Learn Spanish with Pictures is a fun and easy way to speak Spanish with children. All of these photograph-based activities have a simple description of a photo and three or four types of questions. These question types are ordered to help children master the Spanish vocabulary and gain confidence with the language. With very beginners, start with Describe the photo (1). When you are confident your child understands the key vocabulary, ask questions from Choose the answer (2) and Pointing and counting (3). Ask the questions in Yes and No (4) to practice more of the vocabulary used in the description. If your child is comfortable enough with the Spanish words to produce them easily, include the questions in Say a little more (5). You will find a list of the words used in the description and questions in Vocabulary (6). All photographs used in Learn Spanish with Pictures activities are in the public domain and taken from public archives or are available to use with a Creative Commons license.
1. Describe the photo – Describir la foto
Each photo has a brief description in Spanish. If you are learning Spanish with your child, read the description together so that she hears the vocabulary. Be sure to point to the objects in the picture as you say the words. If you speak Spanish, just talk about what you see in the photo. Regardless of your child’s level, talk about the picture before asking questions in order to engage her and let her hear the important words. Just talking about the picture by reading the description and pointing to the different objects is an excellent language learning activity.
2. Choose the answer – Seleccionar la respuesta
These questions offer two choices as possible answers. Your child hears the vocabulary and recognizes that it matches the picture. The vocabulary is contained in the question, so it is easier to produce the Spanish word because she has just heard it. Questions with choices are structured like this: ¿Es un perro o un gato? (pointing to a cat), ¿La niña está contenta o está triste?, ¿Las personas están en la ciudad o en la playa?
3. Pointing and counting – Señalar con el dedo y contar
Your child answers these questions by pointing to an object or counting something in the picture. To answer these questions she has to recognize the Spanish vocabulary she hears. These questions have structures like this: ¿Dónde está el árbol?, ¿Ves la maestra en la clase? ¿Cuántos carros hay en la calle?
4. Yes or No – Sí o No
Your child can answer these questions by saying sí or no. They use a wider range of the vocabulary from the description and structures including comparisons and prepositional phrases. To answer these questions, your child needs to understand the words, but does not have to use them. This step, of hearing and understanding the language before producing it, is essential to learning Spanish. These questions are structured like this: ¿La niña está contenta?, ¿Hay pájaros en el árbol?, ¿El carro está al lado de la casa?
5. Say a little more – Decir un poco más
To answer these questions, children need to use Spanish that is not in the question, so it is important that your child be familiar with the words. The vocabulary is often in the description of the picture. Reading the description or talking about the picture first helps your child remember the words and makes it easier to say them. Answering the questions Choose the answer and Pointing and counting will reinforce the Spanish words represented by the picture. Say a little more questions are information questions and are structured like this: ¿Qué es esto? (pointing to an object in the picture), ¿Qué hacen los niños?, ¿De qué color es la casa?, ¿Cómo se siente la niña?
6. What about you? – ¿Y tú?
The questions in What about you? give your child a chance to talk about herself. They are common personal questions at a variety of levels. You will find questions with gustar such as ¿Te gustan las manzanas? and questions with other verbs such as ¿Tienes un abrigo? or ¿Cuál es tu color favorito? The verb form that will be used in the answer is included after these questions.
7. Vocabulary – Vocabulario
This is a list of the key words, in Spanish and English, used to describe the photograph. The words are in the order that they appear in the description and the meanings are based on the context of the photo.
Click here to try Learn Spanish with Pictures.
Aaron's Spanish Online Lessons
Jul 28, 2011
Hey there! Thanks again for posting such a helpful page.
Pictures are exceptional ways for kids and even adults to learn how to speak a new language. For whatever reason, visual aids always come into good use, whether kids are learning their first words, students are studying physiology at University, or CEO’s presenting data at a board meeting. Although all are quite different scenarios, they all seem to produce positive effects through the use of imagery.
I can’t agree with more how powerful it is to learn vocabulary and conversational phrases with the help of flash cards and similar games. Also appreciate these basic vocabulary words and phrases you’ve introduced to us here. I’ll have to make sure to check out Activity Village site as well, which you’ve mentioned at the post on printable scenes to help teach Spanish to children. Great job!
Adelheid
Mar 8, 2013
Thank you so much for these wonderful resources! I love them! You are so kind to share this with us. My kids (and I) will use these a lot as we learn Spanish. Thanks!!!
Jenny
Mar 9, 2013
I’m so glad they are helpful. Thanks for reading Spanish Playground!
Tina Vasquez
May 23, 2013
It’s almost the end of the school year and I just found your website with so many useful resources! Oh Well I guess there is always next year…
I will be doing a lot of research this summer on your website.
Thank you
Tina
Eliz
Apr 29, 2014
Thank you for the post on printable scenes to help teach Spanish to children. Great job!
Eliz
Gloria
May 26, 2015
Love,love,love your ideas! Thanks!
Jenny
May 26, 2015
Thank you! I’m so glad they are helpful. I really love teaching kids language, so it’s fun to share!
Judie
Aug 13, 2016
I am so excited to try this! This will help my students apply vocabulary learned, and also motivate and give them confidence. Gracias!
Marie
Nov 28, 2016
I love this!!! Thank you so much!
Alba
Jan 27, 2021
Eres una bendición!
Jenny
Jan 28, 2021
Muchas gracias. Me da mucho gusto saber que los materiales son útiles.
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