Inside: Ideas and resources for National Foreign Language Week

National Foreign Language Week was founded in 1957 to help make students understand the importance of studying a second language. (I prefer the term World Language Week, but didn’t get to choose it myself. So I’ll use the term that Google can find!) This is the perfect week to shine the light on your Spanish program: parental and administrative buy-in always helps.

First, I’ll list a few ideas from other teachers for celebrating the week. Then, I’ve collected videos and articles that talk about the incredible benefits of language learning, to share with your classes or school community. There’s no substitute for letting the magic of Spanish speak for itself– through authentic communication, stories, and music in class– but sometimes a handy video or visual helps!

NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE WEEK RESOURCES

Suggestions from fellow teachers for awareness at school:

• Poster competition on the benefits of language learning.
• Lip-Sync night featuring music in Spanish.
• Showcase foreign films after school. (Here’s a HUGE list of movies in Spanish.) 
• Door decorating contest or signs to decorate lockers. 
• Incorporate music into the announcements. (Find Spanish songs for all ages here.)
• Crafts or folk art. 
• Invite former students to talk about travels or opportunities they’ve had by studying a foreign language.
• Hold a culture fair and showcase dances, music, food. etc from other cultures. 
• Cook food from other cultures. (Read more about cooking with Spanish students.)
• Trivia questions. (Here are some fun facts about the Spanish language.)

Infographic More Fun Facts About Spanish by www.SpeakingLatino.com

AND HERE ARE SOME AWESOME RESOURCES ON LANGUAGE LEARNING IN GENERAL:

1. HOW LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE MAKES YOU MORE TOLERANT

2. SORRY STEM, GOOGLE JUST MADE THE CASE FOR MORE FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

This is an AWESOME article about how “The soft skills valued in leaders are byproducts of foreign language acquisition.” Language learning isn’t just good for you and the world: it develops skills valued by future employers.

3. HOW LANGUAGES EVOLVE

Learn a little about the history of languages with this video:

4. THE BENEFITS OF A BILINGUAL BRAIN

An excellent 5-minute introduction to the science and benefits of bilingualism.

5. SPEAKING A SECOND LANGUAGE MAKES YOU SMARTER

I haven’t been able to verify the research behind this video, but it lists a lot of benefits I’ve personally experienced. 

6. HOW LANGUAGES ARE CONNECTED

This is a beautiful graphic that shows the origins of the world’s major languages.

Click to see the full, original print from Minna Sundberg

7. HOW LEARNING LANGUAGES AFFECT OUR BRAIN:

You can also find more infographics at Visualistan