Spanish for kids in grades k-5, junior high school, high schools and colleges are all available these days in most schools but is it good for small children in the k-5 group to start so early to learn Spanish or any other foreign language, for that matter?

The jury is still out as to whether it is beneficial for kids that young to learn to speak Spanish, as they may not be able to retain much and chances are they most likely will not be able to speak the Spanish anywhere close to fluent. At that age they may use the language for entertainment purposes mainly and therefore it is a waste of time and money.

The other side of this issue is that the Spanish population in North America is growing in leaps and bounds. The Spanish language is one of the most spoken languages in the world besides English, French, Hindustani and Chinese. Hispanic children attend schools with children of all races. What better way then is there for a child to learn about other cultures and languages?

When a child learns about different cultures and races, he or she becomes more well- rounded and may become more likely not to have incidences in his or her life where he or she discriminates against someone of another race. Therefore, when a small child has the opportunity to learn Spanish, he or she can be exposed to a culture and race of people other than his or her own.


Fortune 500 companies have to do trade with many Spanish speaking countries and they need employees who can speak both English and Spanish to conduct business for them. A bilingual candidate for a position in one of these firms has a better chance of landing that cushy job and all the pirks that come with it, than someone unilingual. The sooner a child is exposed to opportunities that will make his or her life easier, the better it is for them.

Spanish for kids is not a waste of time or money. We all know that it is easier to learn a language as a child than it is as an adult. Kids learn quickly from interacting at a fun and playful level with other kids, they are not afraid or ashamed to make mistakes. One of the difficulties in learning Spanish is the pronunciations. By the time the kid is where they need to take the Spanish language seriously, half the work is already done.

One of the ways we learn about other cultures is the foods they eat. If kids make friends with other kids they become exposed to other cuisines, develop a taste different from what they are used to. When they become adults they already know a lot about the Spanish culture, the Spanish people and Spanish foods.
Wherever they travel in this world, they will be far more prepared to fit in than their parents ever were.

Another advantage in having Spanish for kids early is learning Spanish will also teach them about the English language as well as Latin since the Spanish language is a mixture of these languages and others and has many similarities. As a child learns Spanish on the basic level, he or she may be able to make connections between the Latin similarities in both Spanish and English. Such a connection may prove valuable later on as the child progresses to higher levels of learning and begins to grasp complex Spanish or English vocabulary and literature.

To answer the question, “Is the child actually learning to speak Spanish or is he or she just learning cultural values that can be taught in a sociology class, the answer has to be they are learning both and it doesn’t matter what one chooses to call it. There is no such thing as too much knowledge and anything that will give a kid a head start in life and on the many language requirements they will have to fulfill at the higher levels of learning is a good thing.

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