So many of my fellow parents tell me, “Sure Beth, it’s easy for you to do this second language stuff because you lived in Chile and Mexico.  But for me and my family it’s hard … we keep defaulting to English even when we know we should practice our Spanish.”

I am here to tell you amigos and amigas that you CAN do this, and it can be fun, affordable, and part of your daily routine.  Watch this for just one minute then come back:

When those children entered the studio to film this bilingual music video for children only one of the 8 spoke any Spanish whatsoever (and as a child of Latino parents she did so very reluctantly & with no smiles at all).

Honestly – telling you the straight truth here – after only 6 hours in the studio filming this video every one of the kids (except the baby!) left spouting out words in Spanish with pride!  Were they fluent?  No way!  That takes between 5-8 years according to linguistic experts.

My point today is that this second language journey CAN BE FUN, CAN BE AFFORDABLE, and CAN BE ENJOYED DAILY (it should be to make it work).  Check out what we do differently to make this work.

Stay tuned this week to get some realistic tips on how, when, and why.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Ready for more ideas on how to bring Spanish and English together for that special little child in your life?

Try this fun lesson over at my amiga Claudia’s site OnLineFreeSpanish.com that helps kids learn the numbers in both English and Spanish by connecting the dots!  ¡Qué divertido!  What fun!

Next up try this board book with lots of number learning fun for the younger set!  It’s only 47 cents used on Amazon.com.  REALLY!  ¡La verdad!

Now let’s check out EnchantedLearning.com and their fun way of introducing the numbers 20 – 31 so that you can enjoy doing Calendar Time with children in your homeschool co-op, your elementary school classroom, and your own home.  It’s all about making the learning fun for the young ones, isn’t it?!?!

I want to leave you with this YouTube video featuring number learning fun via a rap-style song!

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

It’s true!  The Spanish alphabet is different from the English alphabet!  

But it’s not so different that you and your child can’t learn it with my Boca Beth song titled Rappin the Spanish Alphabet (available as a FREE You Tube video from Monday’s blog post or on our More Boca Beth bilingual music CD which is only $9 with the 40% savings code of JOLLY for Christmas / Hanukkah shopping fun!).

I thought I would help you with some additional visual learning today by suggesting some cool books for the Spanish alphabet:

This book titled The Alphabet / El alfabeto is fantastic and is presented in  board book style for toddlers and preschoolers who are learning to read.      Experts agree that children CAN learn their native and a new language in  print by using tools such as this book with someone interacting with the  child during the reading time.

I realize it says it’s out of stock on Amazon, but you can find it other places (and check out the price of only Used at $1.22!!!!)

Next up is this easy-to-use, interactive coloring picture book to help children learn the Spanish language and its alphabet.  It’s in stock and can be purchased for only $1.90 NEW!!!  I have found with Amazon.com that I bundle together a bunch of products and save on shipping from the same vendor so watch who are buying from and try to buy from them all of your items.

Lastly, keeping in step with technology, is a Kindle edition of what seems to be a very cool ABC Bilingual Learning Book.    For only $5 you download this animal themed learning game tool, and witness your child learning the alphabet in both English and Spanish from what they say!

There you have it amigas and amigos!  A fun literacy-based wrap up to help YOU introduce the Spanish alphabet to your young children (and YOU might learn it right along with them!).

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

I love when major publications with klout report on things that I have been saying for YEARS!

Just yesterday the NYTimes published an article titled Hearing Bilingual:  How Babies Sort Out Language (read the entire article right here).  This article informs us that babies (even in the womb) recognize multiple languages and are able to detect their various phonetic sounds.  Then around the age of 11 months (straight out of my notes from my research 11 years ago) the baby’s brain begins to acquire and recognize languages differently.  

Hey!  Haven’t I been saying just that during my keynotes and early childhood workshops on how to bring Spanish and English together for babies, toddlers and preschoolers for almost 10 years?!?!?!  No worries – I have always been ahead of my time. 

During these same bilingual keynotes and workshops for educators, homeschooling families and parents I have referred to Dr. Ellen Bialystok and her many studies over the years on bilingualism.  The NYTimes even featured her work in a recent article found here.

Here’s what all of this means for you as a parent, as a teacher, as a leader of a preschool center, school or homeschooling co-op:

START EARLY when it comes to introducing a second language to young children.  Watch these little ones and older ones enjoying Kiss is a beso / Beso es un kiss.  Our Boca Beth bilingual song being featured this week. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS-JbLOrvlw

Want to win the DVD this music video is on?  ***7 other music videos are featured within this same DVD titled I Like Animals / Me gustan los animales from my Boca Beth Program and product line***

Simply read through the NYTimes article from yesterday, and comment below on one fascinating fact you discovered.  I will mail out 5 Boca Beth bilingual DVDs for children to learn Spanish to 5 separate winners based on your comments and how thorough they are.

