Maintaining Your Child’s Spanish-Language Ability

The United States is the land of opportunity, where everyone can study, work, and strive for a better future. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, along with the greater opportunities, there were dependable ways to maintain your child’s language and love of the Hispanic/Latino culture?

Maintaining your child’s Spanish is very important. Being bilingual is an invaluable skill to have in today’s workforce. Spanish-speaking professionals are seeing more and more exciting job opportunities every day.

Unfortunately, with today’s busy lifestyle, it’s not always easy to find the time or the patience! At some point, many Hispanic/Latino children rebel against their native language and culture by refusing to speak Spanish. This could happen for many reasons. Maybe somebody made fun of them in school or a stranger put them down. Maybe their classmates don’t speak Spanish and they just want to fit in. Maybe they have started to feel the effects of discrimination and subconsciously are trying to distance themselves from their ethnic group. Developing a dual identity can be a very painful and difficult process for some children. If your children are rebelling against speaking Spanish, ask them why and try to find out what is going on. That way you will be able to come up with the most effective way to encourage them to speak Spanish.

Here are tried and true strategies used by other parents:

• Talk, Talk, Talk. Communicate with your children as much as you can. Make the extra effort!



• Read to Them in Spanish. Have you noticed that children’s sections of most libraries are filled with books and tapes in other languages? It certainly wasn’t like that 20 years ago. Take advantage of this and read with them in your beautiful native language!



• Write Letters. Encourage them to write letters or e-mails in Spanish to their abuelitas, tios, or other Spanish-speaking relatives who live far away. You also can try to find them a pen pal. This way, they will see the importance of being able to communicate in both languages and they’ll practice their writing skills without even realizing it!



• Show Them What You Mean. If your children don't understand what you say, help them figure it out from context. Instead of immediately saying it in English, try showing them what you mean using body language or facial expressions.



• Select Playmates. If children have a group of friends that also speak another language, it will prevent them from feeling different or strange for also speaking two languages. If the playmates happen to speak Spanish, they also will provide a fun way for your child to practice!



• Select Child Care. If your child spends time with a babysitter or child care provider, try to select someone who can speak to them in Spanish. This way, they are developing their skills even while you are away from them.



• Make It Fun. Learning Spanish doesn’t always have to be about dictionaries and books. Take them to parties, movies, concerts, and plays where most of the action is in Spanish. You also can rent videos and watch television in Spanish.



• Take Advantage of New Resources. These days, there are bilingual television cartoon characters, dolls, books, and games. Have fun exploring all the things that exist to help you raise your child bilingual.



• Tell Them They Are Worth Two. Point out how much they can enjoy because they understand two languages!



• Travel If You Can. Traveling abroad can be one of the best ways to expand your child’s horizons, teach the relevance of knowing more than one language, and help him or her get the best kind of practice there is: total emersion!

Start early, do it often, and be consistent. It is worth the effort!

Read more advice from Latinos who grew up bilingual.