Raising a Bilingual Kid: It’s the Little Things That Count

raising a bilingual kid

It’s the little thngs that make the difference… muchas veces.

This was an actual conversation between Edgar and I.  We had just finished raiding all of the clearance racks at Target – we always do; we can’t leave the store without doing so – when a kid about his age walked by us talking in perfect Spanish to another child.

Me:  Edgar, did you hear that kid?

Edgar:  Which one?  The one that just passed by?

Me:  Yeah… you hear how he was talking in Spanish?  That’s how I want you to talk Spanish… that fluent. *chuckling a little now*

Edgar:  I can’t talk that much Spanish!  Then I’ll forget how to talk English.  I’ll be like “no puedo hablar, no puedo hablar… se me olvido… Spanish!  Oh look I did remember!” *laughing now*

I looked at Anjelica and shook my head: ¡inche huerco!  He’s too dang smart for his own good!  Oh well, por lo menos he’s  getting used to the idea of being bilingual.

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About Juanofwords

I’ve written professionally for news publications including the Houston Chronicle, the San Antonio Express News, Texas Travel Guide, La Prensa Grafica of El Salvador, Rumbo Newspapers, and organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, the City of Houston, Univision News Network, The Salvation Army, Reliv, etc. I currently reside in Houston with my wife and son, as well as a very large extended family. Let’s see where this adventure takes us!

7 thoughts on “Raising a Bilingual Kid: It’s the Little Things That Count”

  1. thelma
    June 8, 2012 at 5:55 PM

    Lovely anecdote. However, I must take umbridge to the adjectives: “perfect Spanish” no such thing.
    Thelma Trejo

    Reply
    1. Juanofwords
      June 11, 2012 at 12:16 PM

      Ah… you are correct, Thelma :-)

      Reply
  2. Amy
    June 9, 2012 at 7:01 PM

    We’re working on raising our sons bilingual. I think it’s harder than it sounds. I really notice how far our oldest is from fluent when we Skype with his grandparents in Madrid. They don’t know how to speak using basic speech, and he just checks out. It’s so frustrating. Sounds like your son is closer than ours.

    Reply
    1. Juanofwords
      June 11, 2012 at 12:17 PM

      Don’t give up… it’s all about persistence. The more you practice with him, the more he’ll start picking up on the language.

      Reply
  3. Sandra Fernandez (@SandraSays)
    June 18, 2012 at 1:06 AM

    Cute. My 5-year-old nephew tells my mom, when she speaks to him in spanish, “Don’t talk like that.” He’s not even a little bit fluent. So, you’re definitely ahead of the game.

    Reply
  4. Jessica Ramos
    May 16, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    I think the key is in only speaking Spanish at home and really sticking to it. It worked for my parents raising me and now it’s the game plan with my sons– though I have the added caveat that my husband is not Latino.

    Pero de que podemos, lo hacemos.

    Reply
    1. Juanofwords
      May 17, 2013 at 1:21 AM

      I think that’s the best method too, Jessica :-)

      Reply

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