I know firsthand how important multilingualism is — English is only my second language, my husband speaks five. (I KNOW.) Our lives (both personal and professional) have been enhanced by our multilingualism. As my husband said to our son’s kindergarten class, when you speak multiple languages you are welcome everywhere.
You would think raising bilingual children would be a piece of cake for me. I wish!
But despite the fact that Spanish is my mother tongue, I’ve had an extremely difficult time finding a quality curriculum — the Spanish classes I’ve found tend to treat Spanish as something kids should learn in case they’re ever a tourist in a Spanish-speaking country instead of the foundation for a lifetime of bilingualism (or, hopefully, multilingualism).
I was thrilled when the Isabella & Ferdinand CD arrived in my house (I was sent a sample) — it’s sleek, smart and perhaps most importantly, respectful of the entire breadth of Hispanic culture. From Cervantes to the Taínos to Diego & Frida, it’s a wonderful trip through the musical styles and cultures of the Spanish speaking world (which is no small feat — most of the Americas and a significant part of Europe are bound by the Spanish language.)
I only wish I lived in Washington DC so I could enroll my boys in their classes.
Bravo to founders Pilar and Alexandra — and thank you for a job well done!
FIND IT: Download the album on iTunes or buy it on Amazon (it includes the lyrics in Spanish and English)
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