The Best Way For Your Kids To Learn Conversational Spanish

Studies show that the optimal age to learn a foreign language is when one is very young.

Think about how you acquired your first language – did you learn it as an adult? No! You learned it as a child.

Did you learn it while sitting in a classroom, staring at a chalkboard and repeating whatever the teacher said? No, you learned it in your home, among those who love you and just taught you naturally, as you grew.

Just as children easily learn their first language, they can easily learn a second one. Do you want that language to be Spanish, a language that is very useful in our world today? Then you probably want to know the best way for your kids to learn conversational Spanish!

Home, Sweet Home

The best way for your kids to learn conversational Spanish is if either Mama or Papa speaks Spanish. They can easily use both languages in the home, and Jr. will absorb and be fluent in both. Sometimes the child acquires the languages more slowly than if they were only learning one language, but that's because they're learning two at once. There are a few suggested methods considered the best way for your kids to learn conversational Spanish from parents at home.

First, one parent only speaks one language to the child, the other parent only speaks the other language to the child. This can help the child keep straight which language is which.

Second, the child can learn one language fairly well – to about age 3 – and then the second language is introduced, while still using the primary language some of the time.

Other Helps

The are things available to assist in teaching your kids Spanish -- the best way for them to learn conversational Spanish when neither parent speaks the language.

There are shows on PBS (Public Broadcasting Station – on television) that are geared toward Spanish speakers, either children or adults. Cable or satellite television also has programs to supplement the best way to learn conversational Spanish

Look online – there are also websites (mostly free) that are useful in teaching your children to speak conversational Spanish. The sites to teach children to learn Spanish usually have a lot of games to make the learning more fun.

You can also buy CDs or DVDs to sing along with – in Spanish. Imagine playing a CD in Spanish while riding in your car with your child – you'll be learning Spanish, too!

Of course, as soon as your child has the opportunity to enroll in a foreign language in school, they should do it. That will give them a strong foundation to build their foreign language knowledge.