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Our new bilingual teaching vignettes are all over the place!  At Daily Motion Kids, at 5Min and more!

Take a peek and help your young child learn even more Spanish with our super fun and easy way provided by The Boca Beth Program!  Simply click any of the three links below – each one is a different lesson with BOCA the puppet or with a bilingual children’s song!  Enjoy.

httpv://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdm1iw_learning-lesson-with-lions-help-kid_music   

httpv://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdm13i_el-dormitorio-the-bedroom-a-child-l_people 

httpv://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdm1rf_five-little-monkeys-done-a-fun-bili_music

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

P.S. (Like what you see?  We would love to hear your thoughts please.  Leave us a comment if you have time.)

Ahh…the stats on how much learning is lost during the summer months.

I really love summer with my kids until they start saying, “I’m bored.” or “There’s nothing to do.” even though there are at least 20 things within eye sight to do for fun.  You KNOW what I’m talking about!!!

Here’s what we have done at Boca Beth!

We created brand new Boca Beth vignettes – mini teaching lessons - and have uploaded them to some sites for distribution.

Here’s one for FREE!  Questions coming this week about Spanish learning fun!  Be ready to answer and win!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6-Br6Xa-uU

So I get a  little carried away on the alliteration!  I know, I know!  But it keeps the blog fresh & fun!

Here are some very cool teaching tips, additional resources, and just plain great places to go for fun and easy bilingual teaching stuff:

Visit this web site OnLineFreeSpanish.com whenever you want some creative fun with your own child one-on-one or if you are looking to put a lesson together with one of our Boca Beth bilingual songs.  This site is always on the move with fresh new content.

Here is a book site where I shop for used and new bilingual books.  They are usually very fair with their pricing and shipping costs.

How about some great lesson ideas in both languages from an old favorite – Enchanted Learning - remember them?  Free membership!  (A small donation gets you access to even more!)   They have TONS of bilingual learning pages.

Just want to get some reassurance that you are doing the right thing by raising these young children to be bilingual?  Read this terrific book written by two moms who are raising their own children to be bilingual (and even trilingual) PLUS they happen to be Ph.D.s in linguistics.  The book is super easy to read and what they say and report makes good common sense.

Then join the conversation over at my amigas Ana and Roxana’s site SpanglishBaby.com for a lively exchange of what seems to be working for many families as they ‘work’ on being a bilingual and beyond home.

How about some props to bring the learning to life – make it full of visual appeal?  Shop at my amigos, amigas site Discount School Supply where the prices are fair and the selection continues to grow in the bilingual area.

Don’t you LOVE the internet?  How do some of our friends do without it?  Such a wealth of knowledge, experience and friendship available without ever leaving your home…though I love face-to-face time too!

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth

Yesterday I shared with you one of our fun Boca Beth bilingual Christian songs from our CD titled Sing Praise for Children / Canta la alabanza para los ninos.

Bilingual Recording Artist Boca Beth CD for Children

Go here for the suggested classroom / circle time activities that go hand in hand with all of the songs off this fun CD that retails for only $6.99.

As you may know, we donate $1 for every one of these fun CDs sold towards Mission Efforts around the world. 

For two of you lucky readers I want to send you your own Boca Beth bilingual Christian CD for children.  Here’s how to win one for your family or your church preschool:

Visit my web site at www.BocaBeth.com and tell me (by commenting below) what city and state I am in tomorrow, Tuesday, February 16, 2010 for a teacher training and concert.  First two correct answers win!

Happy Educating / Sea feliz educando -

Boca Beth

Today I thought I would recap all of our 2008 and 2009 efforts  that have provided you and your young children with many free mini lessons meant to introduce Spanish right alongside English.  Click here and find more than 30 short clips for your free use!

Why that way and not through immersion you might ask?

Many experts agree that as babies, toddlers and preschool age children are learning one word for an item, it’s just as easy for them to learn a second word in a new language for that same item!  Called the bilingual method, addition method or parallel method, here at The Boca Beth Program we make it fun, easy and affordable to bring Spanish and English into your daily routine!

Go here to our FREE YOU TUBE lessons TODAY!

Happy Educating!  ¡Sea feliz educando!

Boca Beth