Week 2 Blog #4

The book I chose to read is Love in the Time of Cholera or, in Spanish, El amor en los tiempos del cólera, a novel by Gabriel García Márquez. This may be cheating, a bit, since I've read nearly all of Marquez's books, though it was always in English. I've always wanted to try reading in Spanish since a Spanish professor, years ago, said I should try because somethings always lost in translation. Wow, I should have thought about what that professor was trying to encourage me in is exactly what I need to learn to minimize lost translation for students. I know I need to support students language for comprehension and learning, but what of the "richness of the culture" they are immersed in yet kept from because the text is too difficult?
I'm nowhere near done but will pick away. I keep a book of 500 Spanish verbs nearby and this helps tremendously! I have some familiarity having taken Spanish in middle, high school, and college. Unfortunately, I don't get the opportunity that I would like to speak Spanish. And when I do (on a visit to Mexico City four years ago) I feel incredibly frustrated. 
When I read in Gibbons (2002) that ELL students have been said to sound rude or abrupt, I can relate, I'm sure I sound abrupt, but everyone I've ever encountered in my travels or speaking with ESL parents have been too polite to to say otherwise.
As I tried to read, I skipped constantly to words that were familiar. I was so frustrated that I could not remember the meaning of common verbs. I read and reread out loud to hear the sounds and see if they would spark a recollection of meaning or connection. I think I also have a hint of shame that I struggle so.
I scaled back to a children's book Abuela by Arthur Dorro. It is a children's picture book, though it too is above my level. I formed meaning from words that are similar to English such as observaría for observation.
As a teacher, I need to do more to break down concepts or find leveled text for science and social studies concepts. Guided reading and reading rotation is well supported with buddy reading, listening post, and small group intervention. For my student that does not read in Spanish, I think I'll read Abuela with her and together see if she can help me with the meaning.