How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

I'm afraid of "messing" this up with DD...both my brother and I were brought up speaking only spanish. we picked up english at school with no problems. my little sister and little brother on the other hand were brought up being more bilingual and they suffered alot of school problems...to the point where they were left behind because of language problems according to the school, but that's another issue altogether...

my question is - what's the correct way to teach my baby to speak/understand english and spanish and not have it become an issue in school later on? if there are any book recc's i'd appreciate it!

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

There are lots of studies that have been done. All point to the idea that bilingual children learn at the same rate or more quickly than single language children. And the earlier you teach your child a language the better.

I speak to my DD almost exclusively in Spanish. We also take 2 Spanish classes a week.

She understands both languages perfectly. At the moment her speech is limited but I was told by a Speech Evaluator that it has nothing to do with the 2 languages....she just isn't ready to talk much yet.

From Ale's Spanish School Website:


Benefits of Being Bilingual:
Learning a second language at an early age…

*Fosters a sense of humanity and friendship.

*Has a positive effect on intellectual growth.

*Enriches and enhances a child’s mental development.

*Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better understanding of his/native language.

*Gives a child the ability to communicate with people he/she would otherwise not have the chance to know.

*Open the doors to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries.

*Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college.

*Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another language is a real asset.

(According to: The New York State Syllabus for Foreign Languages, Modern Languages for Communication. (1987)

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

Another interesting article --

link

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

Lupe I would speak spanish to her at home exclusively. Or maybe you could speak spanish to her and DH could speak English. She'll always hear english outside of the home....or on TV. I would not worry about her being left behind, she'll only benefit. It's proven that learning more than language is easiest the earlier they are exposed, their minds are like sponges now. I was partly raised by my great grandmother who only spoke spanish to us so that was all I heard from her. My parents didn't speak that much spanish though they understood it completely. It never held me back and if I do say so myself, I did quite well in school.

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

We have been doing a really bad job at this (even though DD is only 3 months old- but I don't see it getting better).
I do not speak Spanish- but DH does and he refuses to speak to DD in Spanish. So the only place she hears it is with my inlaws (and even they mix the Spanish and English).

I had a foreign exchange student back in the day and we still keep in touch. She told me that she was spoken to in Catalan (a dialect of Spanish), Spanish and French in the house...and then went to an American school where they only spoke English. she said her little mind was confused as a child, BUT today she speaks all of the languages fluently and it has served her well...

Message edited 6/2/2009 8:38:31 AM.

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

I've been trying to speak to Aidan almost exclusively in Spanish. I also tell my father and grandmother to only speak to him in Spanish. I also plan to enroll him in classes as soon as I can. I didn't grow up speaking Spanish but heard it my whole life (my father and grandmother were born in Paraguay). I picked it up pretty well but I want DS to be fluent in it.

Look into some classes and when you can, enroll Allison in them.

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

DD hears english, spanish and italian AND we show her ASL. I'm not seeing any indication that she is confused at all.

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

given your situation i would have both you and DH speak in spanish and like you, she will pick it up in school and with friends.

if one parent speaks a language and the other does not, from what i understand "it's best to" have one parent exclusively speak the language and the other exclusively english.

my first language was foreign, and like you i picked up english in school. my sister learned both at the same time. neither of us suffered and both have an easier time learning and pronouncing new languages.

i wish i could teach my DD's another language, but i have lost mine at this point

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

I came from a home where both were spoken (especially spanish as my g'ma only spoke to us in spanish). I also want DS to learn both, but I don't speak it as much as I should (DH does not know spanish).

I think the trick is to speak to them in spanish as much as possible. At least that's what I think since I see my nephews who were not spoken to in spanish as babies/toddlers and now at 15, 11 and 8 do not understand/speak the language.

I don't think it's confusing for them, at least I didn't think so growing up. It's all I knew. And I think that that's key. If you do it at a young age, they will adapt quickly.

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

Thanks so much girls

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

We go to two different places...

Spanish All Year in Westbury --

SAY link

and Spanish Immersion WOrkshop - they have classes in a few locations throughout LI...

link to SIW

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

We speak Greek to DS almost exclusively at home and when he is not home he hears mostly all English obviously. He is 22 months and he understands both languages so well. Its funny bc sometimes I'll ask him to do something in English that I know I have never said to him before and he knows exactly what I am asking.
He also says both Greek/English words and will sometimes ask for something in both languages.
I have found that it's best to start when they are very young and they will naturally become bilingual IMO...

Re: How to teach babies to speak/understand two languages?

i have all the grandparents speak exclusively in spanish to my daughters. starting this summer since she won't be going to daycare i will only speak spanish in the home. and as my father always says "we pay taxes, let them learn english in school"...