Methods of Raising Children Bilingual:
1. One parent one language (OPOL):
One parent the native or fluent will speak to the child in the chosen minority or majority language and the other parent who may know the language or not will speak the other language.
E.g mum is spanish and speaks to Juan in spanish and Dad is English and speaks to Juan in English.
Dad may reinforce the spanish language and show support on occasion.
This method usually means that mum will keep spanish going even if english friends come over for a play date.
One Parent/One Child
2. Two languages:
Both parents speak different languages e.g dad is Finnish and mum is polish, they speak to their child in their respective languages and to each other in one of the languages.
One language for different settings. Spanish is spoken at home and English is spoken at nursery or school.
FAQ…
What if my language is not to fluent..?
Research has shown that a non native parent can introduce a language of choice. There are many options here:
1. learn the language as you go along, constantly studying what you will be speaking the following day.
2. Hire a nanny in the language you wish to teach your child.
3. Enrol your child in a bilingual school or nursery and expose them to as much of the language as possible through bilingual play dates
How much language needs to be spoken to my child?
Some experts say 30% others say 50%
Whatever is possible but try to ensure that the language is participatory I.e an interchange is occurring, through; conversations, stories, games, songs, crafts in that language.
What else can I do?
Read as much as you can on the topic, surround yourself with likeminded people!
Songs
Spanish Nursery rhymes
Spanish folk songs
De Colores
De colores, de colores se visten los campos en la primavera.
De colores, de colores son los pajaritos que vienen de afuera.
De colores, de colores es el arco iris que vemos lucir.
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Y por eso los grandes amores de muchos colores me gustan a mí.
Colorful, colorful are the fields in the springtime.
Colorful, colorful, are the little birds that come from far away.
Colorful, colorful is the rainbow that we see shining.
And for that the great loves of many colors pleases me. (More loosely, this can be translated: And that is why I like wonderful colorful things.)
¡Que llueva!
Que llueva, que llueva, la vieja está en la cueva.
Los pajaritos cantan, las nubes se levantan.
Que sí, que no, que caiga un chaparrón.
Que sí, que no, con caramelos y tostón.
That it rains, that it rains, the old lady is in the cave.
The little birds sing, the clouds rise.
That yes, that no, that falls a downpour.
That yes, that no, with candies and fried plantain chips.
La Cucaracha
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
La patita principal
La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque no tiene, porque le falta
limonada que tomar
The cockroach, the cockroach
Now it cannot walk
Because it doesn’t have, because it lacks
The principal leg
The cockroach, the cockroach
Now it cannot walk
Because it doesn’t have, because it lacks
Lemonade to drink
Los Elefantes
Un elefante se balanceaba sobre la tela de una araña.
Y como vieron que resistía
Fueron a buscar otro elefante.
Dos elefantes se balanceaban sobre la tela de una araña.
Y como vieron que resistía
Fueron a buscar otro elefante.
Tres elefantes…
One elephant balanced itself on the web of a spider.
And when they saw that it resisted (held him),
They went to find another elephant.
Two elephants…
(This song can go forever as more and more elephants get on the spider web!)
El baile/la danza del paracaídas
Marcha, marcha, marcha,
Marcha, marcha, marcha 1-2-3.
Arriba, abajo, arriba, abajo
Arriba, abajo 1-2-3.
Adentro, afuera, dentro, afuera,
Adentro, afuera 1-2-3.
Salta, salta , salta,
Salta, salta, salta 1-2-3.
March, march, march,
March, march, march 1-2-3.
Up, down, up, down,
Up, down, 1-2-3.
Inside, outside, inside, outside,
Jump, jump, jump,
Jump, jump, jump 1-2-3.
My favourite links
bilinguebabies 