. It is such an exciting adventure watching these little persons grow!!

By: Roxana

Roxana — Sun, 10 May 2009 03:27:07 +0000

Blanca,
Although we don’t do it all the time, both Ana and I try to write about our daughters’ bilingual journey. I know you’ve written to us in the past about your worries regarding not exposing your daughter to English, but as you can see – not only from this entry, but from Maria’s comment above – there is no need to worry. Your daughter will be fine, just like mine was and eventually, your real problem will be maintaining her Spanish…

By the way, in terms of other successful cases, I suggest you read Barbara Zurer Pearson’s book, Raising a Bilingual Child, as she spent many years studying different families, their methods and the outcome.

Thanks and please keep your questions coming!

By: Roxana

Roxana — Sun, 10 May 2009 03:22:17 +0000

Maria, thanks for your comment. I know exactly what you’re talking about because we hear from so many of our readers that their children don’t want to talk back to them in Spanish… so I’m kind of dreading that time. I’m hoping the fact that both my husband and I speak Spanish – as well as our nearby extended family – will help us out.
As I’ve mentioned in the past, we’re raising Vanessa the same way we raised my 18-year-old stepson, who might not be completely bi-literate, but is bilingual and has no problem talking to both his father and I in Spanish
I guess we’ll just keep at it…

By: Blanca

Blanca — Sat, 09 May 2009 08:24:36 +0000

How exciting! How can I continue hearing about how Vanessa is doing?

By: Maria

Maria — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:25:07 +0000

Glad to hear you are feeling better. We have several friends in your language situation and I can tell you a few years down the road (our oldest kiddos are a few years ahead) you will be worried about the Spanish, and the English will have somehow quietly crept into being stronger…Seems like if you are living in the US Spanish is the language you have to really work to keep alive, no matter what your language method is. Anyway, glad to hear the great news and keep up the good work. How fun for you and her!