A Community Conversation with Vamos Geneva 2030.
We speak Spanish!
We read together!
We write everyday!
We find resources on the internet!
We connect with other Spanish speakers!
We Speak Spanish!
According to the bilingual author, Alma Flor Ada, parents should speak the home language as much as possible: “It is better if the language spoken and practiced at home is the language of the parents... This will give children the opportunity to be bilingual and bicultural, which also provides an ongoing sense of security and comfort.”
María Fernanda Ochoa Palma playing with her son, Santiago.
Here in Geneva, many Spanish-speaking families use their mother tongue at home.
It is important for parents to encourage children to talk about their learning experiences in their home language. We can help children to solve problems and develop good academic habits. According to Blanca Ochoa Palma, mother of four bilingual children, it is essential to prioritize the use of Spanish as a family:
“The first thing is not to forget our roots. The second is that we do not stop communicating with our children in Spanish. [Parents can] read books in Spanish with our children to correct any mistakes they make, and we can, at least, watch television programs in Spanish.”
Lisandra Morán, mother of children in primary and secondary schools, also prioritizes the mother tongue at home: “We speak Spanish at home (and occasionally I will speak a tiny bit of English). Outside of the house there is a lot of English, which is good for everyone, but at home we keep using Spanish.”
According to Evelyn and Antonio Gómez, parents of daughters at Geneva Middle School, teaching requires patience and flexibility. They continue to use Spanish, even when their daughters respond to them in English. However, sometimes they mix in a bit of English if it seems useful. Evelyn Gómez advises parents to be flexible and to speak slowly to their children when they do not understand.
Antonio Gómez emphasizes the importance of seeking opportunities to converse in English and Spanish: “It is very important to connect with other people... and to look for every opportunity offered to practice language… to improve your lexicon and pronunciation.”
According to Gary Noesner, an expert in active listening, it is best to use open-ended questions, such as: “Can you tell me more about it?” Or “I didn’t understand what you just said. Could you help me understand that by explaining that more in detail?”
It is equally important that our children ask us questions in Spanish. Often, they want to hear our family stories. When we talk to our children, we have the opportunity to teach them new words and expand their vocabulary.
Evelyn Gómez with her daughters, Hadassa and Evelyne, reading a biography of César Chávez.
We Read Together!
It is a great idea to dedicate time everyday for reading. Reading is fun and it helps our children learn new words and improve their writing. Having access to a wide variety of books is one of the keys to academic success, according to many linguistic researchers.
According to Stephen Krashen, one of the 20th century's most important second language specialists, it is important that children enjoy what they are reading. No matter what they read, they should just have fun doing it. Therefore, it is important to let children choose the materials they want to read according to their tastes. If they do this, they will continue to read and enjoy all the benefits of reading, including increased language proficiency.
Lisany Claudio Moran reading with her brother Jeremy Claudio Moran.
The Geneva Public Library is an excellent resource (244 Main Street, Geneva, NY 14456). It has a collection of books, audiobooks, magazines, CDs, and DVDs in Spanish for children and adolescents and it is a meeting place for many bilingual families.
Librarian Tanya Taylor explains that you should, “start reading to your child when they are in the womb, and continue to read to them at least once a day for at least 20 minutes. You can read comic strips and the newspaper... You can read things that are interesting to you until your child can decide on their own reading material or book.”
The books for children are located on the ground floor of the library on the World Language Shelf. There are over 150 books in Spanish for children. The library offers programs on Zoom and pre-recorded videos on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.
Also, the library has a program called “Spanish 4 Kids,” which is taught by Hobart and William Smith professors of Spanish May Farnsworth and Caroline Travalia (cancelled in 2020 because of COVID).
Professors Caroline Travalia and May Farnsworth reading out loud in Spanish 4 Kids at the Geneva Public Library.
The 10 Most Popular Spanish Language Books from Geneva Public Library in 2020
¿Quién salta? by Katie Davis
El gato con sombrero viene de nuevo by Dr. Seuss
El oso polar by Jason Stone
De la cabeza a los pies by Eric Carle
Un pez, dos peces pez rojo pez azul by Dr. Seuss
Oso pardo, oso pardo qué ves ahí by Bill Martin
La telaraña de Carlota by E.B. White
Harold y el lápiz color morado by Crockett Johnson
El canguro tiene mamá by Eric Carle
Las gallinas no son las únicas by Ruth Heller
Geneva Reads is an organization that encourages Geneva residents to read and offers free books in English and Spanish. Geneva Reads also has a program called “Hispanic Family Reading.” Anne Schule, the Executive Director of Geneva Reads explains that this program, “makes Spanish-language books available to parents, so they can set the reading example for their children” in their home language. Here are a few favorites: ¡Te amo, te abrazo, leo contigo!/ ‘Love You, Hug You, Read to You!’ ByTish Rabe; Besos for Bebe / Kisses for Baby By Jen Arena; Qué cosas dice mi abuela (‘The Things My Grandmother Says’)by Ana Galán; The Tía Lola series by Julia Alvarez.
