Since my children were born, I have put a lot of pressure on myself to ensure that they are bilingual. My husband is a native Spanish-speaker (and an annoyingly fluent English-speaker), but as a stay at home mom, I have been the main source of language and communication with our children throughout the days, months, and years since they were born. And guess what? It’s hard to talk to your kids in a foreign language all the time when your brain is constantly multi-tasking and the kids ask you weird questions that you don’t have the vocabulary to answer and when a large part of what you have to say (commands and what ifs) are in tenses that don’t even exist in English.
So I was excited and relieved to move to Chile and let Chile do all the hard work of teaching my kids a second language. And then, 4 months after we arrived and after only 1 week of school for my kindergartener and 2nd grader, the pandemic also came to Chile and derailed my entire vision for this year. I continue to be the primary source of communication with my children and now I’m also their teacher!
Fortunately, even without school, we are still immersed in the language, and just by being in Chile I have discovered many authentic Spanish resources that I never would have found on my own in the U.S. So for anyone looking to inject more authentic Spanish into their lives, here are all of my new favorite everythings to help you out!
FAVORITE APP FOR THE KIDS:
Educaplanet – This website offers apps, games and printable learning resources for pre-school and elementary children. These materials are created in Spain by native Spanish-speakers for native Spanish-speakers, but are excellent for all young learners. My 6 year old has been using the “Aprender a Leer 2” app and he loves it. We have also gotten so much value out of the FREE printable materials they offer on the website. Follow them on Instagram @educaplanet for inspiration and ideas (and use the translate feature to read about it in English if you’re also new to Spanish).
FAVORITE APP FOR ME:
Spanish Dict Translator – Beyond just a simple dictionary, I reach for this app every single day. In addition to excellent translations which include accurate regional and country-specific variations (very important, especially in Chile), this app also covers conjugation, grammar, and vocabulary. My favorite feature is that you can save words to a personal library and then the app will then quiz you on YOUR words so you can really learn them and incorporate them into your vocabulary. My library, divided into a few lists, contains about 200 words that I have been able to add to my brain instead of just translating and forgetting.
FAVORITE PODCAST FOR THE KIDS:
Spanish Stories for Kids Podcast – My kids listen to these bedtime stories almost every night while they are falling asleep, and I love that the last words entering their brains are in Spanish. The concept of the podcast is quite sweet. A boy named Marcelo introduces each story in English and then his mom, a native-Spanish speaker, tells the story in Spanish. At the end of the episode, Marcelo returns to discuss some vocabulary words. Because it is intended for use at bedtime, the stories are read in a calm manner, without extra sound effects or music.
For an extensive list of podcasts in Spanish for children, check out Spanish Mama’s roundup, which includes this favorite of ours.
FAVORITE PODCAST FOR ME:
SupraEscolar: Experiencias de una vida sin escuela Priscila Salazar is a mom, writer and a leader in the field of “unschooling”. Her podcast speaks directly to my life right now, and it does so in beautifully articulated, crystal clear Spanish. Priscila covers topics specific to educating children outside of the traditional school system (which we happen to be doing right now), as well as issues like mom guilt, feelings of not doing enough, and rewards vs. punishment. I appreciate her candor and have found her insights to be truly helpful and informative.
FAVORITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT FOR KIDS: (Or favorite kid-related Instagram account)
@alapa.cl Oh how I love thee, Alapa Libreria! This children’s bookstore located in Santiago, Chile has been an incredible resource for me as we transitioned to homeschooling this year. Their Instagam account is full of book reviews, book roundups, and even story time videos! Buying books in Chile can be difficult because they are expensive and are usually wrapped in plastic at the store, which means you can’t flip through them before you purchase, so all of the information Alapa provides is incredibly helpful. This cheerful account is worth a follow, even if you don’t live locally because of all the inspiration and content is has to offer.
FAVORITE INSTAGRAM FOR ME:
@RevistaPaulaChile – I first discovered Paula magazine at a local café shortly after arriving in Chile. I was immediately drawn to the artwork and the contemporary style of the publication and then became hooked as I perused all of the intelligent and relevant essays. The magazine actually comes with the weekend edition of a local newspaper called La Tercera, but they regularly publish excerpts and links to full articles on their Instagram account.
FAVORITE PROGRAMMING FOR KIDS:
CNTVinfantil.cl – This channel is run by the National Television Counsel of Chile (Consejo Nacional de Television de Chile) and features programming for children that is both educational and deeply rooted in Chilean culture and society. Our favorite programs include Yo Lo Puedo Hacer, Cameleon y las naturales ciencias, and Petit (based on the book wonderful book Petit el Monstruo). They also have a YouTube channel where you can find most of the same programs as the website.
FAVORITE PROGRAMMING FOR ME:
Domestika.org/es – Some people who start one thing and then drop it for another thing might be labeled as quitters. I prefer to call myself a dabbler, and this website has excellent and very affordable classes in ALLLLLLL of my favorite subjects – knitting, embroidery, photography, lettering, illustration, and so much more! I have been dabbling through this website all year long, and picking up relevant Spanish vocabulary as I enjoy learning about all of my favorite crafts and hobbies. It it THE best!
Don’t forget to follow my Instagram account @TrueStoryChile where I will continue to share all of my favorite links and resources.
True Story: Chile 