The most
important thing you can do if you and your family are trying to learn another
language is COMMIT and PRACTICE.
Choose at least
one time of the day in which your family can incorporate Spanish into your
regular activities. It might be at
mealtimes, at
bath time, one
hour before bed, when you are getting
dressed, or before leaving for school.
"Dinnertime is
the perfect time for a family," says Sara O'Neal, camp director.
She suggests the "Spanish Only Rule" at dinnertime. Each
person listens to each of the
other family members. This tends to make each person listen for Spanish words."
Commit to
speaking Spanish at one meal a day
Making
the commitment to Spanish only mealtimes is a great way to introduce a second
language into your home. Mealtimes are short. It is easy to learn the names
of foods. And manners can easily become a strong part of the conversation.
See if you can get through a family meal with nothing but these phrases
below:
Por favor.
Gracias.
Cómo se dice…
How do
you say…(insert one English word)
Yo quiero…
más
leche, jugo, mantequilla, pan, etc.
Pásame…
la sal,
la pimienta, una servilleta, etc.
Me gusta mucho esta comida.
Muy delisioso, Mamá!
Con permiso.
Necesito ir al baño.
Puedo ir al
bano por favor
Estoy terminado/a.
Mucho/poquito
And
vocabulary is easy (bebida, fruta, vegetales, carne, pan y postre)
(Yo
quiero más vegetales por favor. I want more vegetables please.)
While
at camp,
when a child says he/she doesn't like what we are serving, we ask them to say
"mucho o poquito". We'll put a lot on their plate if they ask for "mucho" or
just a tiny spoonful if they ask for "poquito." But they can't say, "No way,
I hate that stuff."
If you try this
method, you'll be surprised how many times you'll hear "por favor y gracias"
from your well mannered children.