Marilú Segura at Geneva Reads.
Look for free books at the Community Bookshelves in Spanish and English at these locations:
Social Security Office at 15 Lewis St.
The Presbyterian Church in Geneva on Park Place
Child and Family Resources, Inc. at 41 Lewis St., Suite 103
Finger Lakes Pediatrics, 200 North St.
North Street School, 400 West North St.
West Street School, 30 West St.
Boys and Girls Club at Goodman Street
Geneva Community Center on Carter Road
Geneva City School District Office, 400 W. North St.
Geneva Community Health, 601 W. Washington St.
Geneva Housing Authority, 41 Lewis St.
We Write Everyday!
Experts advise encouraging children to practice writing through daily activities. The educational organization, Colorín Colorado gives examples of simple writing tasks: “you can ask your children to help write a grocery list, a note for a grandmother or a diary about special things that occur in the house. When you’re writing, have your child practice the letters and sounds that they are learning in school.”
Emily and Anthony Hernández Segura writing on the sidewalk in Geneva.
The best way to improve one’s writing is by reading. Books aren’t the only text that are useful for becoming a better writer. Comics, magazines, web pages and emails also enhance one’s spelling and vocabulary. According to Antonio Gómez, by putting on subtitles in Spanish, one can focus on “good grammar and spelling.”
Parents and children can practice writing while maintaining cultural traditions too. Family meal preparation, for example, “is an opportunity to celebrate cultural traditions by passing recipes from generation to generation,” says Nimali Fernando, a pediatrician and author of How to raise a healthy child who eats well. Fernando suggests parents “help their children discover new seasonal recipes to add to their repertoire and family cookbook."
Thank you cards can also encourage writing. For example, students can write notes to teachers, librarians, coaches and/or other adults in the community to express their appreciation for their support throughout the year and/or to thank them for organizing a special event.
We Find Resources on the Internet!
There are numerous programs, apps, podcasts and websites that can help your child increase their Spanish vocabulary.
On the internet, look for these educational videos for children:
Common Sense Latino: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/espanol/blog/8-programas-de-tv-creados-por-expertos-en-educacion-preescolar
Once niños (México): https://endpoint.canaloncelive.tv/oncatchup_detail/3215
Television pública de Argentina: https://www.tvpublica.com.ar
Colorin Colorado: https://www.colorincolorado.org/es
¡Ready Rosie! Ready Rosie videos show quick and fun activities based on learning goals for children, 0 through third grade. You can enroll in school and/or through Geneva2030@hws.edu (it's free and fun!) https://www.readyrosie.com/
And podcasts for children and adults, such as these from Radio Ambulante, Radio nacional de España, and Duolingo:
Thanks to the internet, we can listen to radio stations from Spanish-speaking countries: “Listening to music in the language being learned accelerates learning and speeds up student hearing,” says Antonio Gomez, who tells us that we should play songs “that are challenging to understand because it will train our brain to pay attention to the pronunciation.”
Antonio and Evelyn Gomez with Evelyne y Hadassa next to Seneca Lake.
¡We Connect With Other Spanish Speakers!
Hobart and William Smith virtual tutors are free to Geneva families.
For more information in English and Spanish, click here:
We are grateful for the participation of community members in Geneva who contributed so much to this research.
Thank you families Ochoa Palma, Gomez, Segura Hernandez and Claudio Moran.
And we acknowledge the support of Tanya Taylor, Jesús García, Anne Schule, Melissa Hegarty, Stephanie Annear and Tatianna Suriel.
Bibliography
Ada, Alma Flor, and Colin Baker. Guía para padres y maestros de niños bilingües. Channel
View Publications, 2001.
Dunn, Jancee. “Escucha a tus familiares, pero escúchalos de verdad.” The New York Times,
The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2020, www.nytimes.com/es/2020/11/02/espanol/estilos-de-vida/escucha-activa-consejos.html
Fernando, Nimali. “5 excelentes razones para cocinar con sus hijos”. HealthyChildren.org,
“For Families.” Colorín Colorado, 5 Dec. 2019, www.colorincolorado.org/families.
Krashen, Stephen. Free Voluntary Reading (2011). Santa Barbara: Libraries Unlimited.
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