Comments on: Simple Tips for when Your Child Refuses to Use Minority Language http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/ Raising Bilingual & Bi-Cultural Children Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:18:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: The Beginner’s Guide to SpanglishBaby « SpanglishBaby http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-5626 The Beginner’s Guide to SpanglishBaby « SpanglishBaby Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:26:30 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-5626 [...] Simple Tips for when Your Child Refuses to Use the Minority Language [...] [...] Simple Tips for when Your Child Refuses to Use the Minority Language [...]

]]> By: It’s a Carnival: raising your child bilingually « Blogging On Bilingualism http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-2877 It’s a Carnival: raising your child bilingually « Blogging On Bilingualism Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:40:28 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-2877 [...] Roxana at SpanglishBaby shares valuable tips for the perennial question that we all have, which is: how do we get our kids to speak their minority language when they refuse or always answer in the “easier” language? This is a big frustration for a lot of parents in the bilingual community and Roxana has some solid advice about how to get around this hurdle, focused around the idea of creating a perceived need for the minority language.  It is also worth checking out a related post at SpanglishBaby that offers parents support and tips for when children refuse to use their minority language. [...] [...] Roxana at SpanglishBaby shares valuable tips for the perennial question that we all have, which is: how do we get our kids to speak their minority language when they refuse or always answer in the “easier” language? This is a big frustration for a lot of parents in the bilingual community and Roxana has some solid advice about how to get around this hurdle, focused around the idea of creating a perceived need for the minority language.  It is also worth checking out a related post at SpanglishBaby that offers parents support and tips for when children refuse to use their minority language. [...]

]]> By: SpanglishBaby - Speaking the kind of Spanglish that hurts my ears http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-2597 SpanglishBaby - Speaking the kind of Spanglish that hurts my ears Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:06:14 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-2597 [...] her usage of Spanish. Mostly, how it will affect her perceived need to speak Spanish–which, as we’ve said in the past–is one of the major pitfalls of raising a bilingual [...] [...] her usage of Spanish. Mostly, how it will affect her perceived need to speak Spanish–which, as we’ve said in the past–is one of the major pitfalls of raising a bilingual [...]

]]> By: SpanglishBaby--Raising Bilingual Sibling - Are Things Different? http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1702 SpanglishBaby--Raising Bilingual Sibling - Are Things Different? Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:31:11 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1702 [...] lately I’ve found myself taking my own advice - which I dished out here - with my own daughter. When she talks to me in English, I usually just tell her I don’t [...] [...] lately I’ve found myself taking my own advice – which I dished out here – with my own daughter. When she talks to me in English, I usually just tell her I don’t [...]

]]> By: Language Summer Camps http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1625 Language Summer Camps Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:02:14 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1625 [...] So how much can your child actually learn in one or two weeks? The truth is probably not much - although you’d be surprised. For most of you; however, who are already raising bilingual children, it can be a great source of reinforcement - especially when kids get to the age that they start refusing to speak in the target language, as we discussed in this recent post. [...] [...] So how much can your child actually learn in one or two weeks? The truth is probably not much – although you’d be surprised. For most of you; however, who are already raising bilingual children, it can be a great source of reinforcement – especially when kids get to the age that they start refusing to speak in the target language, as we discussed in this recent post. [...]

]]> By: marina k. villatoro http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1466 marina k. villatoro Fri, 22 May 2009 18:38:10 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1466 oh my god, i just realized i gave you the wrong link!!!!! i'm not sure how that happened/ here it is: http://www.travelexperta.com/2009/03/how-does-trilingual-kid-learn-english.html sorry <abbr><em>marina k. villatoro’s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheTravelExperta/~3/5xUX9aXjWKw/guatemala-zoo-will-suprise-you-photo.html" rel="nofollow">Guatemala Zoo Will Suprise You - Photo Friday</a></em></abbr> oh my god, i just realized i gave you the wrong link!!!!!
i’m not sure how that happened/ here it is:
http://www.travelexperta.com/2009/03/how-does-trilingual-kid-learn-english.html

sorry

marina k. villatoro’s last blog post..Guatemala Zoo Will Suprise You – Photo Friday

]]> By: Ana Lilian http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1464 Ana Lilian Fri, 22 May 2009 15:01:27 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1464 Sylvia, It really is a challenge, but it sounds like you´re doing everything you can from your end. I´ve heard the advice that when the older child has a baby sibling it sometimes work if you tell him the baby only understands Spanish. That way you get him to speak Spanish to the baby and to you all the time and it doesn´t feel like a strict rule. Let me know how it works!! Sylvia,
It really is a challenge, but it sounds like you´re doing everything you can from your end.
I´ve heard the advice that when the older child has a baby sibling it sometimes work if you tell him the baby only understands Spanish. That way you get him to speak Spanish to the baby and to you all the time and it doesn´t feel like a strict rule.
Let me know how it works!!

