Articles

• Writing for DOLLARS! Several articles by me are here.

• Jake's Miracle, Friend, Oct. 2007

• From the Judge's Point of View, Funds for Writers Small Markets Oct, 2007

• Byline Magazine Check out the April 2005 issue for my article on quiz writing.

Ten Ways to Help Your Child Learn English

“Quien sabe dos lenguas vale por dos.” There is a lot of truth in this proverb. If your child can speak both English and Spanish he or she will have twice as many opportunities for success as a person who speaks only one language. Becoming bilingual in English and Spanish is like having a door open to two worlds. All parents dream of providing the brightest possible future for their children. One way to do this is to make sure they learn a second language. English is the most studied second language in the world. By living in the United States, your child has a wonderful opportunity to learn this important language. By law, if your child does not speak English, the student has the right to participate in English as a Second Language classes.

You may wonder how parents can help their children speak English when they do not speak English perfectly themselves. Language skills in English are not as important as a desire to help your child become bilingual. Even though your child’s school provides instruction in English, there is no guarantee of proficiency. Your child needs your support and encouragement to develop this valuable skill. Here are ten ways you can help your child learn English.

1. Get your child a library card. They are free and your child will be able to check out books, videos and DVDs in both English and Spanish. Encourage your child to pick out materials in both languages. Go often and help him or her pick out books that will be interesting. Don’t forget to check out a book for yourself. Children learn to be readers by watching their parents read. Libraries are welcoming places. The Fiesta Navideña that the Provo City Library holds in December is a good example of how your local library can be a happy place that will encourage your child to read. Take advantage of the free resources your local library provides.
   
   
2. Talk to your child. Taking time to share family stories, to talk about the day’s activities and to ask about your child’s day are important parts of language development. It might seem boring to you to narrate where you are going and what you are doing around the house, but children learn through repetition. By talking with your child about everything and anything, you are providing him or her with valuable practice. It may seem odd that speaking Spanish to children will help them learn English. But their Spanish abilities are a great asset. The better their Spanish is, the better their English can become. Do try and speak to your child in English as well. By hearing either language, he or she is developing important skills.
   
   
3. Read to your child. Reading to a child in either English or Spanish increases his or her vocabulary and teaches about language and the world. Children enjoy being read to. Not only do they love hearing stories, they also love the special attention you give them. You don’t even have to find a special book to read. Children will listen to you read the newspaper, a magazine or even the cereal box if they know they are getting your undivided attention.
   
   
4. Set a good example by speaking more English yourself. If you are just beginning to learn English, there are free or low-cost classes in most communities that can help you make progress in a new language. The National Institute for Literacy has a hotline (1-800-228-8813) which you may call to find out about classes in your area. The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 7A.M. to 4 P.M. MST. You may also visit their website at www.nifl.gov to find out about local programs. If you already have a good command of English, work on improving them by reading, writing or speaking. Even native speakers of a language need to polish their skills from time to time. Children watch their parents closely. If they see you making an effort to learn and speak English, they will be encouraged to try harder themselves.
   
   
5. Limit the amount of television your child watches. Sitting in front of the television set is not the best use of your child’s time. Set a certain amount of time for TV every day and stick to it. Try and choose worthwhile programs to watch. For younger children, “Dora the Explorer” uses a combination of Spanish and English to promote self-esteem and independence. PBS offers a number of programs that entertain and teach at the same time. For older children who are already reading, be sure and turn on the English closed-captioning when they are watching TV. The captions were originally designed for use by the hearing impaired, but they have great value for those who are learning English. You can understand a lot more if you can read as well as hear what is being said.
   
   
6. Get to know your child’s teacher. Your child’s ESL and classroom teachers want your child to succeed just as much as you do. Don’t feel that you are bothering them by asking them for help with your child’s English. Too often, teachers only hear from parents when they are angry or upset. They are usually happy to talk with parents who are interested in helping their child get a good education. If you would like to meet with your child’s teacher but feel that you need a translator, let the school know ahead of time so that they can have one ready. It’s rarely a good idea to have your child translate for you when you are meeting with a teacher.
   
   
7. Visit your child’s school. If you are invited to go to your child’s school for an open house or a special program, make a special effort to be there. Both teachers and students spend a lot of time preparing for these events. Not showing up for an open house or a play or other program sends a negative message to both your child and to your child’s teacher. Your effort to attend shows your child that you care about the things he or she is learning in school. If you cannot attend because of work schedules or illness or other obligations, be sure that your child and your child’s teacher know that you wanted to be there. If you can, volunteer at your child’s school. Schools are often looking for people to help Spanish-speaking students by reading to them or helping them with homework. It will make a difference to your child and to other children as well.
   
   
8. Join the school’s parent-teacher organization and try to attend all the meetings. If there isn’t a Spanish-speaking group within the parent-teacher organization, see if you can help set one up. You have a lot to offer your local organization. One elementary school in Texas invited all the Spanish-speaking families to provide tamales for a Cinco de Mayo celebration. It proved to be the most popular of all the meetings of the year.
   
   
9. Have your child teach you. Your child will enjoy sharing new words and phrases with you and will be excited to teach you something for a change. Children love to share what they learned at school. Looking at your child’s school papers and having them read to you by your child is a good way to reinforce what is being taught at school.
   
   
10. Make it fun. Children who join after-school clubs or sports teams make friends who speak English. Learning from their peers is one of the best ways for children to learn a new language. Try to find other fun ways to introduce English to your child. Your child can put bilingual labels on things in the house, play with flashcards, go to English-speaking movies or listen to good music. There are lots of games, workbooks and computer software available that make learning more play than work.

Learning a new language is not something that happens overnight. It’s a journey that lasts for many years. Your child will need lots of help and encouragement along the way. But all the effort you and your child put into the trip will be worth it when your child is worth two people, one who speaks Spanish and another who speaks English.

 —Susan Denney