How to Teach Spanish to Elementary Students
Children's brains can absorb language in a way that adult brains can't. Elementary school children are young enough to pick up the Spanish language easily, and by learning Spanish during childhood, students may gain a facility for languages that can last throughout their lifetimes.
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Instructions
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Begin by explaining that learning a second language like Spanish can be enjoyable. About a week before lessons begin, tell students that Spanish lessons will begin soon. Building excitement will give students something to look forward to during each Spanish lesson.
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Explain the vowel sounds that occur in Spanish and encourage students to pronounce each vowel sound. Explain that Spanish has less vowel sounds than the English language. This can tie in well with a lesson about English vowel sounds.
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Teach basic Spanish words that children can understand, such as colors, numbers, days of the week, months and classroom items such as desks and pencils. Also, teach simple sentences, such as how students can introduce themselves, say thank you and ask for a glass of water.
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Play Spanish language games, such as having each child say the sentence "I'm going to school, so I'll need a..." in Spanish, followed by a school related word in Spanish. The same can be done for picnics. Or, ask students to name their favorite colors or days of the week.
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Bring music into the Spanish curriculum. Singing children's songs in Spanish along with a DVD can be entertaining and enjoyable. Or, as a class, write a simple song about your classroom. Distribute the lyrics to students to take home so the students can share the song with their families.
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Encourage students to learn new Spanish words at home to share with the class. Have each student or student's parent write down a word in Spanish along with the English definition. After verifying that the word is correct, share the student's name and word with the class. This will create a sense of excitement each day as students wonder whose word will be shared that day.
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