Speaking Spanish with Photo Captions

Talking about photographs, kids understand lots of Spanish without the need for translation. Pictures with simple descriptions are an excellent way for them to hear a teacher or parent speaking Spanish and learn new vocabulary. Photographs are also a good way to introduce kids to the diversity of people and places in the Spanish-speaking world.

On the Spanish Playground Facebook page you will find an album of photographs with short captions for speaking Spanish with children.

The pictures are all from Spanish-speaking countries. They have been carefully selected to focus on one subject and the captions correspond directly to the image. As you look at the pictures and read the captions aloud, children hear the Spanish vocabulary for the main objects in the photo. Kids to learn new words and the activity also reinforces vocabulary they already know. Most important, kids have fun speaking Spanish and looking at the beautiful photographs.

Here are a few photos that I have recently added to the album.

El tucán tiene un pico grande y anaranjado.
Andrés Ibáñez, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
CC Image by Matthew Straubmuller

Esta pirámide está en Chichén Itzá en México.
Chichén Itzá, México
CC Image by Joe Hunt

El perro tiene una oreja parada y la otra para abajo.
Sayulita, Nayarit, México
CC Image by Travel and Roll

Speaking Spanish Using the Photos

I use these photos for different activities in class. I also encourage the parents of my students to use the pictures and captions for help in speaking Spanish with their children.

Here are a few suggestions for using the photos and speaking Spanish with kids:

– Point at the objects as you read the captions.

– Use gestures and facial expressions to act out verbs and clarify words that your child might not understand.

– When your child understands the words, ask ¿Dónde está? questions with the principle vocabulary. Your child can answer by pointing.

– Use the photos to reinforce colors and numbers as you speaking Spanish by asking ¿De qué color es…” and ¿Cuántos/cuántas…hay?