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How do children learn Spanish as a SL in Shanghai?

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wagtsh

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Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 36

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Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 02:00 AM
Post subject: How do children learn Spanish as a SL in Shanghai?

Hello everyone,

Thank you for reading my post. I have 2 children: a 7-month-old and a 2-year-old. We want them to learn Spanish as a second language. My husband and I know minimal Spanish. Here in the US, I hire a native speaker as their nanny/ tutor.

We would love them to continue to learn the language in Shanghai. I ordered some educational tapes and videos in Spanish to bring to Shanghai but this is a passive way of language acquisition.

Moms and dads, how do your young children learn Spanish in Shanghai?

I know the Spanish population is small in Shanghai, but how difficult and expensive it is to hire a part-time Spanish nanny/ babysitter/ tutor? We'll have an Ayi to take care of the children. So this position is more for playing and reading activities with the children.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Last edited by wagtsh on Mar 22, 2005 - 02:27 PM; edited 1 time in total

jesusizbak

Reacher

Joined: Feb 09, 2004
Posts: 303

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Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 08:23 AM

teaching a 2 year old kid ???
How's that possible ??
I can't see how unless both parents speak spanish and/or have a full-time spanish speaking nanny

bellabella

Gypsy Queen

Joined: Aug 03, 2004
Posts: 14989
Location: London
Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 08:51 AM

^It's actually not that difficult for kids that age to learn another language. They absorb an awful lot at that age as they are learning all the time anyway and are in the habit of learning language. It only gets harder as you get older.

wagtsh I'm sorry I can't really help you. I do have a friend who is a Spanish tutor, but a nanny position is not really for him - sorry!!

aicheng

Newbie

Joined: Mar 17, 2004
Posts: 8

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 09:02 AM

Hi, Wagtsh:
I think that my idea may not help you cause I am going to say just foget it to let small children learn a language which is not nessary for them for the time being. Do you plan to stay in Shanghai long? if not, if you are going to go back to the states, you really don't have to worry about it. Cause children will pick up with languages so fast. Why just let them speak some shanghaiese or madarine? I think it is more important to give them more spaces to let them to be more flexible to the new environment, to the new language, cause they are so small and I think a solid base of mother tongue is more important than a foreign language for such a small child.

Magnolia
Board Biatch

Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31091

Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 12:18 PM

wagtsh, I don't have any children but firmly believe that children should be taught new languages from birth as it is a more natural way of learning.

Since you are the parents of the children, it is your choice to decide what language you would like for them to learn. Might I suggest contacting the Spanish Consulate to see if they can recommend any tutors (nanny's may be a bit more difficult) or some of the local international schools, especially kindergardens, to see if any of the teachers or students are native spanish speakers. A friend of mine worked for a kindergarden that had three children from Spain in the same class (she used to help them with English lessons). Possibly some play groups with the children could be a substitute method.

I know you are looking more for a nanny... sorry I can't think of anyone to fill that position.

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wagtsh

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Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 36

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Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 01:58 PM

hit the "enter" keys 2 times.

Last edited by wagtsh on Mar 22, 2005 - 02:08 PM; edited 1 time in total

wagtsh

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Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 36

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Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 01:58 PM

Magnolia wrote:

[firmly believe that children should be taught new languages from birth as it is a more natural way of learning.

Magnolia, Jesusizback, Bellabella, Aicheng, thank you for all your feedback (both positive and negative ones). Infants and toddlers have a window of opportunity to learn a new language. It's so easy for them if you start early especially if they learn it through a natural way like from a caretaker or nanny. Babies are soooooo smart. So, please, when you have children, teach them a new language from birth, as Magnolia said.

I know many multi-lingual young children. Yes, it's possible for them to learn a language even just from one of the parents. They, for example, speak Italian to the Italian father, then turn to the Vietnamese mother and speak Vietnamese to her, then turn to their American friends and speak in English. So, please give your little ones as much as opportunities as possible.

OK, now back to my original thread. Anyone please:

1) How do your young children learn Spanish in Shanghai?

2) Not a lot Spanish-speaking people in Shanghai. How difficulty and expensive it is to hire a native speaker as a nanny/ tutor/ babysitter? We'll have an ayi to take care of the children. So this position is more for playing and reading activities.

Thank you very much!!!

zhw7

Reacher

Joined: Mar 01, 2005
Posts: 220
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 22, 2005 - 08:11 PM

1.
There are a lot of Spanish courses for locals.
Maybe you can contact them for further info.
Here are two (in Chinese):

http://www.oadvance.com/title/xby.htm (If your computer is not installed with an anti-virus software, please do not access to the page)

http://www.myspain.org/xiyu/

2. There is a university in Shanghi where Spanish is taught.
Shanghai International Studies University
Address: 550 Dalian Road(W)
http://www.shisu.edu.cn/SISUenglish/index.htm
http://www.shisu.edu.cn/

3. Contact Span Consulate Shanghai
I believe they can give you help.

wagtsh

Lurker

Joined: Mar 07, 2005
Posts: 36

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 23, 2005 - 01:39 AM

zhw7, thanks a lot!

I'll give all the three options a try.

sa-sha

Squeeker

Joined: Mar 21, 2004
Posts: 18

Status: Offline

Posted: Apr 08, 2005 - 03:07 PM

HI. In this time we have many multi cultural multi lingual marriage . Now more and more multi lingual children are born as well.
I'm Indonesian, my husband is Italian, our daughter was born in Shanghai.
Now she is 2 .5 years old and she speaks fluent Indonesian to me, fluent Italian to my husband and his family back in italy (by phone), mandarin to local people and her ayi, and now starting to speaks english because she start to attend a english playgroup. We as parents of course do not want to push her to much, but then again her enviroment naturally force her to do so. It's not too hard to her ,if I must say so.
I think it's important one child to learn second language .
As for your situation, I totally agree if you want to look for someone that can spent a few hours a day, to play , to sing to read a stroy book in spanish, that is how 2 years old learn .
Maybe you can find a spanish speaker that learns mandarin in university (female maybe better with younger kids). during her spare time she can earn extra money and spend her time with your kids.
or ask the spanish consulate if they arrange a cuturale program for spanish family in shanghai.
I know , for Italian in shanghai or Dutch family in Shanghai, they arrange , once a week school volunteered by parents, for the children to keep or learn or maintain their native languange by borrowing a class in one ofthe international school in town.
I know one lady who teach Italian, spanish and portugese. She used to be my teacher too. But I'm not sure if she still teach or willing to teach such a tender age. She is a vert nice Italian lady. if you want to talk to her , just to ask for her opinion or so, please give me you email .
cheers
from sa-sha who used to live in SHA but have moved to GZ.