Fun and quick 5-10 minute games that will teach your students to speak Spanish!
We’re back with our Game Time series and the next level of our Sticker Activity to help beginners learn Spanish! This week, your students will be learning the words “hermano” (brother), “hermana” (sister), “hermanos” (brothers), and “hermanas” (sisters), with the help of some fun stickers! This activity is very simple and can be used for large groups or for a single student.
If you haven’t played the first round, you’ll want to check that out first. If you’re ready to learn this next group of vocabulary words then let’s start!
Sticker Activity
Part 2
Learning objective
Students will learn and use two new Spanish words: “hermano” (brother), “hermana” (sister), “hermanos” (brothers), “hermanas” (sisters), and “tengo” (I have).
⏲ Time needed
< 10 minutes
✏️✂️ Materials needed
Printed photos or drawings of the students’ siblings. If there are students who do not have any siblings, that’s okay! We will be gathering the students photos all together for the activity.
For students who do not have siblings, have them bring a photo or drawing of just themselves for Step 4.
Stickers or labels if you have them, or scotch tape and a pen
👩👧👦 Ages
For anyone who is game to play! Learning in a playful and different way helps everyone remember the Spanish vocabulary long-term. Ideally, your students will already know how to count to a few numbers in Spanish (only needed for the amount of siblings the student has).
Step 1
First, have your students gather their favorite photos (or drawings!) of their siblings. Make sure that there is a variety of photos of individual and group photos. As well as boys only, girls only, and a mix of both – as much of a variety as possible with the amount of siblings the students have. This is how we will practice each of the four vocabulary words.
Step 2
Create labels with a pen and some scotch tape, or use stickers if you have them. Create enough labels for each of the four vocabulary words: hermano, hermana, hermanos, hermanas.
Step 3
Have your students label each of their photos with the correct stickers or labels and say the word aloud, pointing to the photo as they do so.
Step 4
Have the students gather their own photos. The teacher will go around and ask each student how many siblings they have. The student will then hold up their photo or photos and reply with the correct answer below:
“Tengo un hermano/una hermana” (I have one brother/sister)
“Tengo tres hermanos y dos hermanas” (I have three brothers and two sisters) adjust to apply to a student who has multiple siblings.
“No tengo hermanos/hermanas” (I don’t have any brothers/sisters)
The teacher can ask in English or Spanish. If you want to say it in Spanish, the question is “¿Cuantos hermanos tienes?”
Challenge: Try to say these vocabulary words and phrases 3 times today.
Let us know what you think of this challenge and if your students had fun playing it!
What other games or activities have your tried and are your favorites? Let us know by reaching out to info@fl4k.com!
September 26th is the official European Day of Languages! A day that celebrates the diversity of languages and helps spread encouragement of language-learning across the continent.
Why is it important
European is home to 44 countries, and in these countries, there are 26 official languages as well as 225 Indigenous languages continent-wide. This doesn’t even cover the non-European languages widely spoken throughout the continent.
Because all of these countries with their own languages are so close together, Europeans will quite often encounter another language in their day-to-day lives, creating a need for individuals to learn more languages than just their mother tongue. In fact, the majority of Europeans are able to have a conversation in one or more world languages at 54%, with 10% of Europeans able to converse in three or more world languages. That’s compared with 20% of Americans who can communicate in two or more languages.
Celebrations
The European Day of Languages has many fun games and activities to play with students on their website! Some of these are guessing the location based on a photo, a multilingual tongue twister challenge, and a multilingual joke book! We have one for you – What did the chair say when it left the room…?
“Silla!”
Silla is Spanish for “chair” and pronounced like “see ya!”
Get it?! Ok, moving on…
Each country may have its own event to celebrate this day, such as the National Symbols and Traditions Presentation this year in Romania, and other local celebrations around different European cities. Celebrations range from movie nights featuring films in different languages, to classroom activities for kids to get real-time practice, to large-scale media events. There really is no shortage of ways to participate on this special day.
The move toward plurilingualism is strong and steady, with more and more individuals learning how to converse in one or more world languages than their native language. And why stop at just one additional language? Once you reach conversational fluency, try to get there with another language. There is no pressure to reach the fluency of a native speaker; being able to converse comfortably is enough to benefit you immensely.
