March 2008 of James, 4 years, Sydney 6 Years
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March 2, 2008
It's interesting to me how much Sydney identifies herself with Australia. (She was born there but came to the US at 6 months so she doesn't actually remember being there). She's always asking about it. I was trying to explain to her how the island was unpopulated. Then the British decided to take their criminals-- people who rob and do bad things, I defined-- and put them on a big boat. They sent them to the island of Australia. Eventually there were men and women on the island and they started families. That's how Australia began. Sydney gave a look I've never seen before. "So, were you and Daddy on that boat?"
I work at Sydney's school once a week and the Spanish speaking kids get a real kick out of hearing Portuguese. One boy tried speaking Spanish to me and when I spoke back he laughed. Then he tried to say something in Spanish to see if I understood. I did and told him in English what he'd said. Somehow it was as if in doing that, I had gained his respect.
March 5, 2008
James and Sydney were desperate to watch a film this afternoon. I put in Dumbo for them but forgot to set the language to Portuguese. The kids shortly after the movie started, called me in there to tell me that the movie was mistakenly in English.
March 8, 2008
Stephen really wants us to watch movies as a family (which means English of course). I've not been really supportive of that because I like their videos to be in Portuguese. But we love Wallace and Grommit. So we watched a bit with the kids and they LOVED it. Then today Stephen told them they could watch some of it (it's Saturday). After a few minutes, James came running in the kitchen to get me. He told me that the film wasn't in Portuguese-- with the urgency he'd show if the tv had died altogether. I told him for Wallace and Grommit that was okay.
March 11, 2008
Today I was talking at the breakfast table. I was in English with Stephen then switched to address James. Instead of my first word to him being "O Que" ("What"), I said the actual word "what" in English, then caught myself and moved to Portuguese for my second word and so on. James asked, "Por que voce falou 'what'?" (Why did you say 'what') I told him I just made a mistake. It's interesting how he noticed that mistake, how in tune he is to what language he's speaking.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed (how many times have I written that?) with all the vocabulary Sydney needs in Portuguese as she grows older. With holidays, in particular. St. Patrick's Day is coming up. How to say "leprechaun"...I can't even spell it in English without spellcheck. Or "four leaf clover." The great thing is that when we get to a word like that, I can say, "The little green trouble-maker" or "that little leaf" and then say, "We'll ask Stella how to talk about him in Portuguese.
March 11, 2008
Today I helped in Syndey's kindergarten class as usual, but it was Dr. Seuss month and Sydney had brought to class the Cat in the Hat book translated into Portuguese. I asked if in class if she thought that after center time, her teacher would mind me reading the book to the class. (I asked Sydney first to make sure it wouldn't embarrass her.) Sydney asked the teacher who was delighted (she's half Brazilian). I read and stopped along the way to point out words they might already know. The Spanish speakers were so excited! One little girl who struggles with English was in the front row. She kept saying the word in Spanish when I would ask "What does 'peixe' mean?" I could see her looking to the ceiling trying to grab the word in English but it wouldn't come. One speanish speaker said, "I don't understand a word you're saying!" He was frustrated but intrigued b/c of course he was nearly understanding. Like Dr. Fred Ellison quotes, Spanish speakers see Portuguese through a spider's web...just out of reach.
I think reading to them if nothing else is good b/c it gets them more familiar with dealing with ambiguity. In situations they will face, they won't understand everything. It's important that they look for what they DO know and not get caught up on what they don't understand.
I'd be glad to do it after center time each time I come to help on Mondays but won't say anything about it. If the teacher is interested in that, she'll ask me.
March 14, 2008
I got Sydney to school really early today. She said she'd get to class with the bus riders who were all Spanish-speakers. (She used to call them "Spanish" but has graduated to using the other term.) I asked her why they all ride the same bus. "Do they live in the same neighborhood?" Sydney said, "I guess. They must live on a 'Spanish-speakers only' street".
March 17, 2008
James was on the playground today wanting to be pushed in the swing. A Korean friend of mine, who speaks Korean to her son, was pushing her son right next to James. The friend kept saying a word in Korean to his mom and getting pushed higher and higher. James looked at the mother and said the same word that his buddy was saying. The mother laughed and told me later than James was learning good Korean.
March 21, 2008
Stephen and I have been cracking up with the kids' invented word: Hoit-nas. If we pronounce it wrong, they correct it and the say it just the same way as the other one, saying it the same way each time. We asked what it means, and Sydney told us it means to "hurry up". Stephen asked her what country spoke the language where you say "hoit-nas" and Sydney thought a minute, then came out with "Hoit-nas land"
March 22, 2008
Today I mentioned to Sydney that I'd love to go back to the Mexican place, "El Superior" and she said she didn't want to go. She said she didn't like that everyone looked at her and didn't understand what she was saying because she doesn't know everything in Spanish. We do get odd looks from Spanish speakers. There were many parents speaking Spanish at the Zoo this weekend and when they heard Sydney or me talking, they stared like, "I understand but I don't understand." I don't mind the stares. I hope that as she grows she'll see it as something special and not something weird.
