I don't want my daughters to learn spanish but many children shows are teaching spanish?

Question

It is not because I do not like spanish but they are already learning both English and Romanian. What shows should I avoid having on TV if I want them to avoid having the confusion of a third language? I already know to avoid Dora.

Answer 1

Kids are pretty flexible when it comes to learning stuff. I grew up with shows that tried to teach Spanish while I was trying to learn French and it never affected my ability to learn English, French or Spanish. What is confusing for adults is often not at all confusing for kids. Their brains are hard wired for learning and no amount of Dora is going to hurt them.

Answer 2

I think that in this country it is inevitable for a child to be exposed to just English and whatever languages are spoken at home that is are English. You shouldn't hide the inevitable from your daughters. Besides, they won't actually become fluent in Spanish just because Dora or Rosita on Sesame Street say one or a few words per episode. In order to ACTUALLY learn a language, someone must learn to be fluent by speaking it constantly or repeatedly as well as be able to write it and recognize it. It's true that smaller children are more succeptible to leearn and remember new things, like another language. But know this, there are many Spanish language influences in the English language and even though Americans are exposed to Spanish and other languages on a daily basis, does not mean that they all speak, know, or understand the language. If you don't want your daughters to learn it, don't worry, if you aren't fluent, chances are, they won't be either. Unless they choose to take it as their language requirement in high school, but I believe they also have th eoption to take French. In any case, bilingual speakers make typically more money and have more job and carrer opportunities thatn those who don't. Even if you don't want Spanish to be a language your daughter speak, know that in this country with the growing population of Spanish speakers, it might not be a bad idea. As long as you teach your daughters your language (which I think you mentioned is Romanian) and they know about their family and it's history, I don't think any other language can be a threat to your heritage. Just be proud of who you are, don't shield your daughters from what's already around them, instead: let them see that this is a place where one can learn about their culture if they are passionate about it. Do your own research together by tracking down Romanian children's books at some of the larger libraries... You'd be surprised at what you can teach your daughters by being accepting of other cultures. It might encourage them to talk to their peers or classmates about their roots and get them interested in Romania!!! Good Luck and Best Wishes!!!

Answer 3

Children Learn languages really fast and easily compared to English. I am from Russia and my husband is from Iraq, my 2 children age 4 and 3 are learning to speak Russian, Arabic, English and French and they watch Dora so I'm sure they know a few Spanish words. I don't know why this would concern you too much let them learn all they can you never know they may need it some day.

Answer 4

So they learn a few words of another language. Big deal. They'll be able to sort it out if they're learning while they're young and their neural pathways are still forming.

Not like me, Latin at 18, Italian at 19, Chinese at 27, a Hawaiian phrase here or there in my 30s. Every time I learn a new word it kicks an old one out of my brain. I started learning languages too late, and I only have one little section in my head for all the foreign languages I've tried to learn. I mix 'em all up and come out with something like, "Zhe shi scifoso!" or "Tianqi hao brutto!"

Unless you spend time and money on lessons or they have friends who speak worse English than they speak Spanish, they won't learn very much of it anyway.

By the way, it's good they'e learning Romanian. Too many generations have come to the US and cut their children off from their home culture while they're exposed to some of the worst parts of US cultures. I've known Filipinos who resented not being taught Tagalog at home, Latino kids who answer in English when their parents ask a question in Spanish, and Eritreans who can't speak Tigrinya at all..

In US schools, there is not enough foreign language instruction, and it's all at the wrong ages. Usually it comes in high school, but it would be most useful in elementary school. The kids learning English as a foreign language are the only kids learning a foreign language in most of our schools!

Answer 5

Well thats silly. Children won't get confused. The best time to learn multiple languages is when they are a children.
So be a proud daddy and and allow your children to learn as many languages as possible you will not regret it. My 2 daughters learnt English, French and German pretty much at the same time, and they were not in the least confused. Now they are learning Spanish, and amazingly fast. You know why, its because a part of their brain (speech developement) developed so well, that they have no problems learning muliple languages!

Answer 6

My 8 year old step daughter can speak 6 languages fluently and, obviously, learned all of them at a very young age. A third language in your childs head is not going to confuse them - it will only serve to better them. Don't worry about it - let them learn Spanish.

Being a different nationality to my other half, all the relatives communicate as best they can in mutually understood languages, if you see what I mean. Our 8 year old is the only one that can understand everyone all the time.

Answer 7

The best time to learn extra languages is when you are a child. Now in school they teach spanish automatically one of the requirements in Kindergarten is that they learn how to count to 10 in spanish. Also it is proven that children that are multilingual are better students in the long run. Now is the time to hit them with as much information as possible. This will not confuse them it will only help. To answer your question though....Diego, Dora, not sure what else. I do hope you reconsider your opinion of this. It can only help.

Answer 8

Children as young as 12 months can distinguish between 5+ languages, even if they can't actually talk yet. Let them hear Spanish! They will not confuse it with Romanian, nor will their English usage decline. And they will always recognize English as their native language because they hear that everywhere: stores, movies, radio, doctors, etc.

Answer 9

If you are going to live in the US you are going to have this 3rd language issue. They will adapt to that language also. It is easier for them to learn it young than later in life and when they get into school, you are going to have spanish classes all the way through til the 5th or 6th grade and then in order to get into some of the colleges they have to have spanish 3 years!
Yes, I agree, I think everyone who lives in the US should speak english and spanish should be for their country and not a second language for us. I constantly tell people to speak english, it is America after all....I came from Germany and I speak English not german, that is for my homeland.

Answer 10

Very young children can easily learn 3 or more languages without confusing them. Let them go ahead and learn Spanish if they are so inclined.