It’s been well established that learning a second language from an early age can help improve cognitive development, cultural awareness, memory function and listening skills. It’s also been linked to improved oracy skills as well as helping to boost a child’s confidence in speaking out in class, meaning that a little work on a second language could go a long way.
A study by Murphy et al. (2014), for example, examined three groups of Year 3 students, two of which were learning a foreign language (French or Italian) and one which wasn’t. At the end of the 15-week study, the researchers found that learners who were taught French or Italian outperformed their peers in English reading accuracy and phonological processing.
If you’re interested in incorporating languages into your lesson plans, then we’ve pulled together some great resources to use as well as some lesson ideas that can seamlessly fit in with your schedule.
1. Themed Language Days
- Dedicate one day per month to a different language.
- Choose a different language per month, chosen by a students’ vote.
- Visit the Euroclub Schools site to introduce cultural elements.
- Play a Digital Dialects game in that language.
- End the day with a simple greeting challenge using Duolingo for Schools.
2. Language Learning Through Stories
- Use StoryWeaver or The Fable Cottage for multilingual stories.
- Read the story in English first, then introduce new words in another language. Choose a well-known fairy tale that children will recognise easily.
- Act out simple scenes to reinforce understanding.
3. Interactive Language Games & Challenges
- Use Kahoot! or Quizlet for fun vocabulary quizzes.
- Assign Wordwall or Education.com games as warm-up activities.
- Let students play PBS Kids Language Games in pairs. Set up a “Mystery Language” Kahoot! where students guess words in different languages.
4. Songs & Music Integration
- Use Sing Up or Rockalingua to teach a song in a new language.
- Have students learn and perform it at the end of the week.
- Create a classroom playlist with international songs that can be played during ‘golden time’.
5. Language Pen Pals & Real-World Connections
- Connect with other schools via ePals.
- Have students send postcards through Postcrossing.
- Organize a video call with a school abroad (if possible).
6. ‘Guess the Language’ Challenge
- Play short audio clips from Omniglot.
- Have students guess the language based on sound.
- Show the writing system and compare it to English.
7. Travel & Culture Exploration
- Use Globe Trottin’ Kids to explore different cultures.
- Show a world map and label countries in different languages.
- Let students “travel” by learning basic phrases from a new country each week.
8. Gamified Progress Tracking
- Set up Duolingo for Schools and give small rewards for progress.
- Use stickers, charts, or leader boards.
- Create classroom language “missions” (e.g., greet a friend in another language).
9. Role-Playing & Real-Life Scenarios
- Create role-plays based on everyday situations (e.g., ordering food, asking for directions).
- Use free, online role-play printables for guidance.
- Let students act out scenes in pairs or small groups.
10. Celebrate Language Achievements
- Have a “Language Superstars” wall.
- Give certificates for learning key phrases.
- Host a “Multilingual Talent Show” where students present in different languages.
