7 Ways to Practice a Target Language

There are several ways to get kids to practice Spanish outside the school. The purpose of dual language immersion programs is to immerse students in using the target language in school and class every day. Nevertheless, it won't hurt to get your child to practice more since we know that the more we practice the language, the more proficient we become.

Friends

We know that kids are known to make friends quickly. The ideal would be to foster a friendship with a native Spanish speaking friend or family that's comfortable using the target language regularly. If, for any reason, the students are not comfortable using their Spanish, ask the mom or dad to try to use the target language with your child. Some families are unique and may include a grandparent in the house that may not be able to speak English. You might also want to see if the grandparent will be willing to speak in Spanish to your child.

Television

Television networks now offer a wide variety of Spanish channels. Some networks even offer kids only channels in Spanish. Have your child watch a Spanish channel once or twice a day. This may help improve your child's listening skills as he/she gets used to the language pace and the different Spanish dialects. Look to see if there are any Spanish channels that would match your child's interest such as the animal planet, sports or cartoons. One great show to watch with kids is a famous Spanish family show that must Spanish speakers enjoyed growing up called "El Chavo del Ocho". It is a great series to watch and follow depending on the age of your child. El Chavo it's often available via Netflix or online.

Community

Do you know all of your neighbors? You probably live close to a Spanish speaking neighbor that might be willing to have friendly conversations with you and your child. Even if this only happens occasionally, let your child know that this neighbor is a non-English speaker and that it would be great if he/she would greet the neighbor in Spanish. This will train your child to be ready to use the language more often. This will also show him/her that Spanish is a language that he/she will use not only in school but out in the real world too.

Travel

if you are able to travel to other countries you should consider visiting a Spanish speaking country. A trip to South America, the Caribbean or any country where Spanish is used as the main language will immerse your child in a language environment that can benefit his/her language proficiency. This visit will push your child to speak in Spanish with kids around the area or even with adults working as tour guides, restaurant workers, etc. Learning about the culture and seeing how many others are able to speak in Spanish will also encourage him/her to continue to learn the language.

Skype

An upgraded technological era allows us to connect with people from around the world. Some companies offer online Spanish classes where a Spanish speaker uses various techniques to get learners to practice the language. Under supervision, you may be able to connect with someone that could tailor the conversation to your child's interest when the above-mentioned options do not work.

Read-out loud

When all else is not possible one can never go wrong with reading. As your child to read Spanish text out loud to get him/her to practice fluency. Reading aloud allows the reader to practice vocabulary which is often used when speaking. It helps speech flow much easier when using the target language.

PenPals Friends

Some websites offer a penpal friend program that allows families to sign up and write to each other in a target langauge. This is an excellent way to safely practice reading and writing and learn about other cultures at the same time. If you search for penpal multiple options will come in google.

Learning a language development takes time and consistency is very important to improve proficiency.

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