Comments on: Your Story: If Only I Spoke Spanish

By: If Only I Spoke Spanish | YvonneinLA

If Only I Spoke Spanish | YvonneinLA — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 17:37:04 +0000

[...] http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/10/your-story-if-only-i-spoke-spanish/ [...]

By: silvina

silvina — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:27:55 +0000

Hola Monica,

Me llamo Silvina y soy de Argentina. Mis hijos hablaban perfecto Espanol, hasta que el Ingles, comenzo a fluir en sus venas. Hoy es una lucha que ellos hablen mi idioma. Igualmente, no bajo los brazos. Tengo la meta de convertir a mis hijos en personas 100% billingues.
Estoy comenzando un blog personal dedicado a mi lucha para mantener su espanol intacto.
SI te interesa, podes visitarlo.
Lilttlespanishers.blogspot.com
Besos,

By: Mónica

Mónica — Wed, 04 May 2011 21:27:40 +0000

Hola a todas I am a latin girl I’m from Guatemala. He leido cada uno de sus mail y la verdad me he identificado mucho because I have a baby girl, Her father is from Puerto Rico and Miami and his family speak perfect the English and the Spanish. he can Speak both too. My English is bad because I had learn here in Guate, but I want that my daughter learn the two idiomas, Lo malo es que I don’t know how??? Please if you could give me some consejitos please let me to know. Pleeeaaaasseeee I want to give this gift to my baby… please.

Kisses a todas!! Bye

By: Beth Ortuño

Beth Ortuño — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:25:47 +0000

Keep the faith! All kids get teased some time. Your daughter will feel stronger knowing who she is. Every young person I’ve known who was Hispanic but did not speak Spanish has told me it left them feeling like they didn’t quite fit in anywhere. I hope our bilingual kids will feel more comfortable in their own skins.

By: Sarah Auerswald

Sarah Auerswald — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:24:02 +0000

This has got to be a frustrating situation, but I believe you could pick up the language if you used it more often. We could practice together, for example, since I'd like my spanish to be better. But it reassures me that my decision to place my formerly mono-lingual kids in a Dual Language Spanish immersion program here in LA was a solid one. I know it's got to be easier to pick up a language that gets embedded in your brain at an early age, so my sons will have the chance to be fluent by the time they're in their teens. .-= Sarah Auerswald´s last blog ..Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up 10/11/09 =-.

By: Roxana

Roxana — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:17:55 +0000

Yvonne,
Thanks so much for being so honest in your post. There are so many Latinos in your same situation in this country. I always found it so hard to understand, but through the years I’ve heard stories like yours that puts it all into perspective – although, as some have commented here, I still don’t agree.
I know I can speak for Ana Lilian, when I say that we’re both so elated that SpanglishBaby has actually become exactly what we envisioned: a community for all of us going through this bilingual + bicultural journey. I truly believe we can all learn from each other’s experiences. Stories like yours, as you can see, are an inspiration to all!
Thanks again and congratulations to you and all who have decided to gift their children with more than one language

By: YvonneinLA

YvonneinLA — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:21:15 +0000

Thank you for all of the wonderful comments. It’s good to know that I’m not alone feeling this way. I’m so inspired by all of you and this wonderful community on Spanglish Baby.

By: CJ

CJ — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:28:17 +0000

Yvonne – what a great post! You took the words and thoughts right out of my mouth. I too am deeply dissapointed that my parents did not teach me spanish, however I also understand the reasons behind their decisions (although I don’t agree). Sad that I now have two children with a “fluent” dad but our kids only know 1 language. I guess I could pull out my college books and teach them myself – heck I have a best friend that is fluent whom I speak to several times a day and could help me – another thing to consider…

By: Marcy

Marcy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:48:54 +0000

My family moved from Chile to the US when I was 11. My older brother and sister still speak Spanish fluently, they never lost any of it. My younger sister and I have had to work at it more now, I guess we were young enough and flexible enough that when we focused on our English our Spanish kinda went away. I wish we’d taken the time and effort to keep up our Spanish then… and feel motivated to try to pass it on to my son. It’s so hard, though– I’m not fluent enough to speak Spanish to him full-time and I keep struggling with remembering to speak it at least SOME of the time. But i hope we can also get him in classes when he’s a little older (19mo now). I’m hoping I can at least lay down the foundation for Spanish learning now, even if I myself don’t get him to fluency.

Thabks for this kick in the rear to make sure I keep at it.
.-= Marcy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.

By: Adriana

Adriana — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:37:31 +0000

It interesting to see that in my husband's family the older generation (his parents and uncles) only speak Spanish, the middle generation (my husband and his cousins) speak a mixture of English and Spanish, and the younger generation (my nieces and nephews) only speak English. It is very hard on mis suegros that they can not communicate with their grandchildren. That is why my husband and I are so determined to raise the boys speaking Spanish. Blanca- Ignore your mother-in-law. You are giving your children a wonderful gift. We only speak Spanish to our boys and they still have managed to pick up alot of English through t.v. and contact with the outside world. If you live in the U.S., I am SURE that they will learn English. No te preocupes! .-= Adriana´s last blog ..Spanish Enrichment- Pocoyo =-.