Comments on: Ask an Expert: My Bilingual Son has a Language Delay http://spanglishbaby.com/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-my-bilingual-son-has-a-language-delay/ Raising bilingual and bicultural kids Thu, 26 Jul 2018 07:12:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.2 By: claudia http://spanglishbaby.com/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-my-bilingual-son-has-a-language-delay/#comment-1849130 claudia Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:18:04 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=6653#comment-1849130 Gabriela,

I’m also just a mom, not a professional. I have a 3 year old and a 2 year old and both are bilingual. I always speak to them in Spanish as well as my husband. That is their base language. English they get from shows they watch on TV or when they get together with their cousins who only speak English. My 3 year old takes both karate and soccer the only language spoken is English and yes at first he didn’t respond as fast as all the other kids but he quickly got the hang of it and now understands his coaches. It’s amazing how kids absorb information. You’re on the right track. Ignore who ever tells you it’s wrong. Believe me I’ve heard it all. Don’t let that deter you.

]]> By: Ask an Expert: Should my daughter´s speech delay prevent her from learning two languages? « SpanglishBaby™ http://spanglishbaby.com/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-my-bilingual-son-has-a-language-delay/#comment-47782 Ask an Expert: Should my daughter´s speech delay prevent her from learning two languages? « SpanglishBaby™ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:52:15 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=6653#comment-47782 [...] My question is a slight variation to the one regarding bilingual children with speech delay. We live in the United States. My daughter is about to turn 3 and has recently been diagnosed with [...]

]]> By: Beth Ortuño http://spanglishbaby.com/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-my-bilingual-son-has-a-language-delay/#comment-3727 Beth Ortuño Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:25:26 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=6653#comment-3727 Gabriela, I’m not a professional but I am an experienced mom and observer. It’s so easy for kids to pick up on our preoccupations. It’s hard to be confident but you just have to seek out the resources and support you need to get to that mental state yourself.

My son is 21 months old and is talking at about the same level my daughter did when she was 8 months old. It would be easy to say it’s because he’s being raised bilingual, whereas she was raised mostly in only one language. But I really don’t even think that’s it at all. My son at 1 year was able to climb almost anything, and started walking 2 weeks later; my daughter did not even start to crawl until a week before her 1st birthday and was 17 months old before she walked.
Kids are weird!

If you ask people and get the honest truth, you might be surprised to hear about folks who didn’t speak a word until they were 3, but you never knew them until they were school age or adult, and you’d never have guessed. You’ve already determined there’s nothing wrong with his hearing, and as Gloria was discussing in her post there’s a lot more to language than just learning to say words. Even in school, with the right attitude from teachers, other kids adapt very easily to having a friend who doesn’t talk much yet or is still afraid to go down the slide.

I’m not saying don’t continue addressing the delay. But, have confidence in yourself as Mamá and our homes being the #1 teacher. In consultation with the professionals, along the way I really think you could learn some techniques and make yourself into a mighty fine, personalized “speech therapist” in Spanish, too.

]]> By: Amelia Ritchhart http://spanglishbaby.com/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-my-bilingual-son-has-a-language-delay/#comment-3444 Amelia Ritchhart Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:01:05 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=6653#comment-3444 Gabriela:
You are doing a wonderful thing for your child by teaching him more than one language! My daughter also has a speech delay and has been receiving speech therapy (in English) for a little over 6 months now. She has made tons of progress and we are really pleased. I wish that there were more resources available for speech therapy in Spanish, but that is very difficult to find. My advice would be to start therapy in whatever language is it available in, and continue speaking to him in both languages at home. You’re doing a great job! Buena Suerte!

]]> By: Gloria Rojas http://spanglishbaby.com/ask-an-expert/ask-an-expert-my-bilingual-son-has-a-language-delay/#comment-3442 Gloria Rojas Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:17:39 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=6653#comment-3442 Gabriela, you didn’t do anything wrong…You are giving your child the gift of language, in two languages. My name is Gloria and I am a bilingual speech/language pathologist, originally from Cuba. I came to the US many years ago with my twin brother in what was called Operation Peter Pan. We were placed in a home in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a family who spoke no Spanish and we spoke no English. All I can say is thank God my mom had provided us with a language foundation (in Spanish) because the transition to English was effortless. You are doing the same thing..providing your little one with a foundation, a language base. Even though he may have some delays, he’s starting off on the right foot by having those foundational skills. Trust me, learning English or continuing on the bilingual path will be that much easier. I like to think of it as “concept” vs “label”. You are providing the “concept” and “label” in the native language. It will be easier for him to learn the English “labels” because he’s already learned the “concepts” behind the words. I evaluate many students who have limited “concepts” and “labels” in both languages and those are the kids who really struggle academically. That’s a challenge! I’ve ordered Ellen’s products and think this is a good place to start in terms of intervention and strategies you can use in everyday interactions at home. I love Signing Time products http://www.signingtime.com. You can start with Baby Signing Time or the initial Series I. Yes, SIGN LANGUAGE. It’s fabulous! I advocate the use of sign language as an instructional strategy that reinforces learning and acts as a “bridge” between two spoken languages (Spanish/English). I also like the fact that it incorporates music. I’m developing similar products to Signing Time although mine are not as developed as hers. I’m writing “bilingual” songs with the same target vocabulary in Spanish/English using authentic Latin rhythms. I also use American Sign Language (ASL) as the bridge between the languages. I’ve produced CD#1 called Chakuchukucha and am about to release CD#2 which teaches vegetables, sea animals, letter sounds, feelings, adjectives, etc. I also want to recommend a product I absolutely love, developed by a pediatric speech pathologist called Teach Me to Talk http://www.teachmetotalk.com. She has several DVD’s but I think you would love the teach me to talk one. She demonstrates how to elicit language through PLAY but also provides essential strategies. This process is not meant to be rocket science. With a few strategies and examples of how to interact with your little one, all parents can do this. Ok…enough for one comment, don’t you think? Gloria

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