A question to veteran parents (or uncles...)

[TheNewbie]

I'm basically bilingual (English-Spanish) and I want my baby son to be able to speak fluent Spanish as well. When do I start talking to him in a second language, how often etc? Any other tips on teaching a kid a second language are appreciated.

Edit: Btw, Argentina...

 

[AnandTech Moderator]

1 minute old.
My neice is 2.5 - 3 years old and bilingual. She even knows who to speak spanish to and who to speak english to.

 

[TheNewbie]

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
1 minute old.
My neice is 2.5 - 3 years old and bilingual. She even knows who to speak spanish to and who to speak english to.

Ok, but do I have to be consistent or can I switch between languages?

 

[AnandTech Moderator]

My brother speaks very little spanish and his wife is fluent. She speaks to her in spanish 90% of the time. My brother, english 90%. I'd talk to him in both. Say something in english, then the same thing in spanish.
My $.02

 

[Kelvrick]

Once they're born. My nephews/neices speak both vietnamese and english. With a cross from their more americanized aunt's/uncles speakign to them in english and their grandparents in vietnamese, they move between the two languages seemlessly. As they grow older, they'll naturally learn to separate the languages. Thats how I grew up.

My kids will be raised the same way, except I'll try to find a fluent german, spanish, french or other major language nanny to give him/her another headstart.

 

[Pacfanweb]

As soon as they start talking. I'm not bilingual, but my kids are picking up lots of Spanish from the educational shows they watch.

 

[HardcoreRomantic]

My brother's neighbors are fluent in French and English (the wife is from Quebec, and since she's lived all over the world, she's actually multi lingual). Both her kids (maybe 3 and almost 2?) understand both French and English, and the oldest can reply back in either easily (I met the younger one before she was really of speaking age). She also runs a daycare and all the kids have picked up on basic commands and greetings/courtesies in French. As for consistency, she seemed to switch back and forth a lot (even mid-sentence), and there didn't seem to be any confusion with the kids.
Although when she tried to throw Spanish in there, the oldest said "Moooom, I already have English, French and Science. I don't need Spanish now."

 

[hypn0tik]

Kids pick up languages quickly before the age of 11. The sooner you start the better.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
1 minute old.
My neice is 2.5 - 3 years old and bilingual. She even knows who to speak spanish to and who to speak english to.

Erm, forgot to logout.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Very early on - I see no reason to start it at a time different than their first language.

 

[Colt45]

I wish my folks taught me when I was younger. It sure is a lot harder now

 

[AnandTech Moderator]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: AnandTech Moderator
1 minute old.
My neice is 2.5 - 3 years old and bilingual. She even knows who to speak spanish to and who to speak english to.

Erm, forgot to logout.

Didn't forget, didn't feel like it.

 

[Svnla]

When they were born.

My nieces and nephew are able to speak several languages without any accents. I sometimes wish I could speak English like the natives but sometimes it is a good thing because some women think it is so sexy with an accent.

 

[Fritzo]

Just speak to him in both languages at home. He'll pick it up early.

 

[meltdown75]

9 months before birth.

 

[jjones]

I would suggest you speak to them in the second language immediately and frequently, at least 60% of the time, if not all the time while at home.