May of James 3 Years, Sydney 5 Years, and 2 adult mothers learning Spanish
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May 7, 2007
I've mentioned before that if I don't ask the kids to speak in Portuguese to each other while around me, they'll often speak English to each other. I noted that today, Sydney was trying to get James in trouble and changed to Portuguese just for the tattle-taling part.
I feel so comfortable in their Portuguese now. As if, "Hey, they've got it, I can quit worrying!" It just comes naturally and our friends/family have accepted things, however odd or inconvenient. Never thought we'd get to this point though logically I knew it was possible.
We had streamers from a party at our house still stuck on the sides handing down from the top of our kitchen table. Sydney wanted to sit where the streamers were so she asked Stephen, "Daddy, would you take down these feet?" (in Portuguese, the word for the streamers would have been "fita" pronounced "fee- tuh") He said, "Feet? What?" Sydney and I laughed and she realized her mistake. Sometimes it's like we have this running private joke.
May 10, 2007
I'm so glad, finally have gotten the kids in the habit of speaking Portuguese when they're around me. When they forget, I just ask a question about what's been said, or repeat what was just said in Portuguese, as if I want to become part of the conversation. Then the talk just turns (fairly naturally) into Portuguese talk. I have to admit I'm sorta proud of myself for this one because it drove me crazy and I never thought they'd come around. That sounds like I think they are my puppets, but it's not that at all. I just want to push gently.
Sydney's curious about what words mean and has gotten to the point where when she understands everything you say to her except one word, she'll ask you what that means and keep asking until she gets it. In English and Portuguese.
Looks like Feliz Preschool is going to be a go. Starts in the fall. Talked to an interested mother yesterday who speaks Portuguese to her son, but he doesn't speak back, just understands.
Yesterday, Judy (the mother who is learning Spanish) asked an interesting question. I'd been telling her about a couple in my Beginning Portuguese class who are in their 70's. She asked "After a certain age, is it just harder or are there just certain people who are better at learning languages, because I'm having a tougher time in my class than some of the other people."
I've written quite a bit on this topic of [You don't have to be! For some reason the Critical Period for learning language has been overemphasized to the point that it questions whether adults have the capacity to learn a foreign language. Adults can learn to speak another language! whether adults can learn a second language]. I do think it's touch pronunciation-wise, but definitely possible.
I do believe some people are better naturally than others, as they are in other disciplines. But, it's not impossible, just as anyone can learn algebra with proper training and if he/she puts his/her mind to it. It's much much more a matter of motivation, both internal and external.
This idea that "I'm just not good at languages" is detrimental to learning because in most cases, it decreases motivation. It's why the Barbie doll who said, "I hate math!" was yanked off the market due to public outcry. Expectations and self-efficacy are so important. (I do argue the opposite case as well, that over-efficaciousness can hinder language learning, but I believe this affects far fewer people.
May 11, 2007
James has made his own distinction between "like" and "love". He'll tell Stephen, "I love you and I like you." He was mad at me and said (in Portuguese) "I love you but I don't like you." It's funny the definitions they must be forming in their heads.
Karen's 4 year old told Sydney he's her "boyfriend." She said, "yuck!" I asked her exactly what "boyfriend/girlfriend" meant. She said that it meant you kiss.Okay, that's definitely a broad enough definition for now.
May 15, 2007
James is just now avoiding English completely with me and when he doesn't know a word, he acts it out or points.
May 24, 2007
Spent time with my Brazilian neighbor and her son. He can speak Portuguese but doesn't want to. He seems to understand everything his mother and I say, but respoibnds in English. I told him he had to speak Portugusee to me if he wanted anything. He's say, "I want aqua and ice cream-ee" (adding the "ee" adds a Brazilian accent to words). His mom was so surprized about how well my kids respond in Portuguse and say that her son never would. They will though, if you insist.
Her attitude reminds me of people who are AMAZED that immersion classes work. They say, "You mean you only speak Portuguese even on the first day?" But of course, how do you think people learn English? The teacher can't speak Vietnamese or Russian so of course it's English only.
I just got a job at Duke teaching some of their "core courses" (requirements for students) for a teaching English as a second language program. I really want to impress the immersion deal on them because many will end up going abroad to teach English then coming back to the States and teaching the language of the country where they'd been. They have to remember that a common language in the classroom isn't necessary.
I noticed last night, Sydney wanted to tell me a story and she said, "Mamae..." but then must have realized she didn't know sosme of the words in Portuguse so she turned to Stephen and said, "Daddy..." and told the story in English.
The preschool moms finished their Spanish course and haven't mentioned it since.