Which languages are you going to learn more about today? Do you speak more than your native language, or is learning more your goal for the future?
If you’re interested in teaching your children or students languages the fun and natural way, check out FL4K’s new online Spanish platform to get them speaking naturally in no time!
Imagine a world where there were no names for colors, no number system, and no ability to talk in past or future tense. What would that look like for you? To the Pirahã people of the Amazonian jungle, that is their way of life. And, while it may sound like a difficult way to live, it could actually be what makes them some of the happiest people on Earth.
Keep reading to learn more about this unique language!
The Pirahã People
The Pirahã people are a group of about 800 hunter-gatherers who occupy four villages along the Maici River in Brazil. For a long time, they were known to have only spoken their own native language, Pirahã, with little-to-no influence from outsiders. They don’t leave their area, and they don’t want outsiders coming in. The only form of modernization they accepted was their clothing. Other than that, they relied on nature for their livelihood.
As of around 2011, the Brazilian government came to provide permanent housing, toilets, a health clinic and school, and even electricity for the Pirahã people. With this new technology, the Pirahã people are now learning Portuguese, the official language of Brazil, as well as how to count with the Portuguese number system.
The Pirahã language is unlike any other in a few ways. It is a tonal language that can be spoken, sung, hummed, or whistled. A tonal language is a language that utilizes pitch to determine a word’s meaning or grammar. So, a syllable can be pronounced with higher or lower tones when saying a word determines its definition. This may sound like a strange concept, but it’s the case for a few languages that you may have already heard of such as Mandarin, Thai, and Navajo. It has been documented that Pirahã mothers teach their children the language by signing it to them (Colapinto, 2007).
Besides its unique way of being communicated, Pirahã is a language without a number system, names for colors, or a past or present tense.
A language without a number system and colors
To count, instead of using a number system, Pirahã people will describe if there is just a few of something or many with words meaning “bigger” or “smaller.” They also don’t use physical signs to express an amount of something. For example, holding up two fingers to say 2 of something is not a sign they would use.
Colors are also something that is left out of the Pirahã language. There are no ways to call something orange or green. Instead, colors are described as being simply “light” or “dark.” This doesn’t mean they can’t see color. It just means there aren’t names for individual colors. They may describe the color of something being similar to something else of the same color. For instance, when referring to an orange bird they may describe it as having the color of fire.
Speaking in the present
While all this may seem difficult enough to us English-speakers, there’s one more thing missing from the Pirahã language that may be even harder for someone like us to wrap our heads around. That is the omission of past and future tenses. It’s true, the Pirahã people speak solely in the present tense; they don’t think about the past, they don’t worry about the future. They simply live in the moment.
The Pirahã language also leaves no room for small talk. The Pirahã speak very directly and without any “fluff” that most languages use. Even when helping each other out, they will show their gratitude for a favor not with words, but by repaying the gesture with their own good deed in return (The Wanderlust Addict, 2017).
Another way their language stays concise is by using evidential suffixes that denote hearsay, deduction, complete certainty, and assumption of direct knowledge (Futrell et al., 2016). This just means that in the Pirahã language, instead of explaining how we understand something to be, we use a suffix to do this. For instance, instead of saying “I understand that the mail was delivered because he told me the mail was delivered,” you would just add the Pirahã suffix that signifies hearsay, shortening the sentence drastically but still explaining your source of information. Or, instead of saying “I know the mail was delivered because I saw the mailman put the mail in the mailbox,” you would instead use the Pirahã suffix for complete certainty, you saw it happen.
A controversial language
The biggest difference in the Pirahã language that is not seen in any other language before is the indication that there are no signs of recursion in the language. Recursion is simply embedding an infinite amount of information into one sentence. For example, recursion can be seen in the rewrite of the sentence The monkey gathered nuts into The bird saw the monkey gathering nuts and even further into The hunter knew the bird saw the monkey gathering nuts. In Pirahã, this simply cannot be done. There is, in fact, a largest sentence that cannot be made any larger.
