Comments on: Are Things Really Different the Second Time Around?

By: Silvia

Silvia — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:14:29 +0000

I’m very interested in this topic too. I don’t even know which method we use I guess OPOL with some exceptions, sometimes my husband decide to try his Spanish and sometimes I need to use English. Anyway, my younger son is 18 mo and I keep telling my 5 yo that I need his help to teach his brother Spanish, so far is working, he keeps asking me about new Spanish words and singing in Spanish in the car. I can’t wait to see which language my youngest will start using first. So far he can say with his voice, agua, galleta (yes, more like ‘eeeta’) and go, so 2-1 Spanish winning yeah! hahahaha and he can sign leche, mas, galleta (again) and termine. But still I do not know which language my sons will use between them, I guess I just have to wait and see.
[rq=4167,0,blog][/rq]Papeles, papeles, papeles/Papers, papers, papers

By: Maria

Maria — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:12:55 +0000

For us our second child is the backbone of our Spanish. While her older brother at 6 will often slip into English she never speaks to me in English and is the first to remind him when he slips. In addition we now have a one year old in the mix and for us it has been a good reminder for everyone to keep up our Spanish (so that she will learn which is important for them both). For us #2 came just as my oldest was out in the world more and hearing more English/speaking more English which I think gave me added incentive to be extra strict with her. For us I feel like it paid off. As for them playing alone, sometimes they speak English, but more often its Spanish, which is always a bonus! and the best part is it usually only takes a gentle “español por favor” to get them back on track…

By: AnaGloria Rodriguez

AnaGloria Rodriguez — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:33:19 +0000

Things are different the second time around, but I don’t think you have much to worry about. My second is just as bilingual as the first. We use OPOL.
Sometimes my kiddos will converse in English and sometimes in Spanish. I haven’t figured out exactly when they choose one over the other when they are alone with me. The oldest corrects her brother in both languages–she’s kinda like me, she doesnt’ like mispronunciations. I used to gently remind them that we speak Spanish at home, but I don’t do that so much anymore. Now the oldest tattles on her brother when he’s not speaking Spanish!