Spanish For Kids

Many people ask me how to teach children Spanish if I am not a Spanish speaker myself? There are 3 main elements I recommend parents who want to start the process once they are committed: First, take an honest assessment of your family and the resources you can allocate to teach children Spanish.

Second, find the right materials and aids. Third make sure their children learn Spanish along culture to solidify the language and make the learning process fun.

First, take a look at your own resources and family. Learning another language requires financial commitment if you want your children to have a solid knowledge of Spanish.

Weekly Spanish classes with a tutor, at an institution or simply buying software materials can add up if you don’t plan adequately. Set a budget and stick to it, being of course flexible if circumstances change.

Look at the opportunities around you. Is your family in any case having contact with a Spanish speaking nanny that can speed the process? Is one of the parents a Spanish speaker person? Do grandparents speak Spanish?

It is very beneficial when you teach children Spanish to make them interact in a semi-consistent basis with a person that speaks Spanish. If that is the case schedule it on a weekly basis if possible. Also, decide how much time your child is going to dedicate to learn Spanish per week. Be realistic and be part of the process.

After analyzing resources commit to a goal. When families don’t commit to a goal it is more difficult to see results. For example, decide if your child is going to master basic Spanish in a year, taking into consideration the age of the child, time, resources, and family help.

Second, find the right materials and aids to teach children Spanish. Based on time and your circumstances choose between Spanish lessons with a teacher or a tutor and software based lessons.

Classes can be expensive but they are very effective. Taking Spanish lessons allow your child to interact not only with the group but also with the Spanish speaking teacher.

Spanish software lessons are less expensive and your child can do it at any time. He can also advance at his own pace. Please be sure to research very well the type of software available in the market. The younger the child, the more visual and interactive the software should be.

Third, look for classes, events and fairs that pertain to Spanish speaking countries. If you are going to a particular holiday celebration, for example “Day of the Dead.” make sure you introduce a simple vocabulary your child will be hearing at the event, and try to practice it while there. Many cities and libraries throughout the country plan every year cultural events from Spanish speaking countries, take advantage of them.

The objective is to tie culture and language to make a perfect connection in the process of learning Spanish while using your particular resources, like money, family time, help from external sources to improve Spanish, etc.

To teach children Spanish effectively work with this triad: resources, type of lessons and culture and you will have a child who can speak Spanish better and more naturally than using other methods alone.