Introduction:
Teaching Spanish to very young learners can seem like a challenge at first. Where do you start? How do you engage your child or student? Luckily, there are plenty of activities, games, and songs that we can use to help our little ones achieve Spanish fluency. By starting with a simple theme like greetings, you can introduce new words and pronunciations while you play and have fun! With our quick guide to Teaching Greetings to Preschoolers, you will be teaching and speaking Spanish with your little one in no time.
Tips and Tricks to know
Greetings are an essential part of language learning. They are necessary for participating in a community and interacting politely with one another. For many of us, greetings were some of our very first words in our native language. Likewise, they are the first thing we learn in a foreign language.
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Start as early as possible
While there is no minimum age for you to teach kids’ Spanish, the first steps in learning are best taken early. It is a good idea to start when your child has learned to speak their native language fluently, which is usually not earlier than at 3 years old.
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Shorten lesson duration
The ideal length of a language lesson for a young child is between 15 and 20 minutes. Since children have shorter attention spans than adults, brief Spanish lessons for kids ensure that they do not lose focus and stay engaged.
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Play instead of learning
When teaching Spanish to kids, it is advisable to focus on playing rather than regimented studying. According to experts, this is because:
- Playing is the way children learn new things best.
- Through play, children can learn to make and practice new sounds.
- Playing teaches children useful skills like patience and understanding.
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Enforce the visual component
From the point of view of kids’ psychology, it has been found that children understand things presented visually better than those explained verbally. Visual components in a Spanish class for kids can help increase student retention of information.
Visual material you can use to teach Spanish:
- pictures
- flashcards
- videos
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Start with speaking, not reading
When teaching children Spanish, start with speaking. Speaking comes more naturally and easily to children, as human brains are naturally wired to speak. Reading, on the other hand, is learned.
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Use a toy teacher
Let a toy (not you, the parent!) teach your kid Spanish! Kids love toys because they allow them to explore new worlds. Toys offer stimulation, providing opportunities for hands-on learning. This will help enhance their language skills too.
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Establish connections
Establishing connections between objects and words is a fantastic way to teach a kid new vocabulary. When denoting surrounding objects in Spanish (food, toys, etc.), say the word in your mother language and then say it in Spanish; or show the object/action and name it in Spanish.
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No forcing, no cursing
It is not advisable to try to force your child into learning Spanish. Forcing a child could create resentments and put them off learning. Stop the lesson if the child is not in the right mood and resume the learning process later.
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Laugh!
You should aim to establish a link between Spanish and positive emotions. Research shows that humor is an effective tool in learning, creating an atmosphere that helps children pay more attention. Use jokes and laughter to facilitate your child’s learning!
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Praise!
Praise is one of the most powerful tools for motivating students. Sincere praise works better in teaching than excessive strictness, which should be avoided as it creates negative attitudes towards learning.
When parents praise children, they feel confident and it can inspire them and motivate them to learn. When parents are strict, on the other hand, it can lead their kids to rebel.
Conclusion:
While you can teach Spanish to your child yourself, make sure to maintain the right balance in order to keep your kid consistently engaged in learning. Deliver lessons at home at a pace that is comfortable for your child and keep it fun!
Remember that all of the above tips can be applied to learn Spanish, we hope this article is helpful for you!
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