Bilingual Storytime Strategies for Libraries
Bilingual Story Time
Alia Shields
Youth Services Librarian
Cherry Hill Public Library
1.
Can I do it (even if I don't
speak another language)?
2. Will anyone come?
3. How do I start?
Can I do it
(even if I don't speak
another language)?
Yes!
You have to be resourceful
but it can be done!
Choose books that feature
characters from your target
culture.
Choose books that have some
words in your target language
Read bilingual books in English
while highlighting the target
language.
Add bilingual songs and rhymes
while reading primarily in
English.
Find volunteers who are fluent in
the target language to help!
Types of Bilingual Storytimes
Bilingual Mixed
Storytime is
conducted in
English but
books are read
in target
language.
Can read longer
stories.
Back and Forth
One page is read
in target
language and
then in English.
Works best with
short books. Can
be difficult with
longer stories.
One After Another
Books and
activities are done
in target language
then repeated in
English.
Helps to hear the
language syntax
and grammar.
Bilingual Activities
Books are done in
English with
songs, rhymes,
other activities
done in target
language.
Can do with little
knowledge of
target language.
Cer
Will Anyone Come?
Know your audience.
What is their goal?
Native speakers or language
learners?
Get the word out.
Partner community groups.
We emailed ESL teachers
about our programs and sent
information home through the
schools.
Use cultural celebrations.
Special programs for Dia de
los Muertos, Cinco de Mayo,
Dia de los Ninos and the
Cherry Blossom Festival.
Respond to feedback.
Listen to parent's goals and
expectations.
CHPL’s Bilingual Storytime - Getting Started
Type?
We had a multilingual Library
Clerk who could assist so we
decided to use a back and
forth format.
*
We also mixed
in books in English with
Spanish vocabulary -
sometimes inserting Spanish
words ourselves.
*Good strategy if you are not
fluent in the target language
and widens the net of
materials you can use!
Time of Day?
We started as an evening
family storytime but the
attendance was low and
skewed younger. We found
we had better attendance
when we moved to an after-
school afternoon storytime.
We changed our schedule to
a 6 week block to encourage
repeat attendance.
Language?
I
s there a non-English speaking
community that you want to
reach out to? We also spoke to
ESL teachers to get a grasp of
what languages we would want
to target.
We chose to start our storytime
in Spanish because we had the
most materials available in
Spanish and it was the
language our staff was most
comfortable with.
Storytime with two voices
●
Opening and closing songs
●
Traditional songs and rhymes
●
Counting rhymes and activities
●
Repetition
●
Books that reinforce color and animal vocabulary
●
Repetition!
●
Craft and take home materials.
CHPL’s Bilingual Storytime - Elements
Recommended Books
My Abuelita by Tony Johnston
In English with Spanish vocabulary.
Maria Had a Little Lamb
by Angela Dominguez
Good for one voice or two.
Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos
by Susan Middelton Elya
In English with Spanish Vocabulary.
Online
Resources
Utah State Library - Bilingual Storytimes
https://heritage.utah.gov/library/spanish-bilingual-storytimes
REFORMA - Children and Young Adult Services
http://www.reforma.org/content.asp?contentid=87
¡Es divertido hablar dos idiomas!
http://bilingualchildrensprogramming.blogspot.com/
Explore strategies for hosting bilingual storytime sessions at libraries, even if you don't speak another language. Learn how to choose appropriate books, involve volunteers, and engage with diverse communities effectively. Discover different types of bilingual storytime formats and tips for attracting participants. Gain insights into reaching non-English speaking communities and tailoring programs to meet their needs.
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Presentation Transcript
Bilingual Story Time Alia Shields Youth Services Librarian Cherry Hill Public Library
1.Can I do it (even if I don't speak another language)? 2. Will anyone come? 3. How do I start?
Choose books that feature characters from your target culture. Can I do it (even if I don't speak another language)? Choose books that have some words in your target language Read bilingual books in English while highlighting the target language. Yes! You have to be resourceful but it can be done! Add bilingual songs and rhymes while reading primarily in English. Find volunteers who are fluent in the target language to help!
Types of Bilingual Storytimes Bilingual Mixed Back and Forth One After Another Bilingual Activities One page is read in target language and then in English. Works best with short books. Can be difficult with longer stories. Books and activities are done in target language then repeated in English. Books are done in English with songs, rhymes, other activities done in target language. Can do with little knowledge of target language. Cer Storytime is conducted in English but books are read in target language. Can read longer stories. Helps to hear the language syntax and grammar.
Will Anyone Come? Know your audience. Get the word out. Use cultural celebrations. Respond to feedback. What is their goal? Partner community groups. We emailed ESL teachers about our programs and sent information home through the schools. Special programs for Dia de los Muertos, Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Ninos and the Cherry Blossom Festival. Listen to parent's goals and expectations. Native speakers or language learners?
CHPLs Bilingual Storytime - Getting Started Type? Time of Day? Language? We had a multilingual Library Clerk who could assist so we decided to use a back and forth format. *We also mixed in books in English with Spanish vocabulary - sometimes inserting Spanish words ourselves. We started as an evening family storytime but the attendance was low and skewed younger. We found we had better attendance when we moved to an after- school afternoon storytime. Is there a non-English speaking community that you want to reach out to? We also spoke to ESL teachers to get a grasp of what languages we would want to target. We chose to start our storytime in Spanish because we had the most materials available in Spanish and it was the language our staff was most comfortable with. We changed our schedule to a 6 week block to encourage repeat attendance. *Good strategy if you are not fluent in the target language and widens the net of materials you can use!
CHPLs Bilingual Storytime - Elements Storytime with two voices Opening and closing songs Traditional songs and rhymes Counting rhymes and activities Repetition Books that reinforce color and animal vocabulary Repetition! Craft and take home materials.
Recommended Books Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos by Susan Middelton Elya My Abuelita by Tony Johnston In English with Spanish vocabulary. Maria Had a Little Lamb by Angela Dominguez Good for one voice or two. In English with Spanish Vocabulary.
Utah State Library - Bilingual Storytimes https://heritage.utah.gov/library/spanish-bilingual-storytimes REFORMA - Children and Young Adult Services http://www.reforma.org/content.asp?contentid=87 Online Resources Es divertido hablar dos idiomas! http://bilingualchildrensprogramming.blogspot.com/ Pinterest
