6 Tips for Teaching Kids a Foreign Language

Teaching kids a foreign language is stressful. Students may find it embarrassing. Teachers may find it overwhelming. And while we know the benefits of learning a foreign language are many, there are still the naysayers who find it unnecessary.

As you head into a new school year have faith that there are things you can do to make your life easier.

Speak slowly.

It’s easy to forget how fast you speak your native language. Your students, though? They’ll notice and either tell you right away, or (and this one is more likely) suffer in silence.

Keep your pacing slow. To the point where you think it sounds silly. And, while you’re at it, make sure to use simple vocabulary.

Once you gauge your students comprehension level, or as you progress throughout the year, you can increase your speed.

TPR is your friend.

Total physical response, or TPR, is when you move your body in conjunction with phrases, words, or concepts.

Do it.

Don’t just say “Write your name,” but pretend you’re writing as you say it. Don’t just teach the life cycle of a plant, but have students use physical movement to act it out.

Students should be gesturing at oportune times throughout the lesson.

It will help them understand you AND remember content.

It’s OK for students to listen and not speak (at least in the beginning).

The silent period is real. And it’s also perfectly acceptable.

Don’t rush a student to talk who isn’t ready. You’ll only decrease their motivational level and willingness to learn. Instead, offer authentic ways for students to listen to the target language and offer opportunities for them to speak in small, easy to handle, quantities. Then increase those opportunities throughout the year.

Don’t just stick to grammar.

Grammar is boring. It’s also not the end-all and be-all of a foreign language.

True, grammar is an important component of any language, but it isn’t the only one. Students need to learn vocabulary, important phrases, phonics, culture, pronunciation, etc.

Fixating on grammar, isn’t going to motivate anybody to learn a new language. Nor, will a heavy focus on grammar churn out students who can communicate with native speakers.

How many years of grammar-heavy language classes did you take in high school? Now, how many actual conversations have you had in that language? None?

Add necessary grammar content as a part of your lesson, don’t teach grammar as the lesson.

Be encouraging.

Even when a mistake has been made over and over. Because mistakes will be made (over and over). Don’t make your students feel bad. Instead create a classroom culture where mistakes, and risks, are allowed. They are a sign that students are willing to try.

Celebrate culture.

By virtue of being a foreign language teacher, you have the ability to expose students to cultures they normally would not have experienced.

As humans, we tend to look at the differences between two cultures rather than the similarities. That’s fine at first. But honestly, it’s the similarities we should be highlighting. Otherwise, we tend to create a sense of “us versus them.”

It’s imperative that your students see how much we have in common with people around the world. Kids go to school. Parents love and worry about their kids. Families support each other. You know, that day-to-day stuff.

So celebrate what makes each culture unique but make sure your students understand that at the heart of it people are people.

Remember

Now some of this, like the grammar part, you might not have a say in. You have to teach what you’re told to teach. But the rest of it, you can adapt to your teaching style (speak slowwwly, my friends) or classroom culture.

And lastly, take a deep breath and enjoy your year.