Spanish Tip – Keeping Spanish Fun!!

A great way to keep children interested in practicing Spanish is to make it fun! Children want to speak and interact with the people they admire and about the things that interest them. Who do they admire most? You! Tie Spanish into family game night or watch a favorite movie in Spanish!

Another fun way to connect with your child in Spanish every day is through a daily personal message. You can put a message in his or her lunchbox or backpack in Spanish. Here are some fun ones to try:

Te quiero mucho. (Tay Kee-ero Moo-cho)	I love you very much.
Estoy pensando en ti. (Eh-stoy Pen-sahn-do En Tee)	I am thinking about you.
Esta tarde vamos a ____. (Eh-stah Tar-day Vah-mos ah ____.)	This afternoon we are going to ____.

You can use pictures for beginning readers. Younger children, who aren’t reading yet, can have their teacher read the note for them. It is encouraging and special for your child to share their new language with you!

Spanish Tip of the Week: Open Ended Questions

This month at Pine Village, we will be learning all about famous artists and recreating our own versions of some of their famous masterpieces!

You don't have to speak a lot of Spanish to encourage your child to do so.  Simply ask an open ended question and let them respond with as many words as they like! (If you don't understand the reply you can ask them to repeat themselves in English.)

Even if you speak Spanish fluently, open ended questions give your child a chance to express themselves fully.  It's a great way to spark deep imaginative thought and self-expression in any language.

Here's one quick art-related example:

Try asking your child in Spanish,
“¿Qué ves?” 

(Kay Vase) 

What do you see?

Spanish Tip of the Week: Translator Apps

Many parents ask us if they can successfully support their child's growing Spanish skills if they themselves don't speak Spanish.  The answer is a resounding yes!  There are many ways you can help your child continue to develop skills in any language. 

For those of you that have smart phones, there are many translator apps out there you can download to help make practicing Spanish with your child easier. Some of these apps are so simple that all you have to do is say the word into your phone in English, and POOF! The Spanish word is spoken back to you complete with correct pronunciation!

Here are a few apps to try (all free!):

iPhone: Talking Translator, Talking Translations, or Say Hi! Translate

Android: Talking Translator/Dictionary, Spanish Translator
 
The translator apps are also a fun way to learn new words with your child. Point to objects you don’t know the Spanish word for. You can say, “Como se dice…? (Ko-mo say dee-say…?) 

Give it a try!
How do you say mustache in Spanish?
Find out together with your child.

Are there any great apps out there that we've missed?  Leave us a comment and let us know!

Spanish Tip: Science Fair Word Practice

Since February is Science month here at Pine Village, why not practice some words that you might be using at our upcoming science fair!  We've made some suggestions below. 

Science Process Skills

English	Español
Experiment	Experimento
Investigate	Investigar
Predict	Predecir
Observe	Observar
Procedure	Procedimiento
Scientist	Científico

Weather

English	Español
Cloud	Nube
Wind	Viento
Meteorologist	Meteorólogo
Precipitation	Precipitación
Season	Estación
Thermometer	Termómetro
Blizzard	Tempestad de nieve

Measurements

English	Español
Estimate	Estimar
Explore	Explorar
Measurement	Medida
Ruler	Regla
Length	Longitud
Width	Ancho

Solids and liquids

English	Español
Fluid	Fluido
Viscous	Viscoso
Mixture	Mezcla
Float	Flota
Liquid	Liquido
Solid	Solido
Sink	Hundirse
Matter	Materia

Leave us a comment to let us know what other science-themed blog posts you'd like to see this month!