Table 4.

The Importance of Television Viewing in Spanish and English (Sample Quotes)

Reasons why it was important for child to watch Spanish-language television
Mother wants child to learn/maintain Spanish
… I prefer for him to watch in Spanish. When I have the opportunity to change the language, I change it. I change it because at this point it's still my decision what language he gets to watch on TV. When he grows up, I know that he's going to prefer English. I know that he will prefer it because he's growing up in this country … and English will be easier for him. But what he learns before he gets to decide will be my decision, and I want it to be Spanish as much as possible … I know that it will help him a little, some Spanish will stay in his head, besides what I talk to him. So, daily, I'm about 25% Spanish, and 75% is English because of (preschool) and everything else, so I want another 25% to be TV. That way, it would be half Spanish and half (preschool) with English.
Child will be exposed to English at school
Yes, it's important to me … So she doesn't forget Spanish. At school, they only speak English. In order for her not to forget Spanish, so she continues learning it and doesn't forget it.
Child needs to communicate with the mother and other family members
It's important to me so he learns the language better because English, as they say, he's going to pick it up at school, and I need for him to learn Spanish well because when he talks to my family in Mexico, they only speak Spanish, so it's very important to me.
Child can learn now in Spanish before starting school
It's very important … Because he'll learn more that way. Well, he's going to learn both languages, but it's important because right now he could learn more things in Spanish and once he starts school, I know that they're going to teach him both, but they mostly teach them English more so than Spanish.

Reasons why it was important for child to watch English-language television
It is easier to learn English when children are young
That too, a little important, because he learns a lot of things … sometimes the pronunciation of words that he didn't know, things stick to him the most now that he's little.
Mother can teach Spanish, television can teach English
It's also important because this way he's learning both languages, Spanish and English, and I know that he will pick up on English little by little and Spanish, even if he wanted to forget it, he won't forget it because I mainly speak Spanish at home. I don't allow either him or my daughter to talk to me in English. At home, I'm Spanish, Spanish, Spanish (laughing).
Child can learn English before starting school
Very, very important because, for the same reason, so he learns English because at home we mainly speak Spanish and mainly so he doesn't struggle in school by not speaking English, it's very important.