Parent Interview

Children Language Learning Experiences: Home and School

General Information:
Parent(s) name(s): Nina
Childs name: Eva

Childs age: 5

Ethnicity: Hispanic
Key: N: Noemi

J: Jessica

1. Which language is spoken at home? (Is there more than one language)
N: Yes, English and Spanish.

2. Which language does your child speak at home?

N: Jesus Crist, um, she uses both
J: Is there on that she uses more?
N: English

3. What was the first language the child acquired?

N: Spanish

4. What is the primary language spoken of the child?

J: Would you say that English is the primary language?
N: You could say

5. When did your child start to learn (speak) a second language?

Ummm, I can say, well she started school at three so she already knew it because we
spoke to her. Oh my god I dont know, one an a half, two.

6. Are there any siblings that are learning a language as well?

N: Yeah, they speak spanish.

a.

In what language do they interact with one another?

N: English
7. What language do you speak to your child?
N: Spanglish
This is when the English and Spanish language are mixed to create one language.
8. Do you read books at home?
N: Yes
a. In which language (s) do you read?
N: English

9. In regards to media (tv), what language (s) do(es) your child(ren) listen to?
N: English

10. What kind of music do you listen to?

N: English, um we do a lot of reggaeton, so but here at my moms it Mexican music. (To
Eva) You sing in English, yeah your Taylor Swift. (To me)Rihanna is a big one with her.

11. How important is for you to maintain the first language?

N: Thats my primary language, and its basically, you know those are my roots. Its like
very important cus my older kids theyre both bilingual and they started off as her. But
since English is more important in school, and home we do practice more English than
Spanish. So I say more because of my roots.

12. What language does your child speak with their friends?
J: Ive noticed that she has started to use Spanish with some of her friends.
N: Yeah
J: And she starts to count in spanish and things like that
N: Yeah, mmhhhm

J: I didnt notice it at the beginning of the year.

N: Now its more

13. Are you, the parents second language learners as well?

J: So youre a second language learner, you learned English second.
N: Yes

14. Have your child(ren) had a negative language experiences?

N: No I dont think so.

15. Do you have any anecdote of your child(ren) in regards to language?

N: None that I can think of.

16. Which language does your child(ren) speak with your extended family?
She does the Spanish because they dont speak English but shell mix it so then thats
when I have to jump in. But here at my moms shes here most of the time after school,
theres no way my moms gonna be like Nope you gotta tell me in spanish.

17. Have your child(ren) stop speaking either your first or second language?
J: You, or none of you have stopped speaking any of the languages have you?
N: Nope

18. Why did you decide to have your child in an ELL classroom?
This does not apply to this family. The student is not in an ELL classroom. There is some
Spanish in the classroom but it is not al ELL classroom.
19. Is your child able to speak their native language in his/her classroom?
N: They do because Ive heard her sing the songs.
20. Does your teacher speak your child first language? How do you know? In which cases?

N: No when I put my son in that school, yeah hes been there for two years already. So
when I looked into the Kindergarten teachers I wanted a bilingual teacher for that same
purpose because I know they try to put in some Spanish in their learning.

21. Do you know which language(s) is the one spoken in school?

N: English and Spanish

22. Do you know which language your child(ren) use in school to communicate with friends?
N: English and Spanish, but mostly English.

Reflection
I enjoyed doing this interview because it gave me an idea of the roles that the English and
Spanish language plays in this families life. I was aware that both Spanish and English were
integral parts of their lives, but the information I gained from this interview made it clear exactly
how these languages fit into their life. For example I have learned that while Eva speaks a lot of
Spanish with extended family members such as grandparents, aunts, and uncles, it is far less
common for her to speak Spanish with her parents and siblings. As far as school is concerned, it
is not common to hear her speak Spanish in school.
All of this information is definitely important to know because it affects how any students
is given instruction in the classroom. In the case of Eva I know that while she student does know
Spanish, and speaks it on a semi-regular basis, it probably wouldnt be a good idea to use it in
the classroom with her. Since her use of Spanish is not extensive, especially in a formal setting
such as school, she will most likely and prefers to be given instruction in English. Its interesting
to see how the diverse setting in which an individual uses a language shapes who they are. I
thought it was interesting that Nina wanted Eva to keep her language because it is part of her
culture, which is an integral part of her life. If my parents had been asked this same question
when I was in kindergarten they would have given a completely different answer. In my case I
needed to be able to speak the language because for so many of my family members it was their
only language. I needed and still need the language to communicate to people who were
important to me. In the case of Eva she has people such as her parents, and siblings that can

translate for her if she needs to communicate in Spanish, Nina wants to keep the language alive
because it is a part of her identity not because it need to be kept alive.
If all of this information were gathered from all ELL students in the beginning of the
year, it would make it much easier for teachers to understand their students, and how to guide
instruction for them.