Running around the neighborhood I bet you have heard this once
or twice, “I know she knows how to say it. I heard her singing
her colors in Spanish just this morning. Lisa, tell my friend
what red is in Spanish right now!” Or perhaps this scenario
rings a bell, “Jorge, I am warning you! No more English. If
you want something, you have to ask me in Spanish starting
ahora!”

Parents across the world see a very global future for their
children and want to prepare them for it. We have read or heard
about the experts’ reports of bilingual children scoring higher
on standardized tests and reading sooner than monolingual
children. Yet there seems to be a struggle to achieve that
blissful state of learning.

Many times children rebel at using their native language of
Spanish; thus eliciting threats from the parent of no
communication in any other language but Spanish. Then there is
the Anglo parent who, with all good intentions, eagerly enrolls
their child in a fairly expensive once-a-week language class;
only to wonder why that same child will not ‘perform’ for family
and friends her new words in Spanish.

With the following seven simple steps and suggestions you and
your family can bloom into a second language journey –
blissfully and with smiles:

1. Start the second language learning as early in your child’s
life as possible. Experts agree – the earlier, the better.
Think of how you learned your native language. It’s all about
vocabulary at first so remember that repetition is the key for
all your child’s learning. Experts say it is just as easy for a
child to learn two words in two languages for one item as it is
to learn just one word. Introduce the new language bilingually,
using the native language and the new together, for any child
birth through 8-10 years old. (Immersion should be used for
children 8 -10 and older.)

2. Find a bilingual language learning
program, product or class for your child that incorporates the
following components necessary for success: visual, music,
beginning reading and verbal exchange. Give your child the
opportunity to enjoy the new language daily for 10 to 30 minutes
(depending upon the age of your child, more time needs to be
spent as your child continues to develop his language skills).

3. Show your child you value speaking a second language. If you
speak mainly English in your home invite a Spanish speaking
friend over, attend cultural events where both native & new
languages are spotlighted through music, dance, food and more
and turn on the Spanish channel on TV and the radio. If you
speak mainly Spanish in your home invite new English speaking
friends over and get them involved in learning Spanish as you
cook for them, entertain them and welcome them into your home,

visit the local library for bilingual books and fun
children’s programs and make learning the new language fun
for your child and yourself.

4. Do not allow anyone try to
convince you that learning a second language needs to come after
your child has mastered her native language. The myth that
children will be language delayed or have a language disorder if
a new language is introduced early in life is just that – a
myth. The latest study out of Texas on this subject suggests
that children up to the age of five can learn five languages
simultaneously. I will caution that you not settle for
immersion for your young child during her school day. It should
not be ‘sink or swim’ in the English only classroom for the
Spanish speaking child nor should a Spanish only class be used
with your English speaking first grader. Your child should be
allowed contact with his/her native language throughout the day
until at least the age of 8-10 years old.

5. For Spanish
speaking families it is a lot of work to continue your native
language within your home and community when English is the
dominant and daily language your child hears. As in most of
parenting, keep a smile first of all. Refuse to fall into the
trap of making your child ‘perform’ in your native Spanish
language. Encourage your child to appreciate their native
language by appreciating it yourself and speaking it with love.
Try not threaten to speak only in Spanish to your child in order
to get them to respond back to you in Spanish. This will
alienate them from you, their language and their heritage. Your
child will understand everything you say to them, but your child
might often times make the conscious effort to refuse to
verbalize back in their native tongue due to your threats. One
last note: You, as the parent, need to practice your new
language of English. Try to make it a family effort to soften
your accent when speaking English. Instead of being embarrassed
by your Spanish accent, show your child you are proud to be
Hispanic and will continue to work on your new language as you
ask your child to work on their native language. Practice what
you preach!

6. Have realistic expectations for your child.
Becoming fluent in a new language takes time and takes living
the language. Avoid getting a one-on-one tutor for your child
during the early years (birth – 8 years old). This language
journey should be fun – filled with music, games and creativity
(not conjugating verbs and grammar). Try not to look for your
child to be conversational after benchmarks you set up yourself.

Every child learns and develops differently – allow your child
to enjoy this language learning by not pressuring your child to
excel in or perform in either language. The sign of a true
linguist is one who code switches. That is, one who can flow
between both languages easily within one sentence, one thought,
one conversation.

7. The ideal situation in any home where the
parent wishes to raise a bilingual child is for one parent to
speak Spanish full time with their young child while the other
parent speaks English full time. They would flow back and forth
between the two languages – explaining things in both languages
when possible. We all realize this takes a tremendous amount of
effort. We also realize that this is not the norm in most
households across the world which is why we look for simple
solutions that fit into our daily lives.

You can do this. You can give your child the gift of a second
language. You are your child’s best teacher. You just need to
find the tools to jump start their second language journey
today. You know what makes your child excited about learning.
You know what you can fit into your daily routine and still make
it fun for all. You just need to do it!

Beth Butler is the creator of the BOCA BETH Language Learning Series for young children. Find out how fun and easy it can be to raise a bilingual child. Sample the BOCA BETH bilingual music and movies for free at http://www.bocabeth.com
Call toll free 1.877.825.2622 or 1.813.244.1432 to order any bilingual CD, DVD, book or to schedule an interview with Beth.