One of the questions I get asked a lot by parents is how to support a child with their language-learning journey when their only language is English. Supporting your child to learn Spanish when you only speak English can be challenging – but it is certainly feasible. With dedication and the right resources it can even be fun. In this blog post you’ll learn seven Seven fun and effective ways for families to learn Spanish together;
Family Language Nights: Designate one night a week as “Family Language Night” where you only speak Spanish. Play games, cook meals, or watch movies together, all while practicing Spanish.
Language Exchange with Friends: Arrange language exchange playdates with other families who speak Spanish. This provides an opportunity for children to interact with peers and reinforces language learning in a natural setting.
Sing Along with Spanish Songs: Listen to Spanish music and sing along as a family. Create a playlist of catchy Spanish songs and have fun singing and dancing together while picking up new vocabulary and pronunciation. Listen to one of our favourite songs to learn Spanish colours and number by Rockalingua here.
Cook Spanish Cuisine: Explore Spanish cuisine together by cooking traditional dishes as a family. Look up recipes in Spanish, shop for ingredients at a local Hispanic market, and enjoy a delicious meal while practicing food-related vocabulary.
Read Spanish Children’s Books: Gather a collection of Spanish children’s books and read them aloud as a family. Encourage each family member to take turns reading or acting out parts of the story, promoting language development and comprehension.
Owner of Adventures in Spanish and author of this blog; Kelly Thornhill is a two-time publish author of children’s books. Learn more about her books ¿Ya Estoy llegando? & ¡Fernando Baila el Tango! here.
Watch Spanish Cartoons or Movies: Find age-appropriate Spanish cartoons or movies and watch them together as a family. Choose films with subtitles in Spanish to aid comprehension, and discuss the plot and characters afterward to reinforce learning.
Create a Spanish-themed Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt around your home or neighborhood with clues and instructions written in Spanish. This interactive activity encourages problem-solving, teamwork, and language practice in a fun and engaging way.
We’ve created a FAB Airport Scavenger hunt in Spanish for children; download it for FREE here.
Lastly remember to be patient and encouraging (with yourself just as much as with your child). Learning a new language takes time and effort. Encourage your child’s progress and celebrate their achievements along the way. Patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement are key to supporting their language learning journey. By incorporating these activities into your family routine, you’ll not only strengthen your Spanish skills together but also create lasting memories and bond over the shared experience of language learning. ¡Buena suerte y diviértanse aprendiendo español! (Good luck and have fun learning Spanish!)
Tutor support will help also, feel free to contact me to discuss how I can support you and your child with your Spanish-language learning journeys.