]]> By: Silvia http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1462 Silvia Fri, 22 May 2009 02:17:21 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1462 Great post Roxana. I'm experiencing this right now, my son is 5 and fluent in English of course, even though his first language is Spanish. He understands Spanish pretty well but he doesn't talk in complete sentences. I speak in Spanish, my husband in English. Lately I'm finding some resistance from him to talk in Spanish, some days are better than others. We travel to Mexico every year and try to expose him as much as I can to Spanish but I'm thinking that at some point I will set the rule just Spanish at home, like Ines' parents did, probably will be a little harsh for my kids but I think they will thank me later. I've been getting lots of Spanish songs so every time we are in the car they listen to Spanish. Also when I put them to bed I read just books in Spanish. I've been telling to my older son that we need to talk in Spanish so the baby (17 mo) will learn and comunicate with all our hispanic family, and this seems to be a game and a challenge for him so I hope that will encourage him to learn more. Still a long way to go, I'm just taking one day at the time. <abbr><em>Silvia’s last blog post..<a href="http://www.mamalatinatips.com/2009/05/desayuno-con-juan-solerbreakfast-with.html" rel="nofollow">Desayuno con Juan Soler/Breakfast with Juan Soler</a></em></abbr> Great post Roxana.
I’m experiencing this right now, my son is 5 and fluent in English of course, even though his first language is Spanish. He understands Spanish pretty well but he doesn’t talk in complete sentences. I speak in Spanish, my husband in English. Lately I’m finding some resistance from him to talk in Spanish, some days are better than others. We travel to Mexico every year and try to expose him as much as I can to Spanish but I’m thinking that at some point I will set the rule just Spanish at home, like Ines’ parents did, probably will be a little harsh for my kids but I think they will thank me later. I’ve been getting lots of Spanish songs so every time we are in the car they listen to Spanish. Also when I put them to bed I read just books in Spanish. I’ve been telling to my older son that we need to talk in Spanish so the baby (17 mo) will learn and comunicate with all our hispanic family, and this seems to be a game and a challenge for him so I hope that will encourage him to learn more. Still a long way to go, I’m just taking one day at the time.

Silvia’s last blog post..Desayuno con Juan Soler/Breakfast with Juan Soler

]]> By: Roxana http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1458 Roxana Wed, 20 May 2009 22:38:00 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1458 Ines, Thanks so much for sharing! You are indeed very lucky your parents never buckled under pressure. I love the idea of a "secret" language and I'll definitely put it use when the time comes. Interestingly, Vanessa (who is only 2 years and 8 months) recently asked me how come "fulanita" - someone from preschool - didn't speak Spanish. I just told her not all of us are lucky enough to speak more than one language. I'm not too sure she's old enough to understand that, though! After reading your comment, I realized that I forgot to mention that we used to do the same thing with my stepson that your parents did with you and your brother during summer vacation. He used to spend most of this time with my husband's family in Puerto Rico. I, actually, can't wait until Vanessa is old enough to start doing this. The best part is that she has a bunch of cousins who are very close in age to her so I can't even begin to imagine what a blast it'll be for her - not to mention the full immersion in Spanish deal. Will you be doing the same thing with your son? Ines,
Thanks so much for sharing! You are indeed very lucky your parents never buckled under pressure.

I love the idea of a “secret” language and I’ll definitely put it use when the time comes. Interestingly, Vanessa (who is only 2 years and 8 months) recently asked me how come “fulanita” – someone from preschool – didn’t speak Spanish. I just told her not all of us are lucky enough to speak more than one language. I’m not too sure she’s old enough to understand that, though!

After reading your comment, I realized that I forgot to mention that we used to do the same thing with my stepson that your parents did with you and your brother during summer vacation. He used to spend most of this time with my husband’s family in Puerto Rico.
I, actually, can’t wait until Vanessa is old enough to start doing this. The best part is that she has a bunch of cousins who are very close in age to her so I can’t even begin to imagine what a blast it’ll be for her – not to mention the full immersion in Spanish deal.

Will you be doing the same thing with your son?

]]> By: Chelsea Morales http://www.spanglishbaby.com/2009/05/simple-tips-for-when-your-child-refuses-to-use-minority-language/#comment-1457 Chelsea Morales Wed, 20 May 2009 21:29:33 +0000 http://www.spanglishbaby.com/?p=3205#comment-1457 Thank you for this article. I have a 16-month-old son, with whom my husband and I speak only Spanish at home. I am preparing myself for the day when he resists speaking Spanish, but I hope being able to communicate with his grandparents is incentive enough. Thank you for this article. I have a 16-month-old son, with whom my husband and I speak only Spanish at home. I am preparing myself for the day when he resists speaking Spanish, but I hope being able to communicate with his grandparents is incentive enough.

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