I would like some advice from bilingual parents, I am a latina single mom and I would love to know how I can help my 5 year old to learn to speak english, she understands some things that I tell her but she won´t speak.Thanks!!!

My girlfriend had the same issue. My friend during the day was home alone with her daughter. During this time, she would only speak English to her daughter and would not respond to any thing the daughter said to her unless her daughter had spoken it in English. After her daughter started speaking English more and more, my friend started a little reward system for her.

I don't know if this would work for you or not, but it helped my girlfriend.

Good Luck.

You have to practice with her. Like if you call her to eat. Say it in English, if it seems she don't understand repeat it in Spanish. When you talk to her whatever it is she says pretend you don't understand so she will be forced to say it in English. Just keep that up. Since you want her to learn. Make English for the time being the main language you use. To communicate with her.

continue to speak english in the home. She is at the age where kids pick up the language quickly. Don't stop the spanish though - it will be useful to her to know both languages.

If you are currently speaking only Spanish in the home I would start by figuring out her favorite picture books in spanish and then going and buying them in english. You can read and discuss them and she can enjoy them just as much -just in a new language. This may help her to begin to feel more comfortable with the language. All kids go through a non-verbal period where they can understand but don't yet speak. Don't worry! She will also learn rapidly once she is in school!

I agree with everyone else that said to speak English to her in your home. I have kids in my class that come from homes where English isn't the first language. It's so hard to get them to become fluent in English because even though they are speaking and hearing it in school, they go home every night and speak Spanish or Vietnamese or whatever with their parents. To learn a language you have to be completely submerged in it. 5 year olds can pick it up SO quickly, just keep talking to her in English! Good luck!