9/7/2014 Bilingual story time promotes early language learning - MRT.

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Bilingual story time promotes early language
learning
By Tessa Duvall | tduvall@mrt.com | Posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2014 5:38 pm
The familiar tune of the childhood classic The Itsy
Bitsy Spider could be heard wafting from the
childrens area at Centennial library on Tuesday
morning.
But what may not have been familiar to some library
patrons were the lyrics, which were sung in Spanish
by about a dozen children.
Tesoro Bilingual Playgroup Spanish Story Time
which takes place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the
Centennial branch was in full swing. Each
session includes two songs, two stories, parachute
play time and a craft.
Alexis Johnson, the parent volunteer who started
bilingual story time, said she originally launched
the event at the downtown library last fall as a way
to promote social interaction and language learning among children who are not yet in school.
Story time was moved to the Centennial library in June, where Johnson co-leads activities with
Gabby Escobar, a parent and former bilingual teacher. Escobar was unable to attend this weeks
story time because she is out of town.
I wanted to get my daughter around other native speakers, for us both to learn, Johnson said. I am
not a native speaker, so were learning together. I wanted to be around other mothers who could
share the language and other children who could talk to each other in their own language, English,
Spanish, whichever.
English-speakers and Spanish-speakers alike are welcome and can benefit from the activities, she
said. The songs and stories teach English-speaking kids basic useful Spanish words, such as
numbers, body parts and animals, and Spanish-speakers get to socialize and interact with peers in
their native language.
Johnson said she tries to start each session with the same songs The Itsy Bitsy Spider and
Two Hands, 10 Fingers so English-speakers recognize the songs and feel comfortable as they
begin to pick up words.
Its a lot harder as you get older, but the little ones pick it up very quickly, she said. So, when
they hear the rolling of the Rs, they remember that in their minds, so when they hear it later on, it
stays with them.
0708_BilingualStory-
Library_JLD_01.JPG
Bilingual story time on Tuesday at Midland
County Public Library Centennial Branch.
James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram
9/7/2014 Bilingual story time promotes early language learning - MRT.com: Education
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Attendance has increased since the sessions relocated to the Centennial branch, she said. Story
time is both a service to area children and the community, she said.
Its important for children to read at a young age, and its important for the mothers to have an
outlet, to come and have these activities for the children, Johnson said. The main importance is
to get them to the library, to read and be exposed to another language, to different cultures,
especially in our community, where we have a high percentage of Hispanics.
According to the Census Quick Facts for Midland County, 41.1 percent of the population is
Hispanic or Latino, as of the 2013 estimate. Nearly 30 percent of Midlanders speak a language
other than English at home, according to Quick Facts.
Additionally, 58.5 percent of Midland ISD students are Hispanic and 8.7 percent are enrolled in the
districts bilingual and English as a Second Language program, according to the Texas Education
Agencys 2013 Snapshot.
Miki Rodriguez and her daughter, Sophia Rodriguez, 3, attended their first bilingual story time this
week. Rodriguez said she learned to understand, but never to speak, Spanish growing up, so she
wants Sophia to be able to do both.
My parents, they didnt really enforce, You need to learn Spanish; you need to learn Spanish,
she said. So maybe this will help her.
Rodriguez said her husband speaks Spanish fluently and teaches Sophia words and reads to her in
Spanish.
Tuesday was the second session for Damarez Valderrama and her son, Bruno Carcamo, 4.
Originally from Juarez, Mexico, Valderrama said she wishes Midland had more Spanish-language
events for families.
We as Spanish people, we dont have so many kind of events like this, cultural or something,
where they can express their feelings or what they are thinking in Spanish, she said. Its very
important for me as a mother, because we always talk Spanish at home, and hes trying to learn
English.
Valderrama said she hopes learning English will be easier for Bruno because he is starting to learn
at such a young age. Classes at church and cartoons have helped Bruno pick up new words very
quickly, she said.