Boca Beth: Teach Your Child How to Speak Español!

Boca Beth Beginner Backpack

Being raised by immigrant parents in a bilingual household I recognize the value of being fluent in two languages. However, as a second-generation Spaniard, I have struggled with how to teach my daughter to speak Spanish when English is the language that I usually find myself talking (and thinking) in. I was excited to check out the Boca Beth Gift Set ($50).

The gift-set includes a see through, vinyl, child-sized backpack stuffed with Boca Beth bilingual products including a CD with sing-along songs, a learning DVD, a puppet (with the original Boca character which appears in the DVD movie), a coloring book and either an egg shaker or maraca.  The set also includes a How To guide for parents and caregivers to help you along the learning journey.

We liked the music cd and my daughter was able to sing along within only a few listens. She was also a HUGE fan of the hand-puppet but she wasn’t as into the DVD. I think her Spanish may be a bit too advanced for it at this point which may have been what deterred her. We passed it along to her 4-year-old cousin who is not exposed to Spanish on a daily basis (the program’s target audience as it was created for monolingual children) and within a week he was naming things in Spanish. Pretty amazing stuff! In fact, his mom got really into the program (the How To guide is very easy to follow and actually quite helpful) and his progress (and hers!) is pretty incredible.

Based on my experience I would highly recommend this program to someone whose child does not speak or hear Spanish on a regular basis. Though this program was not really created for someone like my daughter (someone who understands Spanish fluently, just refuses to speak it most of the time) she was still able to enjoy bits and pieces of it and I was able to use the How to Guide as a reinforcer so it was not a total failure. I actually do think that I would have really benefited from something like this if I had used it from the time that she was born. (The program is good for children from birth to age eight.)

I do feel that I should point out that the “narrator” is not a native speaker. I personally do not think that is an issue (especially if you are not a native speaker either) but it caught me off-guard so I thought I’d just put it out there.

This program was really well done and I think parents who are willing to sit down with their kids and introduce a second-language (home-schooling parents should definitely check it out) will really enjoy it.

–Teba

CBB Deal: 20% off any Boca Beth CD or DVD purchased a la carte and 10% off any Boca Beth Language Learning Set using code “celeb” (expires February 28, 2009).

Comments

Intersting, I will try this program!! I am bilingual and am trying so hard to teach my daughter spanish, yet I feel like I am not making any progress…

Thank you for this CBB

- XOXO on February 4th, 2009

this sounds like something my son needs!! “Abue” will be so happy! I too find myself speaking and thinking in English (even tho Spanish is my native tongue) and have been feeling tremendously guilty esp since my mom is a bilingual teacher. Thank you for mentioning that the narrator is not a native speaker. Kinda drives me bonkers, why do they do that?? I am still going to give this a try. Thx!!

- lulu on February 4th, 2009

I am thrilled to have shared our Boca Beth products with Teba for review and would love to reply to “why we do that” as far as the native speaker vs. non-native speaker. In a recent book titled The Bilingual Edge the two Linguistic PhDs (who happen to be moms raising bilingual children of their own which is so cool!)state very clearly that you do not have to be a native speaker to give the gift of a second language to the young children in your life.

I was born in the US, lived in Chile and Mexico, then married a Latino whose Mom used to tell me (in Spanish) that I spoke Spanish more beautifully than her own son! I created this line of fun, easy and affordable products for English speaking parents and teachers to have something they could use each day with smiles and a high level of confidence. I also created it for children like Teba’s daughter who refuse at times to speak their native Spanish – they see Anglo kids singing and dancing in their language and they think, “Hey, it’s cool to speak Spanish!”

I appreciate all comments and take them to heart and to the ever-evolving Boca Beth Program. Thank you for sharing my passion for a fun 2nd language journey for all families!

Boca Beth

- Beth Butler on February 4th, 2009