What do you think of this "opportunity"?

[Leersia]

Help!!

Dh applied for a job in Puerto Rico, a position at the university in Mayaguez (western side of the island) - a perfect job for him, really. Even though we do not, of course, know if he will get it, we need to start considering whether or not this would be a good move for us. For one thing, our twins are four and are K age this fall. It's been a very long road for me to get him on board with HSing. HSing is possible in PR (in that it is legal at least), but I think it would be a lot harder without the cultural support. Also, our big question is, how would the kids ever learn Spanish being HSed by me? I don't speak very much Spanish, although I have a strong desire to learn and become fluent, and would certainly be almost forced to in this setting. But still, I think I would be under a lot of pressure to put the boys in school for language reasons, and put them in right away (i.e., this fall), if we moved there.

We're biologists/ecologists, and living in the tropics and on the ocean would be incredible for us as a family, on the upside. I'm just bummed out to think that my nascent HSing journey may be over before it really even started!

Thanks for listening, I guess this has turned into a vent!

Sue

[mamarhu]

The opportunity would certainly be very tempting! I would go for it and make the other parts work somehow. I agree the language would be a great gift to give your kids. Would a decision for them to be in school have to be permanent? Could they go for a few months to get a start in Spanish and meet the neighborhood kids? I have been in your position and put DD in preschool part-time for the Spanish, even though I fully intended to homeschool (unschool) her.

How would you, as an adult, learn Spanish? Is there some way you could do that with the kids? I attended a one month intensive Spanish school with my kids when they were 5 and 6. We all got a lot out of it. That was in Mexico, so I can't recommend the specific school, but I would imagine Puerto Rico has similar programs.

If you will be in a church or other social environment that happens in Spanish, perhaps the kids will pick up the language intrinsically.

I am just a bit jealous here. This is exactly what I would love to be doing.

[Rikki Gard]

Perhaps you could try to get a local to come to your house for an hour a day or so to teachall 3 of you Spanish. I live in Italy and that is very common here (usually runs between 10-20$ an hour, but wouldn't be forever). Probably someone at the university could recommend one. Then if you decided to put them in preschool for a few hours a day they might be a little more prepared. It is hard to move, especially that far. So perhaps this might be a good way to start. Just a thought.

[Just Me]

Your children will learn Spanih by asorption. Spanish language Children's TV, speaking to locals, playing with local children etc. but do realise, most Puerto Ricans speak English as well and may insist on using it. Honestly. As for support, ask yourself this. You do not speak fluent spanish, and as yet, neither do your children. How well can you all integrate into a school routine? lessons in Spanish, the other parents speaking Spanish to you, the Moms at the gates conversations, or at teh buss top LOL, reading notes from school, and all teh other bumph?

I would think HSing would be FAR easier.you can all get Spanish in comfortable doses and there will be lots of opportunities for getting out and about on field trips with you all learning the language and culture together, and you always have the web to come and grab support from here

[chaos_pie]

I think it is an awesome opportunity!

My sis has lived (and is raising her 2, soon to be 3, kids) overseas, Taiwan and Holland. In each place the kids became fluent within about 6 months. She hires a family tutor to come to the house to tutor her and the kids. The tutor is also helpful for explaining different cultural issues too. She has also employed nannies that speak the language to her kids.

I would totally homeschool in a foreign country. What a great way to learn and explore!

[Roo_Online]

I think it sounds wonderful! Do some online searches to see if you can find some other homeschoolers in PR.

As for learning the language, I would hire a tutor/babysitter/mother's helper when you get there so you have the language spoken in your home. The kids will probably pick it up quickly.

Exciting!

[chfriend]

My family did a sabbatical in Switzerland when I was growing up. We all picked up Swiss German without going to school...just from going places and needing to talk to people. The only one who couldn't learn it was my mother. It'll likely be harder for you than the kids.

[HikeYosemite]

:

I'm watching this thread because we are also concerned about homeschooling overseas without support (DH's best offer for a sabbatical is in Germany, of all places).

Originally Posted by Leersia

Help!!

Dh applied for a job in Puerto Rico, a position at the university in Mayaguez (western side of the island) - a perfect job for him, really. Even though we do not, of course, know if he will get it, we need to start considering whether or not this would be a good move for us. For one thing, our twins are four and are K age this fall. It's been a very long road for me to get him on board with HSing. HSing is possible in PR (in that it is legal at least), but I think it would be a lot harder without the cultural support. Also, our big question is, how would the kids ever learn Spanish being HSed by me? I don't speak very much Spanish, although I have a strong desire to learn and become fluent, and would certainly be almost forced to in this setting. But still, I think I would be under a lot of pressure to put the boys in school for language reasons, and put them in right away (i.e., this fall), if we moved there.

