Learning Spanish at an early age is very natural for children. Children can internalize the words and their meaning by singing a song, recognizing flash cards, reading, playing and more. With repetition they understand the meaning and finally see the differences between languages.

Incorporating grammar through games starts building their conversation skills as if it was their daily native language. The richest aspect in all of this is the ability to share with students how many countries speak Spanish, and their similarities and differences within their own country. This is all covered by our curriculum!

It is amazing when the kids at an early age are able to recognize the different countries by their culture such as family traditions, ways of dressing, foods, jobs, beliefs or religions, holidays, flags, and more.

At Stonegate Elementary we had the privilege of presenting Venezuela in a booth at the International Fair. My Spanish class interacted with the visitors, sang the song “Canto de las Americas”, and presented flags of 22 Spanish speaking countries. In addition, the students were engaged in learning about 17 different countries across different continents, all with their own unique cultures and traditions.

It is so rewarding to watch how a child can be interested in why people think alike or differently than them. Nevertheless, this can be an interesting experience for them as they develop a talent for linguistic skills.

I now leave you with a related quote by George Washington Carver — “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom”

Señora Hungria Essig
LAL Spanish Teacher