On Trying to learn Spanish after preschool

by
Kathy Reticker
Executive Director
Acre Family Child Care

Working at Acre Family Child Care has given me a true appreciation of so many things and one of the primary ones is being bilingual. I came to Acre with four years of high school French under my belt and entered a world where most people conversed in two languages; Spanish and Khmer. It is almost four years since I began at Acre and I have learned very little Khmer(none really) and a little Spanish. I have however, gained a great deal of respect for the challenges that people face when they do not speak the language and also of how difficult it is to learn a language once you are well... beyond a certain age.

So I've taken to watching tele novellas at night, to listening to tapes on my way to and from work, to taking an introductory Spanish class offered at Acre and now to hiring a private tutor with unlimited patience and a sense of humor. And still I struggle. I've starting planning trips to Latin America thinking that might add to the motivation as well as understanding. I've even fantasized of spending a "semester abroad" in Bogotá, or Barcelona or San Miguel Allende. I keep hoping that I will eventually have the confidence to actually have a conversation with someone beyond asking their health and commenting on the weather.

I have listened in awe as children easily conversed in both English and Spanish and transitioned back and forth when appropriate. For example they might speak to me in English and then to their family child care provider or friends in Spanish. Many of the providers also read to the children in both Spanish and English. I can only imagine that I would be much further along in my linguistic ability if I had that opportunity as a young child. So, I have one recommendation for anyone considering learning a new language. Start as soon as you can, whether you are three, thirty or beyond a certain age!!

To learn more about books in Spanish for children, check out the website www.csusm.edu/csb and go to the Recommended Books section.