BoriQa:My first language is Spanish, and I have tried over the years (my kids are still young) to teach them some Spanish words. They speak a little bit of Spanish, but not much.

They didn't really feel the need to learn Spanish, or any other language until they hit French in school!!!

Is there any reason why you don't just speak to them in Spanish? It should be pretty easy since it is your first language, and kids pick up languages pretty fast in an immersive environment. Might help to find some fun Spanish cartoons or music that you can enjoy together. It would be a shame for them not to speak the language of your background.

erinja:

BoriQa:My first language is Spanish, and I have tried over the years (my kids are still young) to teach them some Spanish words. They speak a little bit of Spanish, but not much.

They didn't really feel the need to learn Spanish, or any other language until they hit French in school!!!

Is there any reason why you don't just speak to them in Spanish? It should be pretty easy since it is your first language, and kids pick up languages pretty fast in an immersive environment. Might help to find some fun Spanish cartoons or music that you can enjoy together. It would be a shame for them not to speak the language of your background.

My wife doesn't speak Spanish, and I feel like I'm leaving her left out when I speak to them in Spanish. Therefore I don't speak as much Spanish at home as I could. (I speak Spanish everyday at work).

My wife is also looking forward to learning Esperanto too. Hopefully this will also help with her Spanish. (she has taken courses in the past at work, but...)

I guess it depends on your viewpoint. I had a friend growing up who learnt Spanish from her mom and Farsi from her dad. The parents didn't decline to pass on their languages, simply because the spouses didn't speak each other's native languages. English was the language the whole family used together.

I hope that you have at least discussed with your wife, rather than assuming her feelings on the matter. You might be surprised. She might welcome the chance to improve her own Spanish by hearing more of it in the home.

erinja:I guess it depends on your viewpoint. I had a friend growing up who learnt Spanish from her mom and Farsi from her dad. The parents didn't decline to pass on their languages, simply because the spouses didn't speak each other's native languages. English was the language the whole family used together.

I hope that you have at least discussed with your wife, rather than assuming her feelings on the matter. You might be surprised. She might welcome the chance to improve her own Spanish by hearing more of it in the home.

Trust me, I wish it was that simple. She does try to improve and use her Spanish once in a while, but it doesn't often last long.

The case you mentioned where the mom was Spanish and the father Farsi, is a bit different, as they were both bilingual, with English in common, yet they were already bilingual. They both understood what it is (and feels) to be bilingual.

I'm hoping that Esperanto will fill the bilingual gap at home, and then promote more bilingualism in my household.

I'll let you know how the experiment works...

Best of luck!

BoriQa:

erinja:I guess it depends on your viewpoint. I had a friend growing up who learnt Spanish from her mom and Farsi from her dad. The parents didn't decline to pass on their languages, simply because the spouses didn't speak each other's native languages. English was the language the whole family used together.

I hope that you have at least discussed with your wife, rather than assuming her feelings on the matter. You might be surprised. She might welcome the chance to improve her own Spanish by hearing more of it in the home.

Trust me, I wish it was that simple. She does try to improve and use her Spanish once in a while, but it doesn't often last long.

The case you mentioned where the mom was Spanish and the father Farsi, is a bit different, as they were both bilingual, with English in common, yet they were already bilingual. They both understood what it is (and feels) to be bilingual.

I'm hoping that Esperanto will fill the bilingual gap at home, and then promote more bilingualism in my househ

Its difficult to do when ur the only bilingual in the home know I tried.

I'll let you know how the experiment works...

@BoriQa

My wife now understands spoken Esperanto well and is even able to utter simple sentences, just by listening to me and our son. Of course E-o is easier to grasp than Spanish, but it's worth a try.

erinja:

BoriQa:My first language is Spanish, and I have tried over the years (my kids are still young) to teach them some Spanish words. They speak a little bit of Spanish, but not much.

They didn't really feel the need to learn Spanish, or any other language until they hit French in school!!!

Is there any reason why you don't just speak to them in Spanish? It should be pretty easy since it is your first language, and kids pick up languages pretty fast in an immersive environment. Might help to find some fun Spanish cartoons or music that you can enjoy together. It would be a shame for them not to speak the language of your background.

You're absolutely right, but in my experience the problem is (as I believe you posted earlier in this thread) exposure outside of the home. The children may learn passive comprehension, but active competancy generally requires more exposure than the home and many children discard / refuse to speak their parents' language as soon as they start attending school.

Incidentally, I remember the dean of my college once introduced me to an older gentleman from Poland -- it was very strange speaking with him in Polish because it was the first time I ever had been addressed as "pan" (Mr.) ... everyone I had ever spoken to in Polish until that point used the familiar form ("ty" ) with me.

Amike,

Paul

If I decide to have kids, I'll prob. teach 'em it so we can talk shit about ppl passing by. "Wow, what IS that girl wearing?" LOL, gotta love parenthood.