Hello from Barcelona!
Oct 27, 2014 21:29:13 GMT 9
Post by Laura on Oct 27, 2014 21:29:13 GMT 9
Hello to everyone!
My name is Laura and I am half American and half Spanish. I lived in the US until I was 20 years old when I decided I wanted to go to Barcelona, Spain to finish my studies and ended up staying. Obvously my native language was English but after about 15 years speaking practically all day in Spanish I now feel odd when speaking in English!!! It doesn't feel natural anymore...and I feel weird when I am in the company of other American Moms.
So, this is a problem when trying to pass on English to my two children (ages 5 and 3). I find myself constantly going back and forth between Spanish and English. My husband is Catalan so he speaks to them in Catalan. I can't afford to take trips back home to refresh my English.
Until this last year my eldest daughter was going to a school where English was a big deal so she has a good base although she prefers to talk in the two majority languages (Spanish and Catalan) but we faced some economic problems and we needed to change schools. Catalan is the dominant language along with Spanish and English is taught about 5 hours a week. My son has just started school there as well and has gone to a Catalan nursery since 4 months old.
I am struggling to only speak in English to the both of them and I am concerned and embarrassed to admit that their English isn't fluent (as it is for other children of American descent). I feel like I am failing my children. I wish it just would come naturally to me.
I think this site will help keep me going... It's a great resource!
Sorry for the rambling...feels good to get this off of my chest!
Laura
My name is Laura and I am half American and half Spanish. I lived in the US until I was 20 years old when I decided I wanted to go to Barcelona, Spain to finish my studies and ended up staying. Obvously my native language was English but after about 15 years speaking practically all day in Spanish I now feel odd when speaking in English!!! It doesn't feel natural anymore...and I feel weird when I am in the company of other American Moms.
So, this is a problem when trying to pass on English to my two children (ages 5 and 3). I find myself constantly going back and forth between Spanish and English. My husband is Catalan so he speaks to them in Catalan. I can't afford to take trips back home to refresh my English.
Until this last year my eldest daughter was going to a school where English was a big deal so she has a good base although she prefers to talk in the two majority languages (Spanish and Catalan) but we faced some economic problems and we needed to change schools. Catalan is the dominant language along with Spanish and English is taught about 5 hours a week. My son has just started school there as well and has gone to a Catalan nursery since 4 months old.
I am struggling to only speak in English to the both of them and I am concerned and embarrassed to admit that their English isn't fluent (as it is for other children of American descent). I feel like I am failing my children. I wish it just would come naturally to me.
I think this site will help keep me going... It's a great resource!
Sorry for the rambling...feels good to get this off of my chest!
Laura
