"We are Little Amigos"           

Maribel Suardy - Conductor/native speaker

Both my mother and father immigrated from the Dominican Republic in their early 20's, and settled in New Jersey where I was born.  My mother's English was very limited as she did not make a real effort to learn the language.  My father on the other hand did quite the opposite, I still remember those "teach yourself English" records he had around the house.  He speaks English very well but with a strong accent.  So growing up, in my home both languages were spoken, but mostly Spanish.  At the age of 8 my family and I moved to The Dominican Republic where I completed all of my elementary schooling which gave me a strong foundation in Spanish writing, reading and all the grammar that goes with it.  I've personally seen the benefits of being raised bilingual, not only can I easily communicate with millions of people world wide, but it has made me appreciate the different countries and cultures that make up our world, and has taught me awareness and tolerance of other people in general.  Being bilingual has also given me a competitive advantage in the work force, as more employers need bilingual employees.  I am grateful to my parents for giving me one of the best life-long gifts:  a second language!    Now, as the mother of two little boys myself, my mission is to pass on this gift to them and to help other parents- bilingual or monolingual, to do the same with their children.  I have a passion for the Spanish language and all the different Hispanic cultures.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my passion with you and your children.