Kids' TV Speaks Two Languages
AP Photo
In this drawing, Dora enjoys an adventure on an episode of her top-rated television show, "Dora the Explorer."
NEW YORK, New York (Achieve3000, February 24, 2006). At the beginning of each episode of "Dora the Explorer," Dora
leaves her family's hacienda, waves to her Mami and Papi and runs off to the jungle.
"Ready to explore?" asks the animated seven-year-old. "¡Vamos! ¡arriba!"
Nearly all of the characters on Nickelodeon's popular cartoon speak fluent English and Spanish, reflecting a growing trend in
children's television—many of the networks that cater to kids are featuring Latino characters. It all started with PBS's "Sesame
Street"; that show's characters have had a mixture of ethnic backgrounds since the program made its debut 37 years ago. Now
PBS also features "Dragon Tales," which includes the character of Enrique, an immigrant who is Puerto Rican and Colombian.
This fall, PBS will launch a cable network called "PBS Kids Go!", which will have two hours a day of shows in Spanish with
English subtitles. One of them, the animated "Maya & Miguel," is aimed at Spanish-speaking kids who are just starting school.
Other networks are also featuring more Latino characters. The Disney Channel, for example, will soon debut "Handy Manny," a
cartoon about bilingual Manny Garcia and his talking tools.
Television producers say that they are including more Latino characters in their projects because Latinos are the nation's fastestgrowing group. Most prime-time television excludes Latino characters, and studies show that many Latinos feel ignored. These
studies impelled television producers to come up with "Dora."
In "Dora the Explorer," Dora speaks English and Spanish with her family, a factor that exposes young audiences to a language
that might be unfamiliar to them. Dora's world has proven to be popular—the show debuted in 1999 and became a big hit. The
show's producers introduced Diego, Dora's cousin, in guest appearances, and last year, Diego got his own show, "Go, Diego,
Go!" Both Dora and Diego are hugely popular among kids of all backgrounds.
"Even though we're not Hispanic, [my son] loves learning [Spanish]," said Lisa Raymond-Tolan, who is white. "It teaches him
there's a bigger world full of wonderful things."
Sociologist Clara E. Rodriguez says that Dora's success surprised people who decide what goes on television.
"If you had taken this to [most] marketing people. . .they would have said, 'No way,'" Rodriguez said.
Dora proved them wrong, and now she and other characters are creating a more realistic TV world for kids. Many people are
hoping that today's preschoolers will grow up to demand more diversity on primetime television.
"I think it's catching on," said Christy Glaubke, who studies media and children. "Kids' programming was kind of a testing
ground."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Dictionary
animated (adjective) in the form of a sequence of moving still images
vamos! arriba! (idiom) "Let's go!"
diversity (noun) variety
hacienda (noun) the Spanish word for a large home or estate
impel (verb) to drive; to force
sociologist (noun) a person who studies human beings and how they relate to the world
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Kids' TV Speaks Two Languages
1. According to Carla E. Rodriguez, most people who decide what goes on television would have been more inclined
to __________.

Have Dora speak mostly Spanish with a few English words

Reject "Dora the Explorer" in favor of a cartoon about a little boy

Reject "Dora the Explorer" in favor of a cartoon about a white girl

Have Dora speak only Spanish with English subtitles
2. The trend in children's television suggests that __________.

People who work in prime time are not creating quality programs.

Children are far more likely to watch television than the adults who like prime time television.

Children are far more open minded than the adults who watch prime time television.

People who work in prime time are not judging their audiences properly.
3. Why does the author include a quote from a sociologist?

To provide information on how television affects our culture

To provide information on how television helps to educate children

To provide information on what certain television shows cost to make

To provide information on what certain television shows are about
4. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

Latinos are featured in "Maya and Miguel."

Latinos are the fastest growing group, but feel left out.

Bilingual children's programs compete with primetime shows.

Bilingual children's programs are a growing trend.
5. Who is most likely to have said: "These programs are making diversity a natural part of kids' understanding of the world"?

A sociologist
A television producer
A media researcher
A parent
6. Which of these is a statement of opinion?

The success of "Dora" is one of the most important contributions to children's television.

Latinos are not well represented on primetime television shows.

The success of "Dora" has prompted other networks to create bilingual programs.

Latinos are the fastest-growing group in the country.
7. Which of these is an antonym for the word diversity?

Uniformity
Cruelty
Facility
Generality
Motivator
Investigator
8. A person who impels others is most like a(n)__________.

Commentator
Assessor
Extended Response Activity: This article talks about having Latino characters on TV shows. What other changes could be made for
Spanish-speaking people in America? Why? Choose two of the areas below to discuss: Areas of possible change: Stores, Schools,
Libraries, Restaurants, Public transportation, Doctors' offices and hospitals.
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