Introduction
At Sarah’s Spanish School, we know that teaching a second language goes beyond just vocabulary and grammar.
Learning a second language builds real-life skills that support communication, student development, cognitive growth, and emotional awareness. One key way we do this is by incorporating emotional intelligence into our Spanish classes.
By aligning our online Spanish lessons with best practices from ACTFL and research on language proficiency, we make learning Spanish not only educational but also deeply personal and meaningful for students.
The Power of Emotions in Language Learning
Research shows that integrating emotional intelligence with language education significantly enhances cognitive development and language proficiency. As students learn Spanish, they also learn to express feelings and respond to others’ emotions, fostering positive emotions and empathy.
By embedding emotional intelligence into language learning, we give students more than just bilingual education—we give them the tools to navigate relationships and interactions with confidence and compassion.
Why Emotional Intelligence Matters in Childhood Development
Emotional intelligence is crucial in childhood development in helping students recognize their own feelings and empathize with others.
In an elementary and middle school setting, this skill set supports social growth and positive peer interactions.
Language programs that blend emotional intelligence with language development help students better communicate their needs, reduce conflicts, and enhance classroom dynamics.
How Learning Spanish Can Deepen Emotional Awareness
When students learn Spanish through a proficiency-based program like ours, they naturally develop emotional awareness.
Instead of merely memorizing vocabulary, they practice discussing feelings and emotions in a new language, reinforcing their ability to communicate in meaningful ways. Our language teachers design engaging, context-rich lessons where students can talk about feelings and support students to explain how they feel in varying situations.
By incorporating emotional topics, students develop both language skills and emotional intelligence simultaneously.
Essential Spanish Vocabulary for Expressing Emotions
To foster emotional development in language learning, we focus on vocabulary related to feelings and reactions. Words like me siento (I feel), estoy (I am), feliz (happy), triste (sad), enojado (angry), and emocionado (excited) are taught in a way that connects language to real-life situations.
Through interactive and online Spanish lessons, students learn not just to name emotions but to identify how they may feel in varying contexts and days. This practical approach to teaching Spanish helps students build language proficiency while developing self-awareness.
Daily Activities to Encourage Emotional Conversations in Spanish
Teachers can create routines that naturally incorporate emotional vocabulary throughout the day.
For example, start each class with a quick “Emotion Check-In,” where students draw a face on a small whiteboard or share a hand signal to represent how they’re feeling.
At the end of the lesson, teachers can ask students to reflect on one positive emotion they experienced during class and say it in Spanish, such as orgulloso (proud) or tranquilo (calm). These simple routines reinforce emotional vocabulary while fostering a classroom culture of self-expression and empathy.
Other activities include:
Emotion of the Day – Introduce a new emotion word each day and have students use it in a sentence before starting the lesson.
Mood Meter – Create a visual chart with different emotions in Spanish and have students place a marker or sticker on how they feel at the start and end of class.
Story Circle – Read a short story or show a picture, and ask students to identify the emotions the characters might be feeling in Spanish.
Partner Share – Pair students to share something that made them feel feliz (happy) or enojado (angry) that day, encouraging them to use complete sentences in Spanish.
Weather and Emotions – Ask students to describe both the weather and their mood using phrases like “Hoy está nublado y estoy cansado” (Today it’s cloudy, and I am tired).
Emotion Charades – Have students act out different emotions while classmates guess the feeling in Spanish.
Feelings Journal – Provide a weekly journal where students write one sentence each day about how they felt and why, using emotion vocabulary.
Exit Tickets – Before leaving, ask each student to say one emotion they felt during class and why, using a full sentence in Spanish.
How to Use Spanish Books and Songs to Talk About Feelings
Spanish books and songs are powerful tools for blending language education with social-emotional learning (SEL).
Stories that feature characters experiencing various emotions provide relatable contexts for language practice.
Songs like “Si Estás Feliz” (If You’re Happy) not only reinforce vocabulary but also introduce concepts of joy and togetherness and allow students to act out learned vocabulary.
Our language teachers use these resources to keep the learning process engaging, relatable, and fun.
Tips for Teachers: Blending SEL with Spanish Lessons
Integrating social-emotional learning with Spanish instruction requires intentional planning. Activity ideas include:
Emotion-Based Storytelling – Create simple stories where characters experience a range of emotions. Ask students to identify each emotion and discuss how the character might feel using phrases like “Está frustrado porque…” (He is frustrated because…).
Empathy Discussions – After a group activity, ask students to reflect on how they felt during the task and how they think their classmates felt. Encourage them to use emotion words in Spanish to describe both their own and others’ experiences.
Emotion Sorting Game – Prepare cards with different emotion words in Spanish. Have students sort them into categories such as “Positive Emotions” and “Challenging Emotions,” discussing examples of each.
Mindful Moments – Begin or end class with a brief breathing exercise and a question like, “¿Cómo te sientes ahora?” (How do you feel now?), prompting students to check in with themselves and share in Spanish.
Conflict Resolution Practice – Present common conflicts, like losing a game or feeling left out, and ask students how they might express their feelings in Spanish and respond empathetically.
Why Teaching Feelings in Spanish Builds More Than Vocabulary
By incorporating emotional intelligence into Spanish class, we create opportunities for students to grow beyond basic language acquisition.
They learn to communicate in Spanish in ways that are meaningful and emotionally connected.
This approach aligns with ACTFL’s emphasis on communication and cultural understanding while fostering emotional resilience. Schools that adopt our language program see students not only achieving language proficiency but also thriving socially and emotionally.
FAQ:
Q: How does language influence emotions?
A: Language shapes how we perceive and express emotions, giving us the tools to articulate complex feelings. Learning a new language can deepen emotional awareness by offering new ways to describe experiences and connect with others. In Spanish, expressing emotions can feel more vivid or nuanced due to its rich vocabulary and cultural context.
Q: What are the different emotions in Spanish?
A: Spanish includes a wide range of emotion words, such as:
Feliz – Happy
Triste – Sad
Enojado/a – Angry
Nervioso/a – Nervous
Emocionado/a – Excited
Cansado/a – Tired
Asustado/a – Scared
Orgulloso/a – Proud
Confundido/a – Confused
Relajado/a – Relaxed
Sorprendido/a – Surprised
Frustrado/a – Frustrated
Avergonzado/a – Embarrassed
Decepcionado/a – Disappointed
Animado/a – Cheerful
Q: How do you express how you feel in Spanish?
A: To express feelings in Spanish, students use phrases like “Estoy…” (I am…) followed by an emotion word, such as “Estoy cansado” (I am tired) or “Estoy emocionado” (I am excited). They can also explain why they feel that way using “porque…” (because). Practicing these phrases in various contexts helps build confidence and fluency in emotional expression.
Take the Next Step:
Ready to take the next step?
For School Administrators: Ready to bring a world-class language program to your students? Request more information or book a discovery call with us today.
For Parents and Families: Eager to give your child the gift of bilingualism? Sign up for our 30-day free trial and start your family’s Spanish adventure now. Join us, and let’s make learning Spanish an unforgettable experience for your young learners!
Conclusion
At Sarah’s Spanish School, we believe that teaching Spanish should be an enriching and holistic experience.
Our online Spanish lessons do more than just build language skills—they nurture emotional intelligence and support social growth.
By integrating feelings and empathy into our language education model, we equip students with the tools to thrive academically and personally.
Contact us today to learn how our proficiency-based, fun, and flexible language program can benefit your school community.