Learning a new language, especially Spanish, is fun and exciting!
However, it can be overwhelming to think about where to start.
Our immersive Spanish curriculum at Sarah’s Spanish School is designed with the most up-to-date research practices in mind.
We want students to communicate in Spanish! From the first class, students will understand, respond, and speak in Spanish! This is possible by creating classes that kids actually enjoy that expose them to Spanish at an age-appropriate level. We use high-frequency verbs, repetition, scaffolds, and supports to create a language-rich environment!
Building the Foundation: Top Words with the “Super 7” Verbs
If you’re looking to jumpstart your child’s Spanish learning journey, the “Super 7” verbs – ser (to be, permanent), estar (to be, temporary/location), tener (to have), querer (to want), ir (to go), gustar (to like), and haber (to be) – are the powerhouses of the Spanish language.
These high-frequency verbs are the words that are used most commonly in everyday situations. They provide a foundation for students to start their Spanish language journey. With these 7 words, students build their language proficiency immediately!
The top Spanish words and phrases revolve around the “Super 7” verbs, keeping the first and third person in mind.
Ser – To be (permanent) | |
First Person: Soy – I am Yo soy alto – I am tall. Yo soy inteligente – I am smart. | Third Person: Es – He/she is Él/Ella es interesante – He/She is interesting. Él/Ella es paciente – He/She is patient. |
Estar – To be (temporary/location) | |
First Person: Estoy – I am Yo estoy feliz – I am happy. Yo estoy cansado – I am tired | Third Person: Está – He/she is Él/Ella está en la escuela – He/She is at school. Él/Ella está triste – He/She is sad. |
Tener – To have | |
First Person: Tengo – I have Yo tengo un perro – I have a dog. Yo tengo un gato – I have a cat. | Third Person: Tiene – He/she has Él/Ella tiene una bicicleta – He/She has a bicycle. Él/Ella tiene juguetes – He/She has toys. |
Querer – To want | |
First Person: Quiero – I want Yo quiero dinero – I want money. Yo quiero comida – I want food. | Third Person: Quiere – He/she wants Él/Ella quiere helado – He/She wants ice cream. Él/Ella quiere correr – He/She wants to run. |
Ir – To go | |
First Person: Voy a – I go Yo voy a la escuela – I go to school. Yo voy al parque – I go to the park. | Third Person: Va a – He/she goes Él/Ella va a la tienda – He/She goes to the store. Él/Ella va a la playa – He/She goes to the beach. |
Gustar – To like | |
First Person: Me gusta – I like Me gusta bailar – I like to dance. Me gusta nadar – I like to swim. | Third Person: Le gusta – He/she likes Le gusta comer – He/She likes to eat. Le gusta dormir – He/She likes to sleep. |
Haber – To be | |
Hay – There is/there are Hay animales – There are animals. Hay una celebración – There is a celebration. |
Beginner Spanish Words and Phrases
Common phrases and sentence starters support beginner learners to understand and formulate simple Spanish sentences. They assist learners in expressing themselves while navigating everyday conversations.
These essential words and phrases lay the foundation for kids to start communicating in Spanish. They cover greetings, self-introductions, common questions, and more! As kids become comfortable with these, you can gradually introduce more vocabulary and sentence structures to expand their language skills.
Greetings And Polite Expressions
Hola. – Hello
Buenos días – Good morning
Buenas tardes – Good afternoon
Buenas noches – Good night
Mucho gusto – Nice to meet you
Bien – Good
Adiós – Goodbye
Por favor – Please
Gracias – Thank you
De nada – You’re welcome
Introducing Oneself
Me llamo ____ – My name is _____
Tengo ____ años – I am ____ years old
Soy de ____ – I am from _____
Vivo en ___ – I live in ____
Me gusta ___ – I like ___
Tengo ___ – I have ___
Common Questions
¿Cómo estás? – How are you?
¿Cómo te llamas? – What’s your name?
¿Cuántos años tienes? – How old are you?
¿Cuál es tu color favorito? – What is your favorite color?
¿Qué te gusta hacer? – What do you like to do?
¿Te gusta ___? – Do you like ___?
¿Qué hora es? – What time is it?
¿Cómo está el clima? – What’s the weather like?
¿Qué día es hoy? – What day is it today?
¿Repite, por favor? – Repeat, please?
Question Words
¿Qué…? — What?
¿Quién…? — Who?
¿Cuándo…? — When?
¿Dónde…? — Where?
¿Por qué…? — Why?
¿Cuál? — Which?
¿Cómo…? — How?
Reaction Words
¡Qué pena! – What a pain!
¡Qué lindo! – How cute!
¡Qué fantástico! – How fantastic!
¡Qué padre! – How cool!
¡Qué interesante! – How interesting!
Pobrecito – Poor little thing
¡No me digas! – No way!
With Sarah’s Spanish School, we have a curriculum that successfully allows students to communicate with these words and SO many more! We do the planning for you. By combining students’ interests with fun topics, Spanish games, stories, songs, lessons, and activities, students are immersed in Spanish in each class and acquire a second language naturally!
Conversational Spanish for Kids FAQs
How early should we start teaching Spanish to students?
The earlier children are exposed to a new language, the better! But it is never too late to start!
How can my child become fluent in Spanish?
Immersing children in a language is one of the most effective language acquisition and fluency methods. At Sarah’s Spanish School, we wholeheartedly embrace this approach in every class. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed with immersion as a core principle to ensure that students read, listen, speak, and write in the target language from the very first day!
How can parents support their child’s language learning journey at home?
Parents play an important role in supporting language learning. Creating a language-rich environment through reading bilingual books, watching age-appropriate shows or videos, and playing music in Spanish all assist in language acquisition! Sarah’s Spanish School offers homeschooled classes and a curriculum that can add structure to any learner’s language learning routine!
Learn Spanish with Sarah’s Spanish School
Children can begin to learn language with high-frequency words and common phrases. These foundational elements allow for communication, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning. As educators and parents, we can nurture young learners to foster a love of learning languages and appreciating cultures. So, whether it’s the simple “Hola” that starts a conversation or the “Gracias” that expresses gratitude, these top words and phrases are the stepping stones to lifelong learning!
Ready to take the next step and have your child learn Spanish?
For School Administrators: Ready to bring a world-class Spanish program to your school? Request more information or book a discovery call with us today.
For Parents and Families: Are you 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!
