Did you know Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S. after English? With 42 million speakers and a rapidly growing Spanish-speaking population, learning Spanish can be an instrumental skill for our children, both now and in the future! The benefits are endless, from learning about another culture to adding the Seal of Biliteracy to high school diplomas to workforce opportunities!
How can I, a non-Spanish speaker, support my child's learning of Spanish?
Here are 3 helpful and personally-tested tips:
1. Start Young
Kids’ brains are sponges! Learning a new language at a young age is beneficial because it’s easier to train the ears to the sound and rhythm of another language. Training the ear is key. As we age, we tend to shut out new sounds and pronunciations that are different from our native language. Fortunately, PBS KIDS has many options for our young ones to start learning and practicing Spanish! Programs like Oh Noah! or Let’s Go Luna are excellent resources for exposing your young ones to other languages and cultures. Your child can also play games in Spanish with popular PBS characters like Curious George!
2. Read Together
Even if you do not 100% know what you are saying, even if you're not completely confident in your Spanish skills, don't be afraid to give it a shot! Demonstrating to your child that using Spanish is a regular part of your everyday life is important. Don’t know where to start? Try reading the Spanish short stories in El Nido Magazine together! El Nido is Alabama’s first Spanish parent magazine for immigrant families. You can learn more about it here.
3. Use Flashcards and Word Searches
Did you know if you and your child learn 5 Spanish words per week, you will have a vocabulary of 260 by the end of the year? Turn it into an enjoyable activity using word searches or flashcards!
I recommend jotting down ten Spanish words with your child every Sunday. You can ask, what words do I plan to focus on this week? Then keep the flashcards in your car door, dashboard, or visor. And whenever you have a spare moment at the doctor's office, grocery store, or before bedtime, review the cards one by one together!
You can also use word searches since they tend to be based on a specific topic. For example, it could be fun to learn particular words for an upcoming holiday, like Halloween or Christmas! The Kids Corner of El Nido features a fun word search for kids to practice!
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