So, let's translate some commands that you can start using now.
I will use singular, assuming that you have one child.
"Lávate las manos": Wash your hands.
"Siéntate": Sit down.
"Párate": Stand up.
"Para": Stop.
"Ten cuidado": Be careful.
Always, match your words with the action. Never translate. Introduce one command every week and stop using that command in English as soon as start using it in Spanish.
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( 2.9 / 239 )I see a very common mistake among my students' parents: they translate.
Let me tell you how children learn how to speak.
First, parents talk to them all day long, every day, for hours and hours.
Then, after 2 years (or so) children start to say semi-words or small words, usually when something is wrong or out place.
Third, at the age of 3, children start talking without stopping, telling what they have seen, tasted or found.
Always it is about themselves: children are egocentric little people.
At the first stage, when parents do the talk, they really are teaching concepts while they talk. By concept I mean something very easy like "wash your hands". When children are small, parents go with them to the restroom and teach them how to wash their hands, while talking about the water, the soap, the towel and everything else that they can image. As the child grows, parents stop and simply say "Wash your hands" and the child knows what to do.
So, parents "match" the action with words.
Now, with the new language, parents have to start over. Or almost. The child has the concept "wash your hands" but he/she doesn't have the new language. So, parents should go to the restroom, and teach the old action with new words "Lávate las manos". After 2 or 3 times, parents can stop going to the restroom and simply say "Lávate las manos". So they "match" the action with new words.
Remember, match actions with words, not words with words. It doesn't work that way.
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( 3 / 205 )I got several students which one parent speaks Spanish and the other doesn't. Several times they ask me if I would do something different because they "know" Spanish. And every time I say no.
If you wait to teach Spanish to your child until she/he can speak English, we are already losing some precious years. If your spouse knows Spanish, it is your spouse, but not your child. The only advantage that you have is that it could be easier, but if you haven't used it yet...My point is that you have to start as soon as possible when your child is a baby.
But how? The best way is one parent speaks English and the other speaks Spanish. Always your child will have a strong first language (and probably that will be English: the school, the television, and the books are in English), but you can make possible to have a bilingual child.
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( 3 / 112 )I don't you know but sometimes I get very frustrated with the Spanish books that you can find online or in stores. They aren't age appropriate or they are very expensive. They have a lot of vocabulary or they have only a few words.
So, my idea is to buy books in English and translate them. Yes, I know what you are thinking: It's easy for her. I have an idea.
Go to this web site: http://www.freetranslation.com/
Write your text and then click on "Free translation".
If you have any question, my email is always open: info@PreKSpanish.com.
Start translating!!!!
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( 3.2 / 108 )Many parents ask me what DVD they can buy for their children and my answer is always: "Don't buy anything". Children learn to speak because they want to tell things.
But, if you like to have something, you can try internet for free.
Here is a very good web site with interactive activities and stories. You can choose "English" or "Spanish". I recommend to use only one language and then try another website for the other language.
http://www.storyplace.org
Good Luck, Mariana.
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