Comments on: When Papi is Responsible for Raising a Bilingual Child

By: SpanglishBaby Dads: The Steps We’re Taking to Raise a Bilingual Daughter | SpanglishBaby™

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:03:22 +0000

[...] this is because, as I mentioned in a previous post, I learned Spanish as a second language, and I am the only Spanish speaker on both sides of my family. As such, my wife and I are following the one-parent/one-language (OPOL) approach to raising our [...]

By: John

John — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 12:28:51 +0000

Ryan, I am also so glad to find this post. I love Spanish and when I’m not being a stay-at-home Dad, I teach adult ESL to mostly Spanish-speaking students. I’m not fluent but I’m getting better all the time and can definitely speak to my children (6 and newborn) in Spanish, and my iphone is always in reach with my Spanishdict app and Google translate app for the times I don’t know a word. Luckily, I can also ask my students how to say a word or phrase!

I know how long it has taken me to become this proficient in Spanish—didn’t start till college; am now 40—and I’d like to make it easier for my children. I have an insecurity, though, because I’m not a native speaker and I too am the only one in my family who speaks Spanish. It’s nice to see that there are other families like ours who don’t have a native speaker or cultural ties in the family, but recognize the importance of being bilingual!

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:30:33 +0000

Try dropping your “s”s and pronounce “ado” as “ao”….Spanish speakers (mostly Cuban or Caribbean) in Miami will take you more seriously then It’s funny how that works. Once I went to a Cuban pasteleria with my boyfriend (who is Mexican) and my slight Cuban accent came out (it kind of changes depending on how the people I’m talking to talk). It was funny because the cashier lady said that my Spanish was better than my boyfriend’s and he was born and raised in Mexico (has only spent one year in the U.S.) and Spanish is my second language!….lol, go figure.

By: Ryan Pontier

Ryan Pontier — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:02:57 +0000

I have visited Toledo numerous times when in Madrid. It’s a lovely Medieval city. Please feel free to contact me if you ever have any questions, concerns, or general joy to share regarding your growing, soon-to-be Spanish-speaking family!

By: Ryan Pontier

Ryan Pontier — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:01:35 +0000

Hi, Betty. What you describe is a perfectly normal phenomenon between siblings. Just as you say, because the older sibling(s) usually learns English and begins to understand its value in the United States, they begin to use it more frequently, especially with their younger sibling(s). That’s when we have to stay strong and continue to find creative and meaningful ways for our kiddos to engage in Spanish-language experiences.

By: Ryan Pontier

Ryan Pontier — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:58:46 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Chelsea. In my case, it’s not even about proving that I speak “real” Spanish (what is that anyway, right?), but that I can speak Spanish period. I do think, though, that some of the people with whom I interact may also be trying to prove to ME that they speak English. So, I guess we’re involved in a similar struggle!

By: Ryan Pontier

Ryan Pontier — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 20:55:30 +0000

¡Gracias, Xochitl! When I taught on the Texas-Mexico border, many of my students used to tell me about everything que estaba muy padre.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 20:12:22 +0000

This is great. In a few short months I will be the primary Spanish speaker when our child arrives and it is not my first language. I too became passionate about Spanish in middle school and studied in Toledo, Spain in college. I am nervous that I am not going to be able to keep it up because no one in my family speaks Spanish.

By: Betty

Betty — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:51:44 +0000

Fantastic! I’m struggling with my second child’s Spanish because his older brother speaks to him in English (but HE is fluent in both) and stories like these are a wake up call!! Go Ryan! Thank you for the inspiration and reminder.

By: Chelsea Torres

Chelsea Torres — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:23:37 +0000

I can completely relate to your acquisition of and love for Spanish! I know how it feels to have to prove that you speak “real” Spanish. Thanks for sharing, and good luck holding down the Spanish in your household!