Abstract:

Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world, following Chinese (Caffarel, 2010), and its increasing use in US society highlights the need to prepare children for potential changes. With the Hispanic population growing rapidly and Spanish-speaking countries moving towards globalization, introducing Spanish in the classroom presents various opportunities for children. Learning Spanish not only offers insight into other cultures but also provides an advantage in today's careers and promotes social-emotional and cognitive development. This study emphasizes the significance of learning Spanish and offers examples of how it can be taught to preschool children. Young children are receptive to new words, making language acquisition easier, and research indicates that the brain is most responsive to language acquisition between the ages of 3 and 6 (Semrud-Clikeman, 2014).

Circle time is a common activity in early childhood education, where a group of children and a teacher sit together in a circle for various learning activities, such as Storytime, singing songs, or playing games (Santos & Guyton (2021). Fingerplay songs are a type of interactive song that involve hand motions and finger movements that correspond with the lyrics of the song. They are often used in early childhood education to promote language development, fine motor skills, and cognitive skills. When teaching Spanish during circle time using fingerplay songs, the teacher would typically introduce the song by singing it first and demonstrating the corresponding hand and finger movements. The teacher would then guide the children in singing the song and doing the finger movements together. The lyrics and hand movements of the song would typically include Spanish words and phrases, helping the children to learn and practice basic Spanish vocabulary and sentence structures. It assists in developing the following language skills:

- Communication
- Vocabulary
- Grammar and Syntax
- Culture

This presentation will discuss the benefits of promoting the use of Spanish within the classroom for young children. Through the use of traditional Spanish instruction and creative learning techniques such as games, children can become engaged in learning the language and its associated cultural insights. Learning Spanish provides opportunities for social-emotional and cognitive development, as well as an advantage in future careers. The presentation will emphasize the importance of consistent teaching methods and resources across home and preschool to reinforce learning. As the Hispanic population in the US continues to grow, preparing children for an increasingly bilingual society is crucial. Overall, the presenters will advocate for the integration of Spanish language learning in early childhood education in US schools.

References:
[1] Caffarel, C. (2010). Spanish, world’s second language in international communication and growing. Montevideo, URU. Merco Press.
[2] Santos, L., & Guyton, L. (2021). The Effects of Circle Time Finger Play on the Development of Fine Motor Skills in Preschool-Aged Children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 49(3), 427-436. doi: 10.1007/s10643-020-01059-w
[3] Semrud-Clikeman, M. (2014). Research in Brain Function and Learning: The importance of matching instruction to a child's maturity level. Washington, DC. American Psychological Association.

Keywords:

Early Childhood, Fingerplay, Learning Circles, Spanish Language Learning in USA.