Do you worry about how much Spanish your students missed this past school year? Do you feel like they’re coming into the school year with less language ability than they should have? Does it stress you out trying to think about how to approach teaching this year if your students can’t understand you?
Tip #1 – Less is more
Shelter vocabulary by minimizing the number of words they are exposed to. Remember that students need to hear a word many times before they will acquire and retain it. So make sure that the words they are exposed to are the most important for communication. An easy place to start is focusing on the super seven verbs. You’ll be amazed at how much your students are able to express once they’ve mastered these verbs.
Tip #2 – Use 90% target language
Make sure that you are using Spanish 90% of the time. The more Spanish they hear and see, the better they will get. I love using short stories to teach vocabulary and grammar in context. Plus it helps with literacy skills and making predictions.
Tip #3 – Make it fun!
Encourage your students to get involved by playing engaging partner games that require them to use Spanish with one another. Some of my favorites include a picture guessing game, speaking task cards, and the question master board game. When the students are able to play independently, it helps me as a teacher to give my voice a rest. Make sure you don’t burn out your vocal cords in the first week of school!
This year, more than ever, is going to be a big transition back to school. Try to not feel too stressed, because we always face this hurdle after a long summer break. What tips and tricks do you use to bump up your students’ language skills after break? Send me a message to The Spanish Brew on Instagram or Facebook and let me know what your favorite activities are.
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