Unlocking Español: Homeschooling with Spanish Immersion - Your Complete Guide
Hola, dear readers! This is Houlie, today we're diving deep into the world of bilingual education. As an educator with 10 years + of experience and the founder of HomeschoolToGo, not to mention a proud homeschooling mom of an ever-curious preschooler, I'm thrilled to share my insights on integrating Spanish immersion into your homeschooling journey.
Step 1: Craft a Reading List in English and reread the Spanish version.
Starting with familiar tales is an excellent way to embrace a new language. Create a reading list of your child's favorite English books. Once you've finished reading them, revisit these stories in Spanish. The prior knowledge of the storyline will help your child understand the context while learning new vocabulary. It’s like rediscovering an old friend but with a spicy twist!
Step 2: Curate a Bilingual Environment
An environment that celebrates both languages is key to immersion. Use tags to label items in your home in both English and Spanish. "Window" becomes "Ventana", "Door" is "Puerta", and so on. Incorporate Spanish affirmations into your daily routine. A simple "¡Muy bien hecho!" (Well done!) can boost confidence and reinforce language learning simultaneously.
Step 3: Change all your Tech To Spanish
Immersing oneself in a language often requires stepping out of your comfort zone. One daring move? Change the language settings of your tech devices! Switch your phone, TV, and other gadgets to Spanish. By doing so, you create challenging situations where problem-solving in Spanish becomes a necessity. It's like a mini-adventure every time you navigate your device!
Photo by August de Richelieu
Step 4: Watch movies in Spanish on the Weekends
Let's make weekends a fiesta of learning! Choose family-favorite movies but watch them in Spanish. Subtitles can be an aid, but try focusing on the spoken words. With familiar plots and characters, comprehension becomes easier and a lot more fun!
Step 5: Play a Spanish Board Game as a Family every week
Nothing brings a family closer than game night. How about spicing things up with a Spanish board game? Not only will it make the game night exciting, but it's also an engaging way to learn vocabulary, phrases, and even some cultural nuances.
Step 6: Repeat a project that you’ve already done in English, this time using only Spanish.
Remember that science project or craft activity you did last month? It's time to revisit it but with a Spanish twist! Following instructions or discussing the project in Spanish reinforces language skills and encourages thinking in the new language. It’s a win-win!
Photo by Kampus Production
Incorporating Spanish into your homeschooling routine can be a manageable task. These steps make it an exciting and enriching experience for the entire family. And as you journey through, remember the goal isn't perfection, but connection and growth.
If you're eager to explore more homeschooling and broaden your horizons, and want to delve deeper into raising bilingual and bicultural children in under 10 hours of Homeschooling per week, apply to enroll in our program today.
