A Spanish lesson for kids is going to look much different than any other lesson you plan for a group of teenagers or adults. This lesson needs to be uncomplicated, engaging, and include regular changes in activities, so you can maintain their interest. Many children will not sit for a traditional high school Spanish lesson, so you will need to follow these suggestions to create a quicker, more engaging lesson.
3 Things to Focus in on a Spanish Lesson for Kids
1. The most important part of creating a Spanish lesson for kids is to find your ‘in’ with the kids. Find a way to use the language while creating interest with the students through their own personal characteristics, likes and dislikes. Talk about things familiar to them. Most children’s programs usually focus on communicative activities rather than the ‘why’s’ and ‘how’s’ of the language. Being able to spark the students’ interests will be your strength.
2. Your next step to create a Spanish lesson for kids is to find a way for them to become comfortable producing the language. A great way to do this for kids is by being silly with out-of-the-ordinary things like singing, jokes, skits, rhymes or even tongue twisters. There is a reason why we, in English, start our babies and toddlers with sing song as a language enhancer. Children will feel more confident in a language when they can memorize a song, or rhyme and repeat it over and over. Isn’t that in fact what we already tell our students? Repetition and practice are key.
3. Another focus is to make is accessible to the kids. This can be done with their own interests and the songs as previously mentioned. However, it is also important to remember that the language needs to be approachable. Give them topics, words, phrases that they already use. Go with numbers, colors, or even animals and their sounds. The children’s developmental stage is the most important part to consider while planning out the lessons. There isn’t a five year old in the world that would be interested in talking about students’ rights for education, but they may be interested in things they like to do at school. All topics can be manipulated to be friendly to all developmental stages.
A Spanish lesson for kids will look less traditional. They will be more communicative in nature, and the topics will be less complex. Incorporating child-like behavior to the lesson will encourage the students to practice and to be uninhibited when it comes to producing the language.
What factors do you think about including when you create a Spanish lesson for kids?
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