As a world language teacher to elementary students as young as kindergarten, I’m grateful to have parents offer to assist me in teaching Spanish to their children. I’ve noticed a significantly higher level of vocabulary retention among students with parents who are partnering with me to teach their children. The following are suggestions that are developed by NNELL (The National Network for Early Language Learning) that I share to parents who wish to partner with me in helping their kids acquire a second language:

• Remind your child that this is a journey and they will improve during the year. As I write this article, it is early in the school year. Their abilities will increase with practice and more time with the language.
• Use what the teacher provides. This could be a newsletter, vocabulary lists, stories or anything that a teacher sends home for the students to practice. I personally have my own website and my students’ parents have the link. Using these materials at home will increase practice and exposure to the language. 
• Enhance your child’s excitement for the language by looking for opportunities to use the language outside of class. This might include using the language at a local restaurant, going to an area festival, or watching an age-appropriate program on a streaming service or television. 
• Remind your child to watch their teacher when the teacher talks. Watching will add visual cues that will help in comprehension. 

I hope that these suggestions give your partnering parents tools to support their children’s language learning at home. Please feel free to share any additional ideas that you have on this topic.