We put a lot of thought into whether or not we wanted Radley to be part of the Dual Language program at CSISD. The school we are zoned for doesn't offer the program which means no neighborhood friends from class. Did this mean that the girls would also need to do DL? How much extra stress is this going to put on him? Are we equipped to really support his learning - because my Spanish is limited to asking where the bathroom is, and ordering beer and queso.
But, in the end we decided to apply and we are so glad that we did. This program has offered so much more than teaching spanish. He is so excited to learn a new language. He soaks it all in and often answers us with a quick "si" instead of "yes". Asking "why" has now become "por que?" and a during simple game of Go Fish you can hear him asking for "cincos" instead of fives.
Our afternoons have been spent come up with new ways to make learning fun and engaging. And, to be honest, as an opportunity for me to learn right along with him. This has definitely become a family affair and will continue to be. He already speaks more Spanish than me (because my counting ends at 10) and Emmy asks when it's her turn to learn Spanish, too.
But when we really sit and think about why we love this program so much - it's the experience that he is getting. I know it my sound silly, but y'all that Coca Cola ad from the Super Bowl stirred my soul. It made me move and think and be grateful for the giant mess that is America. In the most beautiful way.
I am hopeful that this program will open his eyes (and the girls) to all of the many amazing things that makes this country tick. So that when he sees a commercial that has people singing in 7 different languages, he won't have to think twice about the message that is being sent. He will have lived it, every day with his classmates that only spoke Spanish on day one, just has he only spoke English. That the seven year journey will create more than a second language for them both, but also lasting friendships. He is learning at 6 that communicating with people is about more than the language we speak but the experiences we share.
Laughter translates and transcends. Imagination isn't limited by race or ethnicity. The heart drives us all.
And. Maybe when his first child is in kindergarten, America will not only be beautiful, but that beauty will be celebrated and that pride of why "We the PEOPLE" came together in the first place will be recognized as it should be.
