As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. If you want your kids to become fluent in Spanish writing, you should encourage them to practice on a daily basis.
Well, the vast majority of kids do not like writing, and writing in a foreign language even more so. And you need to use a creative approach to get your children into it.
Today, we will share tips on how to turn ordinary daily activities into writing practice. Let’s get started!
Make new friends
Do your kids like to chat with their friends via messaging apps? Offer them to make new friends with Spanish native speakers. Let your kids experience how fun it is to communicate with other people in a foreign language.
One of the biggest problems of language learners is that they have a fear of looking stupid – they have a fear of making mistakes. The good thing about messaging platforms is that they help to eliminate this fear. Over time, such communication will become habitual and you will begin to write as fluently as in the custom writing service.
When kids chat online with pals they have never seen in real life, they don’t feel ashamed for their mistakes. Besides, they know that they can quit conversation at any time if they feel uncomfortable. It allows little learners to boost their confidence levels and improve dedication.
Embrace the power of digital learning
Most parents don’t like that their kids spend too many hours in front of digital screens. Pretty often, moms and dads decide to ban children from using technology.
But the truth is that there are dozens of effective education platforms out there. And you don’t need to ban screen time. You should teach your kids to use this time wisely and leverage digital solutions for educational purposes.
Your task is to find a suitable educational online platform and show your kids how to use it. There are many options to consider: studying websites for 5th graders, language learning apps for preschoolers, Spanish language courses for teenagers, etc. Compare a few options and choose a digital solution that matches your kids’ skills and learning objectives.
Keep an accomplishment journal
As a rule, kids are very proud of their big and small achievements. And naturally, they want their parents to be proud of them too. For this reason, some kids like to keep accomplishment journals and write about the goals they have achieved.
If your children have such a journal, offer them to write entries in Spanish. It’s a great way to practice writing on a regular basis and expand vocabulary.
Stick to a schedule
Do you want your kids to learn new skills? Dedicate specific time “blocks” for practicing.
If you want your kids to improve their Spanish writing, you should schedule your kids’ activities. For instance, you can offer your son and daughter to practice writing for 15 minutes daily before going to bed, or for one hour a week on Monday from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
When your kids know what exactly they should do and when they will be more open to learning.
Have fun with dialogues
In case if your kids don’t want to practice alone, you can keep them company. For instance, you can offer your kids to work in pairs and write funny dialogues on different topics.
Your dedication and involvement will motivate your children to study harder and practice more. They will see you as an example to follow and do their best to improve their writing.
Write a letter to Santa
Do your kids still believe in Santa? That’s great! Invite them to write a letter to Santa in Spanish. Tell your kids it will help them make a good impression on Father Christmas and receive better presents.
If your children have just started their Spanish language journey and know only a couple of words, show them how to use translation software. The longer letter your kids will try to write, the more new words they will learn.
The vast majority of kids love to play games and do not like to study. It explains why traditional approaches to language learning often fail.
As a parent, you can leverage gamification to show your kids that they can learn new things, and Spanish writing in particular, in a fun way. You can offer your children to play board games as well as online games designed for little language learners.
Once kids see that the studying process can be interesting and engaging, they will change their attitudes toward practicing.
Set a goal
Dedication always starts with goal setting. If your kids don’t have a study goal, they will lack motivation for regular practice.
You need to explain to your kids why they should study Spanish and how the acquired skills will help them to achieve success in the future. Also, you should help your kids to set their study goals. Depending on the age and personal preferences, goals can sound like this:
- To be able to communicate with Spanish-speaking kids on any topic
- To be able to translate popular Spanish songs
- To be able to watch cartoons and TV shows in Spanish
- To go to Spanish summer camp in 2021
Writing skills development goes hand in hand with reading skills. If your kids don’t read Spanish texts, it will be extremely challenging for them to improve their writing.
For this reason, you should encourage your kids to spend more time reading. You can buy them new books and journals in Spanish to get them interested.
Basically, you should use any opportunity to get your kids practicing reading. For instance, when you come to a Mexican restaurant, ask your son to read a menu in Spanish. Or, when you cook Italian pasta at home, ask your daughter to read cooking instructions written on a spaghetti package.
Use these simple tricks to motivate your kids to practice Spanish writing.
Provide your children with the guidelines on how to achieve success in studying, and don’t be too demanding. Your son and daughter will appreciate that.
Author’s bio. Daniela McVicker is an editor for Essayguard. She has a master’s degree in English Literature, and she is truly passionate about learning foreign languages and teaching. Daniela works with the students helping them to reveal the writing talent and find one true calling.