Helping Kids To Learn Spanish
It’s said that the younger you are, the earlier it is to learn a foreign language, and given the increasingly large population of Hispanic people in the United States, it makes sense that finding ways for kids to learn Spanish is a high priority with some parents and educators. Unfortunately, in most cases, local school systems don’t become places for kids to learn Spanish until sometime in junior high school. Because of this, you may want to find alternate sources of instruction in Spanish for your children. Here are a few sources for kids to learn Spanish:
Learn Spanish – Immersion Programs
Just as some adults choose to use immersion programs to learn Spanish, there are similar programs that exist for children to learn Spanish while immersed in Spanish culture. Such programs range from intensive programs for older kids to lighter programs that lead to simple introductions to the language and culture. For instance, the Instituto Chac-Mool in Cuernavaca, Mexico offers a program for kids from ages four to 18 who attend the institute while their parents are involved in one of the immersion programs. This program not only includes Spanish language instruction, but an experience living with a family in Mexico. Whether for a week or several weeks, this makes a great place for kids to learn Spanish.
Learn Spanish – Children’s Books
Just as kids in school learn English better in school through reading exercises, reading is still a great way for kids to learn Spanish. Children’s books make a great way to introduce children to Spanish vocabulary a little bit at a time, using simple language that’s easy to understand. For even better comprehension, try finding copies of the same book in Spanish and English. For instance, both the English version of the children’s book Corduroy and the Spanish language version are available through Amazon.com, making it easy for you to turn nightly reading into a way to learn a new language.
Learn Spanish – Children’s Television
When all else fails, you can still look to children’s television to provide a way for kids to learn Spanish. The best of these shows are the ones that make use of bilingual characters that clearly demonstrate the meanings of words in English and Spanish. For instance, the popular children’s show Dora the Explorer makes use of the Spanish language extensively, and classic show Sesame Street has integrated basic Spanish instruction in its show for years. So, whether you go to another country to find a way for kids to learn Spanish or you tune in to your local public television station, there’s always a way to get your children started early on the road to fluency in another language.
By Travel Editor
Recommended Spanish Language Study Title:
40-Minute Latin American Spanish – Published by Harper Collins UK (40 minutes Unabridged)
Latin American Spanish varies greatly from European Spanish. This downloadable audio file provides the perfect opportunity to hear and practise the language before you go. The phrases are kept short and simple so that by listening two or three times, you can pick up the essentials of the language.
Buy 40-Minute Latin American Spanish
For more comprehensive audio resources that will help you learn Spanish for travel, business or pleasure, visit this site: Learn To Speak Spanish
