Olivia, a huge fan of the book Pinkalicious, promptly said:
"Mom, remember when we read Pinkalicious and she turned pink? Well, I don't know if I can eat a chocolate muffin because I will turn brown."
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Brownalicious!
When I picked up Olivia from preschool today, I informed her that I made zucchini-chocolate muffins (see side bar for recipe link - I used applesauce instead of oil) for an afternoon snack (really, they are for our trip tomorrow - but, I put one aside for her to eat today).
Olivia, a huge fan of the book Pinkalicious, promptly said:
Olivia, a huge fan of the book Pinkalicious, promptly said:
Contemplating the Gift of Language
American parents give their children the gift of music, dance, sport, art, theater, God and so on. Unfortunately, unless a family is bilingual to begin with, we rarely give our children the gift of language. We look to the schools to do it beginning when our children are in seventh, eighth or ninth grade.
Most American parents are aware that children can easily master a second language up through age six. After that, it becomes very difficult. It is very rare to find an American student, who began a second language in junior high, able to graduate from high school fluent in that language.
In many European countries, language classes begin sometime between preschool and kindergarten. By the time students enter high school, most students speak a second language fluently and go on to a third language during high school and college. In some countries, early language introduction may be a new thing. In our travels, high school and young college students tend to speak very good English and, often, French or Spanish. However, we frequently come across men and women ages 25 and above who do not speak any English at all. That being said, my husband works with men and women from over 20-different countries and well more than half of them speak at least two and up to five languages.
A little boy in Olivia's swimming lesson class is just over five. He began English at school over a year ago. His comprehension is wonderful and when he's not being shy, he speaks very good beginner English. This used to floor me. Until Olivia became fluent (four-year-old fluent, mind you) in Portuguese within six months of part-time preschool.
I'm the Crazy One
It's quite possible that Olivia, being the outspoken, opinionated (wonder where she gets that from), chatter box that she is, has a gift for language simply because she cannot not talk. She has important things to say, gosh darn it! I do know that not all preschoolers immersed in a second language become fluent in six months. However, most do by the end of the school year.
Up until a month or two ago, I thought that we'd move back to the US and, slowly, Olivia would lose her Portuguese. My hope was that when she took Spanish (or French, etc) as a junior high student, it would come easily to her because of her previous bilingual background (far-fetched thought).
Recently, however, as I watched Olivia play, talk and laugh with her Portuguese friends at school, I began to think that maybe we could continue giving our child the gift of language. I began to think about what she could do with a second langauge. What cultures, travel, job and volunteer opportunities would be opened up to her (Lila too - because we won't do this for just Olivia)! The possibilities...
So, maybe we could transition her to Spanish (Portuguese communities are far and few between in the US and my bilingual friends think she could easily transition to Spanish, for example) this coming Fall by putting her in a preschool that offers Spanish class once or twice a week, coupled with a playgroup or after school language program. I know these things aren't completely unheard of in the States. You just have to reach out in the community. Right?
Well, so far, the Ft. Leavenworth area has very little to offer aside from ESL classes (English as a second language). Not a single preschool with any language program whatsoever, public or private. No wonder American families don't give the gift of language. It is a challenge to find local resources and when you do, it can be costly. This is a shame and I think America needs to step it up in the language department!
Now, I have to think outside the box. Giving the gift of language is quite a foreign concept to many American families. I have a local (Ft. Leavenworth area) high school Spanish teacher's email address. It is my hope that she and her husband (a Spanish interpreter) will have some contacts or advice as to how we can keep language alive for our children. They may be involved in a Spanish community that the people I have talked to are unaware of...
I may be banging my head up against the wall. I may be considered "the crazy mother" for even attempting this. But, I have to try.
Living abroad has taught me the value of giving the gift of of language - beginning in toddlerhood.
Most American parents are aware that children can easily master a second language up through age six. After that, it becomes very difficult. It is very rare to find an American student, who began a second language in junior high, able to graduate from high school fluent in that language.
In many European countries, language classes begin sometime between preschool and kindergarten. By the time students enter high school, most students speak a second language fluently and go on to a third language during high school and college. In some countries, early language introduction may be a new thing. In our travels, high school and young college students tend to speak very good English and, often, French or Spanish. However, we frequently come across men and women ages 25 and above who do not speak any English at all. That being said, my husband works with men and women from over 20-different countries and well more than half of them speak at least two and up to five languages.
A little boy in Olivia's swimming lesson class is just over five. He began English at school over a year ago. His comprehension is wonderful and when he's not being shy, he speaks very good beginner English. This used to floor me. Until Olivia became fluent (four-year-old fluent, mind you) in Portuguese within six months of part-time preschool.
I'm the Crazy One
It's quite possible that Olivia, being the outspoken, opinionated (wonder where she gets that from), chatter box that she is, has a gift for language simply because she cannot not talk. She has important things to say, gosh darn it! I do know that not all preschoolers immersed in a second language become fluent in six months. However, most do by the end of the school year.
Up until a month or two ago, I thought that we'd move back to the US and, slowly, Olivia would lose her Portuguese. My hope was that when she took Spanish (or French, etc) as a junior high student, it would come easily to her because of her previous bilingual background (far-fetched thought).
