Comments on: Publishing Bilingual Books http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/12/07/publishing-bilingual-books/ International Collection of Children's and Adolescent Literature Thu, 10 May 2012 01:00:31 +0000 hourly 1 By: Maria I. Smithwick http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/12/07/publishing-bilingual-books/comment-page-1/#comment-8194 Maria I. Smithwick Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:57:43 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=338#comment-8194 I love the fact that bilingual books in any languages are available. I am currently living in Mexico and there are schools pushing to also being bilingual campuses Spanish/English. So this makes it easier to transition the children into both languages. I do think that sometimes the book needs to be in one language considering the length of the text or the content. As a teacher I saw some needs and I am taking this time to write just that, children stories in Spanish. Children benefit from them and as they grow older they will begin to distinguish languages and make connections. As for translations, sometimes it depends the translators background. One word in Mexico might mean something different in Cuba or other Spanish speaking countries. Even then sometimes words are in indegineous languages like I sometimes find myself saying. The point is that like a painting writing is the author's perspective and perhaps to another person from a different background it might sound unrefined or poorly translated. We are no longer nations, but becoming a global nation. Here in Mexico there are Lebenese, Japanese, Chinese, Canadians, French, Americans, and much more. I love the fact that bilingual books in any languages are available. I am currently living in Mexico and there are schools pushing to also being bilingual campuses Spanish/English. So this makes it easier to transition the children into both languages. I do think that sometimes the book needs to be in one language considering the length of the text or the content. As a teacher I saw some needs and I am taking this time to write just that, children stories in Spanish. Children benefit from them and as they grow older they will begin to distinguish languages and make connections. As for translations, sometimes it depends the translators background. One word in Mexico might mean something different in Cuba or other Spanish speaking countries. Even then sometimes words are in indegineous languages like I sometimes find myself saying. The point is that like a painting writing is the author’s perspective and perhaps to another person from a different background it might sound unrefined or poorly translated. We are no longer nations, but becoming a global nation. Here in Mexico there are Lebenese, Japanese, Chinese, Canadians, French, Americans, and much more.

]]> By: Don - Need learn spanish info http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/12/07/publishing-bilingual-books/comment-page-1/#comment-8193 Don - Need learn spanish info Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:44:44 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=338#comment-8193 I remember having great benefit from using a bilingual Spanish/English book when I started to learn Spanish a while back. But I find it quite difficult to find more books. Anyone have ideas where to find a good book selection for personal use? I remember having great benefit from using a bilingual Spanish/English book when I started to learn Spanish a while back. But I find it quite difficult to find more books.
Anyone have ideas where to find a good book selection for personal use?

]]> By: Jana Synek http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/12/07/publishing-bilingual-books/comment-page-1/#comment-8192 Jana Synek Wed, 14 Jul 2010 14:09:50 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=338#comment-8192 I was very interested in this article, as I am carrying out an action research study on the use of dual language books in the primary classroom. Here in the UK, a second language (usually French is chosen here in the UK) is now compulsory in primary schools, for the first time, as of September 2010. We are, as fits your profile described, a very small family publisher, publishing books in English and French with beautiful pictures. We keep the text very short: both to facilitate clarity and comprehension, but also to avoid the scenario described where words can otherwise crowd out the pictures. This does not happen in our books. We would be very interesed in following any studies on dual language books. Please take a look at what we are trying to do, or email us with any helpful comments on jana@bramhallbooks.co.uk or the above private email address. I was very interested in this article, as I am carrying out an action research study on the use of dual language books in the primary classroom.
Here in the UK, a second language (usually French is chosen here in the UK) is now compulsory in primary schools, for the first time, as of September 2010.

We are, as fits your profile described, a very small family publisher, publishing books in English and French with beautiful pictures. We keep the text very short: both to facilitate clarity and comprehension, but also to avoid the scenario described where words can otherwise crowd out the pictures. This does not happen in our books.
We would be very interesed in following any studies on dual language books. Please take a look at what we are trying to do, or email us with any helpful comments on jana@bramhallbooks.co.uk or the above private email address.

]]> By: Ragina Shearer http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/12/07/publishing-bilingual-books/comment-page-1/#comment-8191 Ragina Shearer Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:12:28 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=338#comment-8191 I have used bilingual Spanish/English picture books in three different scenarios. I have always found my students to be engaged in and benefit from bilingual books. I have taught elementary and secondary beginning Spanish classes in which my students have been intrigued with the use of bilingual books. At first they usually struggle while trying to translate word for word. But as we read aloud together and they become accustom to the flow of the language, they tend to pick up on vocabulary and grammatical structure in a more natural manner, rather than grammar lessons are memorizing vocabulary. I have used them in classes with all levels of English language learners engaging students in orally reading one language and then the other. I have read aloud to ELLs so they can hear and understand in their first language and then become accustom to hearing the same version in the English language. I have often found my ELL students eager to take home and share bilingual books with their families also. Finally, when I taught regular self-contained classrooms my students loved the simple exposure to the second language. They also chose these books to read independently often checking for correct pronunciation with me. I am looking forward to following your blog on this subject. I have used bilingual Spanish/English picture books in three different scenarios. I have always found my students to be engaged in and benefit from bilingual books.

I have taught elementary and secondary beginning Spanish classes in which my students have been intrigued with the use of bilingual books. At first they usually struggle while trying to translate word for word. But as we read aloud together and they become accustom to the flow of the language, they tend to pick up on vocabulary and grammatical structure in a more natural manner, rather than grammar lessons are memorizing vocabulary.

I have used them in classes with all levels of English language learners engaging students in orally reading one language and then the other. I have read aloud to ELLs so they can hear and understand in their first language and then become accustom to hearing the same version in the English language. I have often found my ELL students eager to take home and share bilingual books with their families also.

Finally, when I taught regular self-contained classrooms my students loved the simple exposure to the second language. They also chose these books to read independently often checking for correct pronunciation
with me.

I am looking forward to following your blog on this subject.

]]> By: Laura http://wowlit.org/blog/2009/12/07/publishing-bilingual-books/comment-page-1/#comment-8190 Laura Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:02:54 +0000 http://wowlit.org/blog/?p=338#comment-8190 This is a great article on the growing market for bilingual books. Don't forget to mention the booksellers out there focusing on bilingual books too! This is a great article on the growing market for bilingual books. Don’t forget to mention the booksellers out there focusing on bilingual books too!

]]>