Language dilemma...Is it wrong?

Question

My daughter is half hispanic. And I've been teaching her Spanish as I'm learning it. My dad can't stand it. (I live with my parents) Is it wrong for me to teach her this? How do I tell him that I want her to be able to speak both languages and be a part of both of her cultures?

Chloe's dad is not a part of her life and won't be. But is it still wrong for me to teach her Spanish?

Okay, for those of you being rude about my living situation. Apartments are 600 a month. I'm making 100 bucks a week. I'm living with my parents due to that and due to the fact that I'm helping them out since my mother's not in the best condition. I have to take care of my little sister who's on medication.

Also, this isn't about both my parents. It's about my dad. He's the only one that's not wanting Chloe to learn another language. He wasn't too thrilled when I was taking French and constantly speaking it either.

Chloe's 19 months old. She's learning both English and Spanish at the same time when possible. I say something in English then I convert to Spanish once she's said the English.

Answer 1

It is not wrong, the child will thank you for this in the years to come. Knowing more languages will help her in many of her social activities and it might help her have more friends, better jobs and more life opportunities than if she only knew one language. She will be able to travel and understand more. She could learn the language by herself when she's older, but at that point she would have an accent and will be shyer to speak the new language.
I say the more languages you know, the better, and the earlier you start, the better!!
I don't know why your dad can't stand it, maybe she's afraid she will eventually only speak the language he doesn't understand? Reassure him that young kids make the differences between languages, and if you keep speaking her in her first language she won't lose it.
Is she really young? Bilingualism is usually easier for young kids when one parent only speak one language, and the other parent speaks the other language, NO exceptions, so that the kid can associate each parent to the language and not mix the languages together. Chloe's dad is not around, so maybe someone can take up his place.

Answer 2

I am a Spanish teacher, and also a parent of a multi-cultural daughter. For what it's worth - tell your dad that bilingual people can make up to $60-$100 per hour using their language skills...which is more than many professionals make! Regardless of that, your daughter will want to identify with part of her culture one day - even if it's not that important to her right now. It's important to expose her to where her descendents came from. In the county where I live, high school students are actually required to take a language - - why not give her an advantage over other students?

It is absolutely not wrong to teach your daughter Spanish, or any other language. Anyone that has a problem with that has deeper issues, in my opinion.

Good luck!

Answer 3

No, of course it's not! It's great that you want to teach her! I can understand your dad, too. Mine would probably be as mad about the same thing. But don't feel wrong - you're doing a wonderful thing for your daughter. She'll be so much better as a person having been immersed in two cultures rather than one. Not to speak about the benefits of being a bilingual (although she's not exactly that, cause she's not exposed to both languages). There's now scientific proof that these kids do better at problem solving in general. And Spanish is a beautiful language. She'll love you for it, and you'll enjoy this sharing of new knowledge together.

Answer 4

It's not wrong. My son is not Hispanic at all and is fluent in Spanish because his mother was good with the language and her second husband was Hispanic. It has come in handy for him from time to time. He usually doesn't let on that he speaks it until he needs it. He has fun that way.

Can I add something?
When my step-sister was little she lived in TX with her dad, he had a Mexican house keeper who was teaching her Spanish. She was becoming bi-lingual at a young age,but the other kids started to make fun of her so she just stopped speaking Spanish. what a shame.

Answer 5

Heck no it's not wrong!!!! You're parents obviously have no idea how far being bi-lingual will help her get ahead in a career! People who speak languages along with English get paid very well, and studies have shown that bi-lingual children are pretty damn smart! She should excel in school. It is not bad or wrong that you want to your baby to know exactly where she came from.

Answer 6

Of course it's not wrong!!!!!

You say you live with your parents so it sounds as if you got pregnant without the benefit of being married and while you may be working, you have added to the financial strain to the household. How old are you? As long as you live with them, you have to live with the consequences of your choices and how they affect your parents.

Your father may be angry with your choice to have a child out of wedlock, and with the guy who got you pregnant. Is the father involved? Paying child support? There is a lot going on that has nothing to do with what language the child knows so try to imagine all the ways that you and the child living with your parents creates and be sensitive to WHY your father may be frustrated/angry/hurt.

Often complicated problems get boiled down into one little issue, in this case the language, and if you ignore what could REALLY be going on here, you'll miss the bigger picture.

Answer 7

Work towards getting a place of your own for your daughter's sake!! As well as for your own! It goes far beyond just whether or not you teach her Spanish! She needs to learn about her own heritage; the freedom to do so and to respect her multi-cultural background! It sounds as if you will be restricted in many ways if you choose to stay dependent upon your parents. There are ways of supporting yourself and her!! Good Luck!

Answer 8

It's wonderful to teach your child a second language!

Answer 9

No, it is not wrong to teach her Spanish. There are many advantages to being bilingual.

Answer 10

How old is your daughter? If she is still learning to speak English (infant I mean) then you rather stick to English. It is up to you, it is not wrong at all! You are better to teach her than not!!