It’s been about four weeks since my daughter Vanessa’s last day of French Summer Camp and the beginning of our journey into her third language. As we mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we’ve partnered with Little Pim and, for the next three months, we’re going to be using their products as well as getting awesome tips from its founder, Julia Pimsleur. All of which I plan to document and share with you! I must start by saying that IRead More ...
Our Trilingual Adventures with Little Pim: Progress Report 1
10 Things I Didn’t Expect When I Started Speaking Spanish to my Baby
That it would make me have to think really really hard sometimes to find the right words. That when asked her favorite fruits, my toddler would respond: blueberries, peaches, tamales, burritos. That her favorite bedtime song would be an improvised song whose lyrics are “Mama te ama, Papi te ama, —-te ama…” and which has as many verses as people and animals she knows. That “nalgas” is much funnier than “bottom” or even “butt” to say and point out. HowRead More ...
Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic—or Latino—Heritage Month, a celebration that runs until Oct. 15, started last week. Unlike years past and because of the influence of the growing Latino population, many more communities have special events and activities during this month-long celebration which are a great way to expose your bilingual children to our culture, food, music and arts. Our good friend Melanie, from ModernMami, has compiled an awesome list of resources to celebrate this month with your niños. In it you’ll find linksRead More ...
Full Language Immersion Abroad
We got back from our trip to El Salvador just last week, and it already feels like it was so long ago. Yet, the memories and benefits we gained from this trip are still well alive. Some weeks ago I shared about Camila’s cultural immersion with her familia, and promised I’d be back to tell you more about her experience at a local, Spanish-language preschool. I made the decision to enroll her to a local preschool for two reasons: 1)Read More ...
Back to School with a New Perspective
School is back in session, and this year I am back in the classroom too. I was fortunate to have been able to take a couple years off after the birth of my boys, but now I am back to teaching Spanish to junior high and high school students. Teaching is my passion, and I am fortunate to work at a wonderful school. Working with teenagers is so much fun. They are enthusiastic and eager to learn, but unfortunately forRead More ...
Trilingual Adventures with Little Pim
By now, you probably know that I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to expose my daughter to a third language and that the one of choice is French. There are many reasons why I’ve chosen French, including the fact that it’s my third language, I love it, and there seems to be a good amount of resources to expose her to French in our area. As I mentioned in the past, my 4-year-old daughter, Vanessa, attended two weeks ofRead More ...
Ethnic Identification and the State of Being Entre
As the rapid influx of Spanish speakers transforms the American populace, I stand between two cultures, two languages, two peoples, simultaneously grateful for and bitter about the prejudice that grows with the numbers. I think it is important that everyone experience being a member of the minority. Speaking Spanish has provided me this opportunity: under the guise of my gringa appearance, I carry around a sensitivity for and understanding of Latino culture that others don’t expect me to have. IRead More ...
Still Inspired to Give a Hand
Author´s Note: Last year I wrote this post because I was highly inspired and motivated to help out the RMHC Day of Change after a visit to one of the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald Houses and the families I met there. In support of this year´s Day of Change, happening this Thursday, September 9th, I´m re posting this article so it can continue to inspire us to give our change in those little red boxes. They really do help familiesRead More ...
