After taking Spanish classes for four years, I can read and write many words in Spanish, but when it comes down to actually speaking the language, I struggle — and I know I’m not the only one.
I wish that Spanish and other foreign language classes emphasized the development of speaking out loud rather than devoting so much time to doing worksheets.
I have had great Spanish teachers over the years and there’s no doubt that learning proper grammar, spelling and conjugation is necessary for building a foundational knowledge of the language. But at the end of the day, how will I be able to break language barriers and connect with people of other cultures through conversation, if I can’t communicate effectively through speech?
Learning to speak a foreign language can be compared to learning an instrument, in that worksheets are like sheet music. I have had two piano teachers in my life, both great people. My first piano teacher taught me how to read sheet music before anything else, a traditional way of teaching. It’s a great foundation, but it’s not the road to true mastery. Without sheet music/worksheets and lots of repetition, where would we be? But that’s also not how we’ll really push the limits of our craft/connect with others. My second piano teacher however, took a different approach. He started me off by learning how to play by ear and got me acquainted with various scales, chords and how to determine the mood and tone of a song. Because he put the sheet music aside, I can adapt to all sorts of situations both because I know the basic framework (sheet music) and because I’ve learned how to work outside of it and I have truly learned the instrument and enjoy it immensely.
What if that same logic was applied to learning a foreign language?
Instead of doing worksheets, I think that foreign language students should meet up during class time with English as a Second Language students. This can provide a place where Spanish speaking students and students of multiple dialects can give foreign language students practice speaking their language and vice versa, by merely having conversations. Having students create presentations or videos in other languages are another fun way to build speaking skills.
According to Forbes, 13 percent of U.S. citizens speak Spanish at home as a first language, making the U.S. home to the second largest population of Spanish speakers in the world, behind only Mexico. The Spanish speaking population in the U.S. is only growing, which makes it more important than ever to be able to speak Spanish, especially for us in the younger generation.
In addition to wanting to communicate with people in my own neighborhood, I want to travel to Spanish-speaking countries and be able to communicate with the native people. Of course, I could put a little more effort into learning Spanish myself, but I think that in order to set foreign language students up for success, speaking out loud should be prioritized over doing worksheets.
