Have you ever felt the desire to embark on a new language learning journey? Perhaps you’ve always wanted to immerse yourself in a new culture, but the thought of leaving your comfort zone sends shivers down your spine? Do not worry, Johana is here to lend a helping hand!
With her expertise in teaching both Spanish and English at all proficiency levels, she has recently launched an exciting Spanish beginners’ course with eduki’s colleagues. Having successfully gripped her students from the very beginning, I had the pleasure to interview Johana and find out her secrets about learning a new language.
Lina: Johana, you’ve recently had the experience of teaching Spanish to students who had absolutely no prior knowledge. What did your first lesson look like?
Johana: That’s right, Lina. I believe that the first language lesson is a wonderful opportunity to establish a connection with your students and create a positive learning environment. It sets the tone for the entire course and paves the way for a fruitful language learning journey. In my experience, the first lesson revolves around introducing my language and culture in an engaging and enjoyable manner.
With that objective in mind, our initial lesson focused on teaching the fundamental basics that enabled my students to introduce themselves and ask basic personal information questions. Furthermore, we worked on some interactive activities to get to know and understand Hispanic culture. When planning for the activities, providing useful language but also a fun way of using it were key. By the end of the lesson, even those who initially claimed to not speak a word of Spanish were able to do so. The most important outcome was that the students left the lesson feeling motivated, with a positive mindset, and a genuine curiosity to continue their Spanish language learning journey.
Lina: Motivating students to step out of their comfort zones can be quite challenging. How do you manage to inspire and encourage them to do that?
Johana: It is indeed challenging to motivate students to step out of their comfort zones, that’s why I find it crucial to create a safe and supportive environment where they feel comfortable taking risks and making mistakes. By fostering this atmosphere of trust and understanding, students are more likely to overcome their fear of making mistakes and embrace new challenges. In addition to providing a safe space, I also believe in the power of positive feedback. I make sure to acknowledge my students’ efforts and let them know that mistakes are valuable opportunities for growth.
I also believe using engaging and relevant content can significantly motivate students to step out of their comfort zones. I like to incorporate culturally diverse materials such as music, riddles, and jokes, which not only make the learning experience enjoyable but also encourage students to actively participate and express themselves.
Lina: In that way, I believe, beginners often experience rapid progress of learning. However, some students may find themselves struggling and feeling frustrated if a fast-paced learning environment doesn’t come naturally to them. How do you address this issue and support those who require more time?
Johana: First, I believe it is important for the student to understand that every learner experiences a unique learning journey. Understanding this helps them avoid comparing their progress to others and embrace their own pace of learning. I think it is essential to nurture their confidence by acknowledging and celebrating every bit of progress, regardless of how small it may seem. This empowers students to overcome frustration and maintain a positive mindset.
Once again, feedback is key here. When providing positive and constructive feedback you can guide students towards areas that need improvement while highlighting their strengths. Finally, I think it is important to keep on providing students with enough opportunities to communicate and actively engage in speaking activities so that they can refine their language skills and keep on boosting their confidence.
Lina: Apart from your insights on overcoming obstacles, what other advice do you give complete beginners?
Johana: Learning a language is a gradual process, and beginners should be patient with themselves. Aside from that, consistency and perseverance are key. I will advise them to practice regularly, set aside a specific time of the day or week to invest into their language learning process. This practice time doesn’t exclusively have to involve filling grammar exercises in or drilling sentences, it can be as simple as to immerse themselves in the language by listening to songs, watching their favourite shows in Spanish or finding online communities where they can practise their skills!
Spanish language and hispanic culture are both so rich and beautiful, I am happy and passionate to ignite this curiosity in my students for them to further explore both. I like to encourage beginners to explore beyond just the language itself. I recommend my students to explore opportunities that expose them to the diverse cultures and traditions associated with Spanish-speaking countries. Whether it is reading a Spanish speaking author or taking a salsa lesson, they will both give them a better understanding of our culture.
