Should I talk to my siter in English or Spanish? (at home)?

Question

Ok, our first language is spanish, but when we are in the house we (my bro, sis, and I) talk English! So, I'm wondering if I should talk to her in English or Spanish, she's 6! I don't want her to forget spanish! She speaks spanish very good, but I'm afraid that she will forget! My bro is 12, so I don't worry much about him, he knows alot of spanish! My mom and dad work and my mom is here in the morning (when we are at school) and my dad is here in the afternoon(when we come back from school), but he sleeps becuase he works at midnight!

OK THE QUESTION WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY <

"SISTER"

Answer 1

At that age, children are very receptive and are prone to learn a language faster than an adult. I recommend you speak Spanish first...then translate. If she is attending school then she is learning her English AT school, but where is she going to learn Spanish?...AT home! Always say what you want to say in Spanish, if she does not understand it repeat and if she still doesn't get it, translate it and have her repeat it a few times so she can remember.

I have a 13 year old sister. She came to the United States when she was barely a year old. Her Spanish is not great, she reads really good though. English has become her primary language because at home everyone speaks English. My parents work most of the day and when she was at home with me (the oldest) I had to talk in English because I was learning it as well.

She is very smart and very receptive for her age. Now that I see what we have done I speak Spanish to her ALL the time. She speaks really funny but I do not mention that to her and don't you do that to your sis because she will feel embarrassed to talk. Her English is very very good, we call her "misses know-it-all" because she corrects EVERY LITTLE WORD we pronounce wrong!!

So, my recommendation is both, but Spanish first then English. Good luck!

Answer 2

I used to be a nanny and home schooled the children. I now work as a medical assistant and have a four year old myself. She's been picking up some Spanish already and we are working it on it at the same time that I am teaching her to read and write her letters. So my solution would be to teach both languages at the same time. Children pick up languages best between ages 3-5. After that, they start to lose the ability to differentiate certain sounds that are different from their native language. For example, it's very hard for an English speaking person to learn to roll their R's when speaking in Spanish. If you decide to home school, make sure you involve your daughter in social activities with other kids her age so it's not a big shock going to group settings.

Answer 3

My job is teaching English to kids who speak Spanish as a first language, and my advice is DEFINITELY speak Spanish at home. We have kids with other siblings at home who speak so much English at school and with their English-speaking siblings that they have a hard time communicating with their parents! If your parents speak English, this isn't so much of an issue, but you do need to have someplace where you practice your Spanish on a regular basis or you WILL start to lose it.

Answer 4

If you don't want her to forget Spanish, speak to her in Spanish. She'll get plenty of chance to practice English at school. (It'll help your Spanish, too.) And it wouldn't hurt to talk to your brother in Spanish either.

Answer 5

I think you should speak in Spanish, if you are living in teh USA, then all the time at school she'll hear and speak English. You have to level that by using Spanish

Habría contestado en español, pero la última vez que hice eso cancelaron my respuesta

Saludos desde México!!!

Answer 6

absolutely both. if you speak only Spanish she won't learn English as well, if you only speak English your spanish will faid and she'll have a hard time understanding you.
As an older sibling, it's going to be your responsibility to help her be successful in both.

Answer 7

SPEAK SPANISH!!! My little sisters cant speak at all and I and my parents should have spoke to them in spanish more

Answer 8

I think you should speak both so she grows up bi-lingual just like your brother and you.

Answer 9

you should definitely speak both....even repeat yourself in both lang....that's how i learned to speak greek and english