This discovery was actually very controversial in the linguistics community as it went against the theory of universal grammar. This theory states that all human languages, no matter how different, are all developed with the same grammatical properties, including recursion. For the Pirahã to exclude recursion would imply that this theory is false. And while there is no evidence of the Pirahã language using recursion, it is still an ongoing debate due to the fact that there is only a small number of non-national Pirahã speakers who could translate it.
Takeaway: Pirahã Way of Life
With all of these differences from our own languages, it can be hard to understand how someone can live and speak without so many of the things we are used to. However, a study on the Pirahã people suggests that they are some of the happiest people in the world (Everett, 2009). Maybe the simplicity of their language and way of life could have something to do with that?
The Pirahã language is one spoken by just a few hundred people in the Amazon and just a couple of outsiders. It is a language that goes by its own rules and has shaken up the modern linguistic world. It is spoken by a people who simply do not need specific numbers or colors in order to go about their way of life, and by people who do not care to think about the past or far into the future. The Pirahã’s language forces them to live in the moment and to focus on what’s important and ignore what is unimportant. And these people seem to be the happiest people in the world. So, maybe this simplicity could actually be the key to happiness after all.
Looking for more interesting language facts? Follow us on social media! Just search for FL4K on your favorite platforms.
Don’t forget to sign up for early access to our groundbreaking Spanish program for kids if you’re looking for the most efficient and fun way to strengthen their language skills! You can sign up now at FL4K.com.
The Wanderlust Addict. (2017). Pirahã Language: A unique language that has no numbers or colors. The Wanderlust Addict. https://thewanderlustaddict.com/piraha-language/.
Colapinto, J. (2007). The Interpreter. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/04/16/the-interpreter-2.
Futrell, R., Stearns, L., Everett, D. L., Piantadosi, S. T., & Gibson, E. (2016). A Corpus Investigation of Syntactic Embedding in Pirahã. PloS one, 11(3), e0145289. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0145289
Reading Time: 2minutesWomen’s History Month is a time to ponder on all the accomplishments we’ve had as women. I use this month to reflect on what truly motivated me to start the program Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids®. After years of searching for a quality foreign language program for my children, I decided to take the initiative and develop my vision – one that incorporated fun as children take on the goal of learning a second language. It took me years to perfect this program, but with tenacity, hard work, and motivation, I developed a program that children from all levels of learning would find enjoyable.
As a mother of three boys, I started language education early on so that my children can experience the benefits of bilingualism. Building on what I learned by observing my sons’ education and coupling that with a preference for fun activities, I put together a curriculum to teach Spanish and Mandarin that uses humor as a key component. Kids have the benefit of time to learn, so it is critical they enjoy learning a second language or they will tune out or quit. My goal has always been for children to be excited about knowing a foreign language and was relentless in my efforts to develop this particular program. As a result, Foreign Language for Kids by Kids® has been recognized by experts as an effective program for foreign language learning and has won more than 15 top education awards in the company’s first two years for its Spanish videos and Spanish board game, including Game and Media of the Year Awards.
During this Women’s History Month, it is important to remember that women must pursue their passions and explore new possibilities. There are many obstacles that stand in the way of pursuing dreams so it is incredibly important to remember to keep moving ahead if you truly believe in your vision. It is not always easy, but with the right combination of determination, positivity, and passion, anything is possible. For me, it was the idea of coming up with a foreign language program that my kids and others would truly find amusing while making language learning fun!
As always, our team takes your viewpoints and suggestions very seriously, and we look forward to hearing from you again. Please be sure to leave a comment below. We want to hear from you!
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See you next time!
Warmly,
Kit
Founder, Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids®
www.foreignlanguagesforkids.com
Reading Time: 2minutesDid you know that Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese? Over 400 million people throughout North, Central and South America, Europe, and Africa speak the Spanish language. In the United States, Spanish is the most widely spoken language with over 37 million speakers. There are many advantages to learning Spanish, including expanding your curiosity about the cultures, increased educational and career opportunities, and another perspective on how others see the world. Here are five reasons to teach children Spanish:
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SKILLS: Learning a language like Spanish is a significant step in anyone’s life. It offers the opportunity for children to gain exposure to the language and enhance their capacity to pronounce unfamiliar words and sounds. Children also demonstrate heightened creativity and better problem solving and thinking skills.
