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Canticos Read & Sing Along Vol. 1

Practice reading and singing along to your Canticos favorites in English and Spanish!

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Ask a Bilingual Expert

Raising a bilingual child? On this page, our very own Director of Learning Design and Efficacy, Sophia Espinoza, addresses some of the most common questions, concerns, and curiosities around the benefits of bilingualism.

Benefits of Bilingualism (FAQs):

Any advice on managing two Spanish dialects in the household? Does this cause confusion for kids?

Now that our world is more interconnected than ever, there are plenty of families where each parent could be from a different country in Latin America, with distinctive dialects, vocabulary, slang, and culture. And that’s totally ok for kids to be exposed to. Their perspectives are broadened and they learn to communicate cross-culturally, it’s a thing to be celebrated. Sometimes kids may switch vocabulary when talking to different parents, which is absolutely fine. They’re not confused, if anything this shows their flexibility.

What do you recommend if I’m not completely fluent and my child’s school doesn’t have an immersion class?

I always encourage as much Spanish exposure as possible. Don’t worry about immersion classes availability or not being completely fluent as a parent. Use the Spanish you know, even if you may need to speak Spanglish.

Do you recommend teaching different subjects in different languages?

It’s important to give kids as much education as possible in the home in Spanish. They will inevitably learn English, and it will be even better if they learn their native language first.

We speak Spanish and English in our home but my child almost always answers or talks back in English. How can I go about encouraging her to respond and speak more in Spanish?

Ask your child in a very low-pressure way to try again in Spanish. Try to avoid forcing them.

Should I set aside time or create activities for each language or is it okay to mix them both together?

It’s very important to provide authentic opportunities for children to speak both languages.

Any advice for households where one parent speaks Spanish and the other English? Can this be confusing for children?

It’s fine if there are two, or even three languages spoken in the household. What’s most important is that parents freely speak their native language around their kids.

How can my child learn language through play?

Play-based learning in children aged PreK/K take the form of pretend play.

What are the social and cultural benefits of bilingualism?

Learning a new language goes hand in hand with learning about that language’s culture.

What are some of the cognitive benefits of bilingualism?

Research shows that bilingual brains have better executive functioning in:

  1. Focus
  2. Mental multitasking and self-control
  3. Working memory

What are some strategies for raising bilingual children?

  1. Start early: Babies’ brains are sponges.
  2. Stick with it: Don’t give in and start speaking to them in their native language too.
  3. Make it Joyful: Pick movies, music, books, and podcasts that they enjoy in that language.

What are some common misconceptions about raising bilingual children?

  1. Misconception: Learning two languages can be confusing for children. Reality: This doesn’t mean they are confused; they are still developing proficiency.

  2. Misconception: It’s easy to learn a second language simply by exposing it to your child. Reality: They need significant exposure to keep proficiency in their native language.

  3. Misconception: Bilingual children struggle academically. Reality: They are learning languages simultaneously.