Learning a language doesn't always come natural to students. For those students who need extra practice in learning a foreign language, it may seem boring, tedious, and hard especially if they had teachers who teach from the textbooks or only give worksheets. Not to say that these methods are wrong, because giving textbook work and worksheets can be effective if they are done correctly. Here are some tips teachers and tutors could use to spice up their lessons:

1. Make a connection with the student(s)

Finding out a student's favorite hobby or favorite subject in school for example makes a huge difference in their learning. Sometimes students who lack confidence in their abilities and/or not motivated to learn need their teachers to show students that they cares. If students feel their teachers care, students will become motivated and try harder.

2. Create your own worksheets.

Let's face it. Worksheets are boring, but they are a great way for students to practice. When I create my worksheets I have a theme that's usually about pop culture. An example of a worksheet I created was to help a student learn ser vs estar (the verbs to be). This student struggled with remembering the uses and the meanings of who, what, and where. So my worksheet contained photos of celebrities. Under each picture the student had to answer in Spanish; Who is he? Where is he from? How is he feeling? Where is he? What are his characteristics? Of course these questions were in Spanish as well. This was a great opportunity for me to know a little bit about the student and for the student to remember the concepts because he was able to make a connection. Other themes you could do are movies, vacations, or sports. Like I said, worksheets can be tedious, but taking the time to create a worksheet with a theme will not only help students retain the concepts, but also let the student have fun with the language.

3. Implement games and activities.

Games and activities are important in a language but they should only be done after the student is more familiar with the concepts. Again, it's an\other opportunity for students to have fun with the language and for students to make connections. My favorite vocabulary game with students is called flyswatter. There is a bunch of pictures of the vocabulary words and the students listens to the vocabulary word and tries to find the picture. The first student to slap the correct picture earns a point. This game is more fun when you teach multiple students but you can play with one student as well.

I hope these tips were helpful and happy teaching!

Creates Meaningful Spanish Lessons

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