For tots, Spanish as a second language

In 'a smaller world,' parents want their children to be bilingual

Mike Beck reads a poem to children during Spanish story time at the Robbins Library. The monthly event draws about two dozen families. (Boston Globe Photo / Patricia McDonnell)

ARLINGTON - Outside, the threat of rain hangs in the air, casting a gloomy pallor on melting snow banks. But inside the Robbins Library, a dozen gleeful preschoolers are on a fanciful adventure, exploring a Caribbean isle that sparkles like a green jewel in the sea.

Here, on "La Isla" with Abuela and her granddaughter, Rosalba, it is always warm. There is no snow, no gloom.

And, but for a few catch phrases, no English.

On the second Saturday of each month, the town's library offers youngsters a chance to escape the familiar geography of their suburban neighborhoods and discover the lively harbors and old markets of cities half a world away. The landscape changes each month, but the journey is always narrated in Spanish.

It might seem an odd choice for Arlington - where only 1.6 percent of the town's 40,000-plus population speak Spanish at home and only 4 percent of schoolchildren are Hispanic - but at a time when municipal budget cuts have decimated similar programs in more diverse cities such as Lowell and Lawrence, the Spanish story hour at the Robbins Library is enjoying great success.

"Given that the world has become smaller, knowing a second or even third language is important," said Adam Harder, whose 4-year-old daughter, Keira, each month excitedly counts down the days to Spanish story time.

Harder and his wife, Kristin, are doing all they can to ensure that their children - Keira and 20-month-old Keagan - will be bilingual. Harder, who teaches Spanish to high school students at the Belmont Hill School, speaks to his children only in Spanish.

"They already know quite a few Spanish words, but it's great for them to hear others speaking the language," he said. "I speak Spanish, but my wife doesn't."

For the Harders and other families, Spanish story time offers a fun way for their children to interact with other youngsters eager to learn about other cultures or, in some cases, celebrate their own. Through books, dance, and music, the children delight in new discoveries, learning the Spanish words for common vegetables like potatoes and asparagus, and sharing with others the rich beauty of their own heritage.

"Some of the children are fluent in Spanish, but, for others, this is the first time they have been exposed to the language," said Mike Beck, an Arlington native who volunteers his time to run the program. "My hope is that, no matter what their background is, the children have fun, they laugh, and have a great time while they're learning.

"For me, the reward comes in seeing the children connect with the language. So many words in English come from Spanish. The state of Montana, it comes from the Spanish word for mountain," said Beck, who collects Spanish-language picture books on his travels abroad the way other tourists collect postcards. "To have kids see a word in English and think of Spanish right away, that's fantastic."

According to Marianne Uttam, head of children's services at the library, more children stop by for Spanish story time than for the traditional English-language version. The Spanish program, believed to be one of the few of its kind, if not the only one, in the region, has been offered since September and in the beginning attracted about a dozen families. Now, as many as two dozen flock to the library each month. Uttam believes the program has caught on by word of mouth, thanks in part to Beck's charisma.

Among many tiny tykes, Beck, is a celebrity of sorts. At a glance, even an adult can understand why. Donning a whimsical hat and a poncho from Bolivia streaked with the vibrant colors of a sunset, Beck, a salesman by trade, beguiles the children with tales of Abuela, the beloved grandma brought to life by award-winning author Arthur Dorros, and bemuses them with his own lyrical rhymes.

English punctuated by Spanish words, or Spanish tales injected with English phrases? In the end, the program's format may not matter much, Beck said, as long as there are fanciful adventures and gales of laughter to transport the youngsters to places far from familiar geography.