Simple Steps To Teaching A Child Spanish

Teaching a child Spanish can be a lot more fun than it sounds...

For parents it can be slightly confusing as to how and when to introduce kids to a second language.  There are many, many families who have only one language spoken at home and a second language is introduced only when the child enters the education system.  This can be preschool or early years schooling.  Other families live with the (opol) system, One Parent One Language.  As it suggests one parent speaks in one language, the other in another language.  Some families begin to introduce a second language from birth or from early infant.  The choices are diverse and each family chooses the way which fits for them, either culturally or linguistically.  For the benefit of this article I will talk about teaching little ones a second language (Spanish), it being a language which is not native of either parent.  Start teaching a child Spanish as early as posible.  If this is done then the child will absorb both languages just as easily as one.  When speaking with the child try to use both words for an object from both languages, you will be surprised at just how much can be learned this way.  This is how we all learn languages from birth - by listening and repeating.

Endeavour to find families who are native to the second language and introduce the child to them.  Invite them to your home, attend events which show the culture of the second language.  (One idea I had was to have a little Spanish speaking playgroup in my home to meet Spanish speaking families.)  Introduce a learning programme at home designed for teaching a child Spanish, by learning programme I suggest bilingual books, music dvd's and flashcards.  It will be sufficient to spend 10 to 20 minutes per day wilh preschoolers, increasing the time as the child grows and his level of understanding increases.  Do not allow negative feedback to hinder progress.  It is wise to spend time with people who support what you are trying to achieve rather than the opposite.  Of course it is a gift to a child to learn a second language but it still amazes me how some people do not see it this way!  Let your child see how much you value the second language.  It is a good idea to have language cd's playing in the background which are a part of your own learning experience (if you are learning also).  If you are fluent then use as much of the language as possible and have newspapers, books, even tv programmes showing in the second language.

Never use negative comments regarding the progress of the child.  My little one flips in and out of English and Spanish (Spanglish) then has phases where he refuses to speak Spanish.  I liken this to my own experiences of having hit a mental block or having the feeling that if I hear another Spanish word I will scream!  All part of the process, just be patient, all par for the course in teaching a child Spanish.  If possible, find a good tutor to help the process.  I found a great tutor who taught kids in groups which also exposed him to other parents and children with the same goals.  The classes were lively and fun which the kids loved.  There is no need in the early years to have classes on verb drills and conjugations, it should be full of fun such as music, games and adtivities.  Even finding their favourite cartoon characters speaking Spanish will delight them no end.

The most important thing is to have fun and allow the child to develop naturallyand before you know it the first thing you say to each other in the morning will be in Spanish!   

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