Comments on: What is the ‘Critical Period’ for language learning?

By: Bilingual Babies: The Sooner, The Better | SpanglishBaby™

Bilingual Babies: The Sooner, The Better | SpanglishBaby™ — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:53:52 +0000

[...] always get asked if there’s a window of opportunity when it’s the ideal age to raise bilingual kids. There are actually several windows, or [...]

By: Roxana S.

Roxana S. — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:37:04 +0000

The place I work at offers their employees free access to Rosetta Stone – which I hear is an incredible method to learn a foreign language. I haven’t had the chance to check it out fully, but as soon as I do I’ll take up a fourth language. I just have to decide between Italian and Portuguese. We’ll see. If I could spend the rest of my life learning languages, I would. I believe 100% that it’s never too late!

By: Roxana S.

Roxana S. — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 03:34:37 +0000

Melanie, I suggest you use the opportunity of a new sibling to introduce more Spanish. Try to make it a point to talk to the new baby in Spanish as much as you can. I think it’s not that hard to do because you’d have to use only a few words and simple phrases… Even if your daughter doesn’t speak to you in Spanish, the exposure is absolutely wonderful.

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:07:56 +0000

Great post! I’m hoping that now that we’re living with my mom, the kids pick up some Spanish. I hear my nena of 3 years learning little by little… (: xx crossing my fingers for my 5 and 11yos xx

By: BethO

BethO — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:50:39 +0000

I was around 30 when I started learning Spanish and I became fluent. My daughter was a teenager and never much interested in it, but just from being around it the last few years she understands quite a lot of what she hears and can even speak simple phrases. It was definitely much easier for her whereas I had to work at it. But the point is it’s never too late.

By: Dariela

Dariela — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:52:34 +0000

It’s true, it’s never too late. We just need the “ganas” and “patience”, the second one is the most important one, hahaha! I’ve met some parents that think that 2 is already old, and I say no way!! I started insisting really hard with the Spanish when my little boy was 2 and the results are amazing!

By: Silvia

Silvia — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:21:16 +0000

Hope!!! It’s what I read here. I’ve been talking Spanish to my kids since they were born, however English is so dominant, some days I feel I’m losing the battle. However I know I still have time to make adjustments. My kids are exposed to two languages, but not at the same frequency and intensity, I need to improve that.

I learned English nine years ago… Still learning… That’s why I’m so committed to raising my kids bilingual, it’s a lot easier for them now!

By: Melanie (ModernMami)

Melanie (ModernMami) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:47:17 +0000

I’m glad to see that all is not lost at the age of 4. I try hard, but it’s difficult when everything else is in English. But, as Monica said, I’m going to keep going and do the best I can.

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:23:01 +0000

I can vouch for this. I started learning French in high school and did really well (though I admit it certainly helped knowing Spanish).

So often I lament over my own children, who are English dominant because their sole source of Spanish is me, and I really struggle to pass it on. But Roxana, this post is encouraging and helps motivate me to continue with my decision to raise bilingual and bicultural children as best I can.

By: Elisa_Croatia

Elisa_Croatia — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:10:28 +0000

We were just discussing this topic my Mother and I, it appears that my older sister speaks more english than spanish at home and how her kids 4 and 3, the 3 year is more open to my sister’s spanish lessons but the 4 year old, said, ” I don’t like speaking spanish!”, but I say it’s still too early to get discouraged.

I learned english when I was 8. so no I don’t think it’s ever too late to learn a new language,just look at me, here I am 33 years old and learning Croatian!