Ed Tech is profoundly changing education. It allows more people to learn more things all over the world. A student doesn’t even need to step into a traditional classroom in order to learn. But, what about the actual classroom? Some teachers embrace new tech while others are late to adopt. But, what about world language teachers? Do apps to learn Spanish, or any other language, have a place in the classroom?

Teaching Spanish as a second language can be a rewarding, but often times thankless experience. When students learn and show enthusiasm for the language and culture being taught, it is amazing! Many students, however, never get the chance to really learn the language due to a lack of time, resources or even interest. Like many other extra-curriculars, Spanish class is put on the back burner as a class that is “as important.” Amazing teachers all over, however, make Spanish class fun, inviting, exciting! 

Teachers use many of the tools at their disposal in order to engage students and help them learn. Spanish learning apps, when used well, can give classroom engagement and learning a boost. 

5 Ways to Use Spanish Learning Apps in the Classroom

Use Apps as a Class Center

Do you organize your class into Centers? An App that students can use individually is a great center to include! It requires little supervision, they will be very engaged practicing Spanish, and it will free you up to work with other small groups!  

Use Apps for Additional Practice  and Homework

Learning a new language requires a lot of practice. Students can use an app in the classroom in order to have individualized practice. It’s especially useful if you can assign specific concepts that you are reviewing in the class or concepts that particular students may be struggling with. When you are able to use an app to assign homework to students or encourage them to use the language outside of class time, you can dramatically increase the amount of practice and exposure students receive.  

Provide Students with Authentic Exposure 

Providing students with exposure to authentic language exposure is crucial for helping them learn a language. Giving students access to materials where native speakers use the language in a natural context, with native speakers is extremely important. Teachers can provide this exposure with audio recordings, videos, authentic books and quality apps.  

Motivate and Reward Students 

Just like learning concepts of other subjects, learning Spanish has its fair set of challenges and sometimes they can be overwhelming to students. When things get tough, some students can get frustrated and even resolve to stop learning Spanish. The best way to keep your student on track is by ensuring that they are well motivated and that is where Apps to learn Spanish come in. A fun app that adheres to principles of gamification will help keep students motivated! You can also offer the app as a reward for work done in the classroom or make it a Fun Friday activity!

Keep Track of Student Progress 

Allow students to use Apps in and outside of class time and you can keep track of student’s progress and performance. Good apps will offer you a view to see what activities students have completed, how often they practice, how they performs on certain tasks, and what areas they may need additional instruction and practice in.  

Finding the Right Apps for Your Classroom

With hundreds of Apps to Learn Spanish, finding the best app to suit your students can be a daunting task.  We share a few tips on finding the best ones here.  

If your students are between the ages of 3 and 9 then we invite you to give Spanish Safari a try! This is a complete curriculum designed to help students between the age of 3 and 9 learn how to speak Spanish in a fun and intuitive way. It features very engaging storylines, lovable characters, and a beautiful 3D world that will make the child excited to learn and practice Spanish. 

 One of the best ways to enhance the Spanish learning experience of your students is by incorporating apps to learn Spanish in the classroom. Good Apps will make Spanish lessons more fun, engaging and informative. They will also motivate students to learn and speak Spanish. What is stopping you from incorporating apps into your classroom?

Keli Garcia Allen is a certified Spanish teacher and currently works as a Preschool teacher in a bilingual classroom. She is the Head of Content for Learn Safari and is currently working on Spanish Safari,  a Spanish Learning game for children 3-9 years old. You can follow her and the rest of the team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.