We're biologists/ecologists, and living in the tropics and on the ocean would be incredible for us as a family, on the upside. I'm just bummed out to think that my nascent HSing journey may be over before it really even started!

Thanks for listening, I guess this has turned into a vent!

Sue

[freestyler]

I would ONLY want to homeschool in a foreign country, so we could explore and travel and not be under a lot of stress. You would all be under a lot more stress, linguistically and otherwise, if you put your kids in school. the same reasons for homeschooling in the US would mostly apply in other places too.

I am a language teacher by training (French and ESL), and I can tell you that your kids will learn an incredible amount by just living in the culture. You do not need to worry that they won't learn the language! And you can boost that learning by using read-aloud tapes and CDs with books, if you feel like it, but you don't really need to. (You said you do not speak the language yet yourself, right?)

Just don't sweat it! Your cubs are so young. They'll get what they need! And so will you.

Have an awesome time if you go. Homeschool and enjoy, it sounds awesome. I'm jealous, wicked bad!

[folkypoet]

What an amazing adventure you've got ahead of you!

If you and your family are excited about it, then go for it. Homeschooling will actually help the kids (and you!) to learn Spanish naturally. Instead of sitting in a classroom all day, they can be out in the world, talking with real people, learning both the language and the culture. I think, as long as you interact with people on a regular basis, becoming fluent in Spanish shouldn't be at all difficult. And, you'll all be learning together, helping each other.

Congrats!

[Dar]

Oh, what an incredible opportunity!

I think your kids would pick up Spanish just fine... they'd only be barely school age, so there would be a lot of slightly younger kids around... I don't think it would be an issue.

dar

[PumpkinSeeds]

We are homeschooling overseas. The kids can't help but pick up the language. And there will be lots of possibilities for playdates and neighborhood kids and cartoons in spanish, etc. Just don't be shy about striking up a conversation with anyone you see, you never know who could turn out to be a good friend.

When we first moved here I went to the park everyday and chatted up all the moms there. Some looked at me like I had two heads, others were very receptive and friendly. I also invited all my neighbors to tea/cookies. Again, some thought I was crazy and came unwillingly, and others have become my good friends and the kids likewise. You have to look at it like an adventure.

:

[oyemicanto]

I think you have an incredible opportunity and I would go for it. Puerto Rico is an amazing place and you will have so much to see and do. The culture is so family oriented that you will be enveloped quickly with people wanting to help you. I would caution, however, that while certainly you will encounter many English speakers in the larger communities, Mayaguez being one of them, most Puerto Ricans do not speak English - that is a common misconception.

Puerto Rican spanish is fun to speak - just remember they tend to lose the 's' at the end of words and the 'ado' at the end of words.

Anyway, I'm completely jealous as it is my dream to move to PR one day with my family...good luck!

[Lillian J]

Sounds like a wonderful opportunity to me too! And it's not as if you'll all be huddled away in your home - you'll all be interacting with all sorts of people and picking up Spanish right and left. You could use good language-learning resources in the meantime - but you'll be able to parctice your language acquisition every single day! And the fact that your husband will be involved with an university will make for all the more stimulating encounters. Lillian

[Leersia]

As usual, this board comes through with incredible support - THANK YOU!!!!

Mamarhu and others, don't be envious, at least not yet, we haven't even made the "short list" for an interview yet!! Thanks everyone, for your ideas and positive attitude. I would love to find a way to homeschool regardless of where we were living. . .

The idea of this move is coinciding with what seems like a mini-midlife crisis for me. I'm 41, and after a mostly adventurous life I find myself too comfortably ensconced in suburban Colorado, wondering if this is really where we belong. If we don't get offered the job, I'll have to find some way to remedy this funk!

Sue

[Ruthla]

I had friends in high school who easily picked up Spanish during their summer vacations in PR- and they never attended school there. In fact, I think the girls learned Spanish before their parents did!

Really- how can you live in a place where shopkeepers speak Spanish, Spanish is on TV, Spanish books are in the library, neighborhood kids speak Spanish, etc, and NOT learn Spanish? I don't think there's any reason to send your kids to school just to learn the language.

It will be easiest on all of you if you learn Spanish before going. And anyway, it's a good thing to learn even if the move to PR doesn't work out.