Watching TV is one of the easiest things your kids can do to improve their second-language skills. They’ll acquire vocabulary and hear the correct pronunciation. All while being entertained!
This is one kind of screen time we endorse 100%. But before you hand the kids the remote, you might be wondering something: Do certain TV programs do more to help your kids become bilingual than others do? Quick answer: Absolutely!
Which TV Shows Help More in Language Learning?
The shows that will help your kids the most with language learning have three key things in common:
- Repetition.
- Short sentences.
- They show what they’re doing.
Shows for younger kids, from 2 to 3, are great examples of all three of these characteristics:
- They use less vocabulary, and they repeat the words a lot.
- The sentences are usually shorter than those in other shows for older viewers.
- They narrate the actions that are taking place onscreen.
You’ve probably noticed the simple, repetitive dialogue in your young kids’ favorite shows and intuitively understand how that helps with language learning (even if all the repetition drives you a little crazy). But why is narration so important?
Think about when your kids were itty-bitty — before 2 years old. Back then, you probably narrated what you were doing while doing it, or you said something and immediately did that. For example …
You: Time for lunch! Mama’s going to open up the fridge. And now she’s getting your favorite — mashed sweet potatoes!
Your little one’s brain: Hmm, those sounds Mama is making must have something to do with food!
As you keep narrating your child’s day, they keep making connections between words and actions: “Bath” means splashy time. “Bed” means snuggles and storybooks. You get the idea.
Ultimately, of course, your kids learned those connections so well that they could ask you for sweet potatoes or their favorite story. Something similar to this process happens when your kids watch shows with lots of narration in their target language.
Why TV Shows with Songs Are Great for Language Learning
Besides shows that narrate the action, we’ve also found that shows with a lot of songs are extra helpful for kids who are practicing their second language.
Why? Well, it goes back to the three factors we discussed earlier: simplicity, repetition, narration. It’s no accident they get stuck in your head and your kids’ heads!
Back in the day, the songs on kids’ TV shows helped you learn your first language, whether you were watching “Barney & Friends,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” or “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Today, your kids are doing the same when they watch “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” or “Bluey.”
Now here’s some great news: The same thing happens when your kids listen to songs in the language they want to learn! This is one reason we love incorporating music into our classes.
Give Your Child the Gift of Spanish!
Which TV Shows Help More in Language Learning?
The shows that will help your kids the most with language learning have three key things in common:
- Repetition.
- Short sentences.
- They show what they’re doing.
Shows for younger kids, from 2 to 3, are great examples of all three of these characteristics:
- They use less vocabulary, and they repeat the words a lot.
- The sentences are usually shorter than those in other shows for older viewers.
- They narrate the actions that are taking place onscreen.
You’ve probably noticed the simple, repetitive dialogue in your young kids’ favorite shows and intuitively understand how that helps with language learning (even if all the repetition drives you a little crazy). But why is narration so important?
Think about when your kids were itty-bitty — before 2 years old. Back then, you probably narrated what you were doing while doing it, or you said something and immediately did that. For example …
You: Time for lunch! Mama’s going to open up the fridge. And now she’s getting your favorite — mashed sweet potatoes!
Your little one’s brain: Hmm, those sounds Mama is making must have something to do with food!
As you keep narrating your child’s day, they keep making connections between words and actions: “Bath” means splashy time. “Bed” means snuggles and storybooks. You get the idea.
Ultimately, of course, your kids learned those connections so well that they could ask you for sweet potatoes or their favorite story. Something similar to this process happens when your kids watch shows with lots of narration in their target language.
Why TV Shows with Songs Are Great for Language Learning
Besides shows that narrate the action, we’ve also found that shows with a lot of songs are extra helpful for kids who are practicing their second language.
Why? Well, it goes back to the three factors we discussed earlier: simplicity, repetition, narration. It’s no accident they get stuck in your head and your kids’ heads!
Back in the day, the songs on kids’ TV shows helped you learn your first language, whether you were watching “Barney & Friends,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” or “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Today, your kids are doing the same when they watch “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” or “Bluey.”
Now here’s some great news: The same thing happens when your kids listen to songs in the language they want to learn! This is one reason we love incorporating music into our classes.
How to Take Advantage of TV for Language Learning
Finding TV shows that will help your kids become fluent in another language is easier than you think.
One option is to stick with the English-language shows you already know they love, but change the soundtrack to the language your kids are learning.
So, for example, if your kid can’t get enough “Bluey,” change your settings so that the dialogue is in Spanish instead of English. If you’ve never changed the language of a show on Netflix or other streaming services, it’s pretty easy to do.
You can also look for kids shows from other countries that meet our criteria for effective language learning. This approach has another advantage: As your kids learn another language, they’ll also learn about the culture of the people who speak that language.
Need some help selecting shows? Check out our list of top Netflix shows for kids to watch in Spanish. We’ve also got recommendations on YouTube channels that can help your kids learn Spanish.
Watch Your Kids Become Fluent in Spanish
When it comes down to it, mastering a second language depends on the time you spend with that language. That’s why watching TV shows that use your child’s target language, and that are simple enough to help them build understanding quickly, is so beneficial.
But while hearing another language in a TV show is great, having conversations with other people in that language is even better. That’s what makes our TruFluency Kids Spanish immersion classes so effective.
In our classes, your children will learn Spanish by using the language in singing, dancing, reading, playing games, crafting and even cooking. There are no boring moments at TruFluency Kids!
There’s a lot for parents to like about our Spanish classes, too. We know how busy you are, so our classes are completely online, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. CST. So you can choose a time that fits your family’s schedule.
Take a 30-minute trial class now! There are no more than six students in each trial Spanish class, so everything is super-personalized. After the class, you’ll have the chance to join a parent Q&A to answer your questions.
