Jen in Ohio, USA
Jul 28, 2014 13:30:14 GMT 9
Post by Jen S on Jul 28, 2014 13:30:14 GMT 9
Hello,
My name is Jen. I live in Ohio, USA and I have two children, ages 5 and an infant. I am a native English speaker, but I am "almost fluent" in Spanish after studying it for 10 years and using it every day at work for 5 years. I am a speech/language therapist, and very interested in the advantages of bilingualism for my children, and so I have been determined to raise them bilingually since my daughter was born 5 years ago.
I spoke Spanish with my daughter almost exclusively for the first 2.5 years of her life, but at that point, 3 other children began staying with us, and they did not speak any Spanish. Since then, my usage of Spanish with her has been much more limited. My husband does not speak Spanish (other than what he has picked up from me and the kids), and we are not involved much in the Spanish-speaking community here, so it has been hard to convince my daughter of the necessity and advantage of speaking Spanish. At this point, the other children are no longer with us, and I am trying to get back into the habit of speaking Spanish with both of my children (I now have an infant son).
I wanted very much for my daughter to attend a Spanish immersion school, but there is not one in our area. There is a bilingual school, but I have not heard good things about it. I have since decided to homeschool her (she starts Kindergarten this fall) and attempt to use all Spanish materials. I am trying to get a Spanish immersion enrichment co-op started, where children can participate in academic and social activities in Spanish. So far, we have had some interest, but not a whole lot of participation, but I am continuing to work at it!
My name is Jen. I live in Ohio, USA and I have two children, ages 5 and an infant. I am a native English speaker, but I am "almost fluent" in Spanish after studying it for 10 years and using it every day at work for 5 years. I am a speech/language therapist, and very interested in the advantages of bilingualism for my children, and so I have been determined to raise them bilingually since my daughter was born 5 years ago.
I spoke Spanish with my daughter almost exclusively for the first 2.5 years of her life, but at that point, 3 other children began staying with us, and they did not speak any Spanish. Since then, my usage of Spanish with her has been much more limited. My husband does not speak Spanish (other than what he has picked up from me and the kids), and we are not involved much in the Spanish-speaking community here, so it has been hard to convince my daughter of the necessity and advantage of speaking Spanish. At this point, the other children are no longer with us, and I am trying to get back into the habit of speaking Spanish with both of my children (I now have an infant son).
I wanted very much for my daughter to attend a Spanish immersion school, but there is not one in our area. There is a bilingual school, but I have not heard good things about it. I have since decided to homeschool her (she starts Kindergarten this fall) and attempt to use all Spanish materials. I am trying to get a Spanish immersion enrichment co-op started, where children can participate in academic and social activities in Spanish. So far, we have had some interest, but not a whole lot of participation, but I am continuing to work at it!