Stop for a moment and think through these simple totally innocent questions: How many different curriculum have you tried for math? (THREE!) History (SEVEN!) Science? (TOOOO MANY) and what about foreign language?
You can see I had a few jumps over the past 20+ years with our own five children, but one thing never changed: FOREIGN LANGUAGE. I saw what worked when baby number two was 5 years old. It changed EVERYTHING. So, let me help you with the last one.
Foreign language lessons don't work when we use the wrong part of our brain to learn. There is the LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT portion- that we often don't even access while learning a new language.
Why is that? Well, because we are using the:
❌ list making part or
❌ entertainment part or
❌ mathematics and formulas part or
❌ short term memory part or the worst part....
❌ the task completing part of the brain.
I know: "THANKS a LOT, Señora Gose! So, how do we access the language development part?"
First, there are a few things to avoid.
Here's a list for students who have brains that are before puberty, you MUST make sure to have:
🚫 NO SCREENS. nor apps, icons, etc (they shut down the develop portion. completely. Dark. GONE, silent, no activity when in front of a screen. The smaller the screen, there's actual damage being done. Here's a blog, if you need more info.)
🚫 NO READING. This opens up the decoding portion, offers frustration, and can make their pronunciation OFF.... forever.
🚫 NO STRESS. Make sure your student is happy, relaxed, not hungry, thirsty, cold, etc. The exposure to the language connects to EVERYthing. If they feel confused, stressed, anxious, upset while they're absorbing a new language, that feeling stays with them for a LONG LONG time, and then even when they try to access the information. (All the high school Spanish teachers you had are now carouseling through your mind, aren't they???)
If your student has a brain around puberty and beyond, the methods are more forgiving. If you use a video, make sure they have:
🚫 NO ICONS - the brain needs to see real photos, not cartoons for efficiency
🚫 NO APPS - they need to learn it the way they'll use it, with another human
🚫 NO GAMING for introduction (this is ok for reinforcement though!) the dopamine hits they from learning a game without speaking, they just get really good at the game, and then are frustrated they can't access the information, because it's not stored in the correct portion of the brain. Who has a child with a 300+ day streak, but they can't order a taco? 😬
So... WHAT DOES WORK?
I have a simple list of to-dos for every age, because this is what worked when you learned your FIRST language, so your brain will automatically engage the language development portion of he brain, because you're matching the method, and learning it the way you'll want to use it:
✅ See the photo (no cartoons) while you hear the word, no reading
✅ Just a few words at a time
✅ No translation - the photos give the comprehension
✅ Short X+1 lessons (just reach for a slightly higher level)
✅ Learn with someone, not alone
✅ Build your OWN thoughts with the words, no memorizing of phrases.
✅ Useful interactions: Start with opinions and needs
See it and Say it Flip Flop Spanish fulfills ALL of this and exists through trial and error, and EXPERIENCE... no grants, no think-tanks, no branding or marketing gurus ... almost three decades of teaching thousands of students. This works with EVERY willing child (some who are unwilling,) and every adult who sits down and gives it the time to work.