As a Spanish teacher, youâre going to run into many roadblocks in the classroom. Some students will struggle to learn, while others wonât even care to try. Some might flourish, which is awesome, but you want the entire class to excel as a group. These great ways to make Spanish class more fun will help you maintain your studentsâ attention during each lesson.
Teach with Enthusiasm
Young students in preschool, kindergarten, and middle school typically donât realize how beneficial learning Spanish will be for them. Thatâs why itâs the teacherâs job to engage students with the language, which is tough if you have an unfriendly demeanor. Deliver each lesson with enthusiasm and a smile on your face. If you can win over students with a fun personality, you can win their attention. In short, exuding optimism and joy during class will go a long way.
Mix Education and Entertainment
Thereâs nothing wrong with passing out worksheets or workbooks, but if thatâs all youâre using to teach Spanish, itâll become dull for the students. Luckily, there are plenty of effective ways to combine entertainment and education into one task. You can read bilingual childrenâs books, listen to Spanish music, or play a round of Spanish vocabulary bingo.
You can even indulge in a Total Physical Response (TPR) session to get the class passionate about the curriculum. Make sure to plan some collaborative activities for students to conduct in small groups, too. This will promote socializing alongside learning, which plays a key role in creating a welcoming and friendly learning environment.
Discuss History and Culture When Possible
When youâre teaching Spanish to young students, donât forget to work Spanish history and culture into your lessons. For instance, the aforementioned childrenâs books and Spanish songs are the perfect way to do this. Seek out books and songs talking about Spanish events, historical figures, holidays, and so forth.
Spanish is more than a language for students to learnâitâs a vast legacy of people, places, and events worth discovering. You understand that, but sometimes your students wonât. Thatâs why imbuing history and culture into the curriculum is one of the great ways to make Spanish class more fun. In doing so, youâre simultaneously entertaining, educating, and engaging students with the rich history behind the Spanish language.