Recently, however, as I watched Olivia play, talk and laugh with her Portuguese friends at school, I began to think that maybe we could continue giving our child the gift of language. I began to think about what she could do with a second langauge. What cultures, travel, job and volunteer opportunities would be opened up to her (Lila too - because we won't do this for just Olivia)! The possibilities...
So, maybe we could transition her to Spanish (Portuguese communities are far and few between in the US and my bilingual friends think she could easily transition to Spanish, for example) this coming Fall by putting her in a preschool that offers Spanish class once or twice a week, coupled with a playgroup or after school language program. I know these things aren't completely unheard of in the States. You just have to reach out in the community. Right?
Well, so far, the Ft. Leavenworth area has very little to offer aside from ESL classes (English as a second language). Not a single preschool with any language program whatsoever, public or private. No wonder American families don't give the gift of language. It is a challenge to find local resources and when you do, it can be costly. This is a shame and I think America needs to step it up in the language department!
Now, I have to think outside the box. Giving the gift of language is quite a foreign concept to many American families. I have a local (Ft. Leavenworth area) high school Spanish teacher's email address. It is my hope that she and her husband (a Spanish interpreter) will have some contacts or advice as to how we can keep language alive for our children. They may be involved in a Spanish community that the people I have talked to are unaware of...
I may be banging my head up against the wall. I may be considered "the crazy mother" for even attempting this. But, I have to try.
Living abroad has taught me the value of giving the gift of of language - beginning in toddlerhood.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Barb's Visit
This past week, our friend, Barb, flew in from Vermont. Matt was away for most of the trip but I had a great time being her tour guide (above picture is of us at St. Jorge's Castle in Lisbon).
Lila at Pasteis de Belem (best cream pastry shop in Portugal)
Pasteis de Nata (cream pastries) warm and freshNo trip would be complete without tastes of the local cuisine. So, each day I sought out a local dish, local pastry and wine (For those of you wondering - yes, I may have gained a pound or two - I refuse to weigh myself as long as my pants still fit - and they do. Travel and guests visits are "cheat" days. I'm back to being "good." At least for the next few days before we head to Ireland and I surely gorge myself on Irish cuisine and beer) for Barb and I to dine on.
We had some very delicious food and wine, including grilled cuttlefish with ink. The cuttlefish tastes a lot like grilled squid. If I have it again, I'll have it without ink (that is an option) because I didn't really love the inky taste and what it did to my teeth (see picture below)!
We had some very delicious food and wine, including grilled cuttlefish with ink. The cuttlefish tastes a lot like grilled squid. If I have it again, I'll have it without ink (that is an option) because I didn't really love the inky taste and what it did to my teeth (see picture below)!
Cuttlefish ink - though, my wrinkles probably stand out moreNo trip to Portugal would be complete without a trip to a winery and I took her to my favorite winery on the Setubal Penisula. There, she stocked up on some wine and reported back to me today that it all made it back home!
Lila and I at winery
Moorish Ruins - Sintra, PortugalBarb's visit was the last of visitors for a while. However, I've discovered, during the past few weeks, that I love cooking for people. I've made a lot of homemade dishes including lemon-ricotta pancakes, apple-oat pancakes, french toast casserole, egg cups, bread, carrot cake, pizza and sauce, and more. It's a lot of hard work cooking for more than just my family and, thankfully, all of our guests have helped out with the girls while I cooked (and helped out in the kitchen too) and helped with clean-up. Barb rolled out the pizza dough so nice and thin that the dough turned out to be the crispiest, tastiest dough I've baked yet!
Aside from the nasty cold Barb came down with (why do all our visitors get sick a few days after they arrive?), her trip was a success. The weather held up and we were able to stay on the itinerary I had planned out before she came.
Well, we did have one scare. Olivia hid on the babysitter I had watching the girls on Tuesday morning while Barb and I were a hour away in Obidos (walled-in city). I got a phone call as we were almost ready to head back home. I tried not to panic as I raced back home. But, she had been missing for over an hour and the local police were now on the "case." Fortunately, fifteen minutes into our race home, she had been found. Sound asleep, curled up on the floor beside my bed, wrapped in our thick down comforter (don't ask me how the sitter missed that one). She had hid from the sitter because she didn't want to take a nap. She got one anyway and scared the crap out of all of us!
We'll miss Barb and look forward to seeing her in July during our trip "home!"
Aside from the nasty cold Barb came down with (why do all our visitors get sick a few days after they arrive?), her trip was a success. The weather held up and we were able to stay on the itinerary I had planned out before she came.
Well, we did have one scare. Olivia hid on the babysitter I had watching the girls on Tuesday morning while Barb and I were a hour away in Obidos (walled-in city). I got a phone call as we were almost ready to head back home. I tried not to panic as I raced back home. But, she had been missing for over an hour and the local police were now on the "case." Fortunately, fifteen minutes into our race home, she had been found. Sound asleep, curled up on the floor beside my bed, wrapped in our thick down comforter (don't ask me how the sitter missed that one). She had hid from the sitter because she didn't want to take a nap. She got one anyway and scared the crap out of all of us!
We'll miss Barb and look forward to seeing her in July during our trip "home!"
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