EXPANDS CULTURAL HORIZONS: Knowing Spanish will help your child understand and appreciate Hispanic culture, such as Spanish films, music, and literature.
PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR OTHER LANGUAGES: Children who learn to speak Spanish can better grasp the ability to learn other languages with Latin roots.
LONG-TERM BENEFITS: In our increasingly globalized society, children who grow up with Spanish as a second language will acquire long-term benefits. Increased opportunities for employment and travel are two such benefits. Being bilingual can broaden career options and make it easier to be eligible for a variety of jobs. International travel can also expand children’s perspectives and allow for deeper connections and understanding while traveling.
IT’S FUN! Your child can learn Spanish and feel a sense of achievement from taking on a new language. Kids will have so much with Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids®: SPANISH, that they won’t even realize they’re learning!
As parents, we only want the best for our children. That is why Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids aims to provide an innovative teaching approach and a variety of materials to aid in the study of foreign languages.
As always, our team takes your viewpoints and suggestions very seriously and we look forward to hearing from you. Please be sure to leave us your comments below! We want to hear from you!
Reading Time: 2minutesLearning a foreign language brings a plethora of benefits for parents and their children. Not only does research show the increase in overall school performance, but children gain additional skills that aid in their personal and professional development. As parents, we strive to enrich our children’s lives by signing them up for activities such as soccer, dance, and music lessons. Supporting your child in learning a foreign language can be difficult, especially if you don’t speak the language yourself. Nonetheless, there are techniques that can aid in your child’s overall learning process. Here are the top three tips parents can use to support their children’s foreign language learning activities.
Plan ahead: Parents should have a plan in place to get children engaged in foreign language learning. Parents can do this by setting up weekly goals, making time to practice with children, and building further exposure to the foreign language. Once the plan is in place, parents must stay consistent with their study plan. As parents will see, learning a language requires tenacity, steady progress, and organizational skills to keep the children on track.
Practice makes perfect: Learning a foreign language is like playing an instrument or a sport. The more children make time to practice, the better they will do. Parents can contribute to their children’s overall understanding by reinforcing concepts at home. This can be done by speaking to them in the language they are studying, using picture books, and labeling household items in the language being studied. As long as your child is practicing for even as little as 5 minutes a day, they will improve their chances of developing fluency.
Have reasonable expectations: Language learning takes time. No one ever said that it would be easy. To aim for a favorable learning outcome, it is important to create a positive learning environment at home by encouraging your kids to practice the language, to allow for mistakes, and to exercise patience when faced with the challenges of learning a new language at a young age.
As parents, we only want the best for our children. That is why Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids aims to provide an innovative teaching approach and a variety of materials to aid in the study of foreign languages.
As always, our team takes your viewpoints and suggestions very seriously and we look forward to hearing from you. Please be sure to leave us your comments below!
Reading Time: < 1minuteIn an increasingly interconnected world, learning a second language can be both an exciting and challenging endeavor for children. Not only does a foreign language allow children to embrace other cultures and deepen their understanding, but it also offers them a glimpse into how the world works. Children who speak a second language can communicate with diverse communities, expand their educational and social opportunities, and prepare for overall success in their adult lives.
Children reap significant advantages when learning a foreign language at an early age. Research studies demonstrate the benefits of cognitive strengths such as creativity when children begin to learn foreign languages at a young age. Additionally, children develop listening, observation and problem-solving skills which improves performance on standardized tests. On a personal note, children who become bilingual tend to have more self-confidence and tolerance than their peers who are considered monolingual.
Encouraging children to learn a language will benefit them both personally and professionally. In addition, bilingual children feel comfortable growing up in an increasingly globalized society. Our purpose with this blog is to keep parents and educators excited and informed about the prospects of foreign language learning and its impact on children. As we continue to move forward with interactive language learning tools, we will use this blog to provide tips, explore the latest research findings, and provide tips on how parents can support their children with foreign language learning.
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As always, our team takes your viewpoints and suggestions very seriously and we look forward to hearing from you. Please be sure to leave us your comments below!
