Bilingual Lesson

HOMEROOM reports that almost 5 million students in the U.S. are English learners (9%).  Spanish-speaking students might enjoy this language lesson during the holiday season.

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa (home),

Not a creature was stirring –

Caramba!  (Damn it!)  Que pasa? (What up?)

Los ninos (the children) were tucked away in their camas (beds),

Some in long underwear, some in pajamas.

While hanging the stocking with mucho cuidado (great care)

in hopes that old Santa would feel obligado (obligated)

to bring all children, both buenos (good) and malos (bad),

A nice batch of dulces (sweets) and other regalos (gifts).

Outside in the yard there arose such a grito (shout)

That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito (kid).

I ran to the window and looked afuera (out),

And who in the world do you think that era (it was)?

Saint Nick in a sleigh and a big red sombrero (hat)

Came dashing along like a crazy bombero (firefighter).

And pulling his sleigh, instead of venados (deer),

Were eight little burros (donkeys) approaching volados (by flying).

I watched as they came and this quaint little hombre (man)

Was shouting and whistling and calling by nombre (name:

“Ay (Oh) Pancho, ay Pepe, ay Cuco, ay Berto,

Ay Chato, ay Chopo, Macuco, y Nieto!”

Then standing erect with hands on his pecho (chest)

He flew to the top of our very own techo (ceiling).

With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea (jelly),

He struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea (chimney).

Then huffing and puffing, at last in our sala (room),

With soot smeared all over his red suit de gala (party clothes),

He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos (gifts) –

For none of the ninos (chidren) had been very malos (bad).

Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento (happy),

He turned like a flash and was gone like the viento (wind).

And I heard him exclaim, and this is veridad (true),

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND FELIZ NAVIDAD!

(V01)

(V02)

(V03)

(V04)

V05 –or – V06/e/ era, de, que, pecho, Pepe, Berto, Feliz, techo, regalos, venados, veridad

(V07)

V08/o/obligado, los, Chopo, hombre, nombre, bombero, contento, sombrero, volados

V09/u/ burro, Cuco, buenos, dulces, mucho, cuidado

V09/ui/ suit

V10/i/ grito, ninos, Nieto, viento, chimenea

V11/a/ ay, afuera, Chato, camas, casa, pasa, gala, Pancho, malos, salsa, cabrito, caramba, jalea, Macuco, Navidad

(V12)

(V13)

(V14)

(V15)