Top 5 Reasons Small Spanish Classes are Best
Let’s travel back in time—think about your Spanish classes from high school: How big were they? Did you feel like you got a lot of one-on-one time with the teacher? Were the classes personalized to your learning style and needs? If you were lucky enough to have small Spanish classes, then you probably learned faster and more efficiently! In high school, my Spanish classes were huge; I...Read More
Nouns in Spanish: Everything A Beginner Wants to Know
Oh, the joys of grammar! It looks like you’re ready to dive headfirst into your journey to Spanish fluency—and learning sustantivos (nouns) is the perfect place to start. Just like in every other language, a noun refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. It can function as a subject, object of a verb, or an object of a preposition. Nouns in Spanish are fun and fairly relaxing to learn, but...Read More
Present Tense Verbs in Spanish Part 1: The Simple Present
When you just start to learn a foreign language, the grammar is completely overwhelming. You probably don’t think about which verbs you use and how to conjugate them in everyday speech, right? Now, with a new language (especially one like Spanish), it probably seems that grammar is all you think about! To calm the chaos, a good place to start is with present tense conjugation, since...Read More
How to Learn Spanish through Music in Middle and High School
Do you want a guaranteed way to learn Spanish while enjoying yourself completely? It’s through music! Ten long years ago, I started learning Spanish from scratch and my constant companions were clear and catchy Spanish songs. I spent at least an hour daily listening to my favorite songs, hoping to get them to stick in my head (they always did). This method has worked wonders for me in French,...Read More
Ten Spanish Imperatives to Use with Kids
While telling our kids what to do is generally just another parental chore, teaching them to follow our instructions in Spanish can actually be fun! Giving commands in another language is possible through the use of Spanish imperatives. This type of verb conjugation tends to be a bit complicated with four separate distinctions, but here we simplify it to how you will speak to your child using...Read More
Spanish Winter Words for Preschoolers
Brrrr! The temperatures are freezing and heavy snowfall has convinced your family to stay indoors (until it’s time to make a snowman, of course). Christmas songs and hot chocolate breaks have made their way into your daily routine. Invierno (winter) is here and in full swing. Looks like it’s time to start learning some Spanish winter words! With the flurry of excitement that your preschooler...Read More
Reading Strategies at Home for Bilingual Kids
Having a bilingual child doesn’t necessarily mean you have to work doubly hard to achieve reading and writing goals. It simply means you have to be strategic about it! In many cases, it is natural for literacy skills to increase momentarily in the dominant language and falter in the other one. The ebbs and flows of fluency and literacy in each language are often a sign of progress, but it...Read More
Why Doesn’t My Child Want to Speak Spanish with Me?
The rewarding challenge of raising bilingual children can take an unexpected turn into confusion. Despite your best efforts, you notice that your child refuses to speak your home language. The frustrations mount, and parents often begin to feel helpless in this situation. But wait, the good news is up ahead! If your child used to speak Spanish at home and has stopped, this article may...Read More
Learn Spanish with Music: Themes, Songs and Lesson Ideas for Preschool and Elementary
Music is one of the most powerful tools to teach a foreign language to young learners! It instantly fills the room with smiles, gets kids on their feet, and inspires them to become a part of whatever they are listening to. Teaching your child Spanish through music will boost their memory of new vocabulary, improve their pre-reading skills through rhyming, and promote the development of...Read More