How I Teach My Son Spanish Using TPRS—and Why It Works for Us

 

How I Teach My Son Spanish Using TPRS and Why It Works for Us

When I first started teaching my son Spanish, I knew I didn’t want it to feel like school. I didn’t want worksheets, flashcards, or forced drills. I wanted connection. I wanted joy. I wanted language to feel like something we lived, not something we memorized.

That’s when I started using a methodology I was trained in as a full-time certified teacher —TPRS: Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling. And honestly? It changed everything.

What Is TPRS?

TPRS is a language teaching method that uses storytelling, reading, and acting to build fluency. It’s low prep, picture-based, and incredibly interactive. Instead of focusing on grammar rules or vocabulary lists, we focus on communication—real, meaningful, and fun.

The method taps into three modes of communication:

• Interpersonal: We talk, ask questions, and act out scenes together.

• Interpretive: He listens, watches, and reads stories in context.

• Presentational: He retells the story in his own words—sometimes with wild, imaginative twists.

Why It Works for My Son

My son is seven, and he’s already at an advanced level in Spanish. But what makes TPRS so effective for him isn’t just the language exposure—it’s the way he engages with it.

1. It’s Action-Based

We use gestures, facial expressions, and movement to bring stories to life. If the character is running, we run. If someone’s surprised, we act it out. This physical connection to language helps it stick—and makes it fun.

2. It’s Picture-Driven

I use simple images to spark stories. A picture of a cat in a hat becomes a tale about a gato mágico who flies to the moon. The visuals give him context clues, which builds confidence and comprehension.

3. It’s Creative and Personal

At the end of each session, he gets to tell his version of the story. Sometimes it’s silly. Sometimes it’s surprisingly deep. But it’s always his. That ownership makes the language meaningful.

4. It Builds All Four Skills

Without even realizing it, he’s practicing listening, speaking, reading, and writing. One story touches them all. And because it’s rooted in context and emotion, he remembers what he learns.

My Final Thoughts:

TPRS isn’t just a method—it’s a mindset. It reminds me that language is about connection, not perfection. It’s about telling stories, making mistakes, and laughing along the way.

For us, Spanish has become a shared adventure. And with TPRS, every day is a new chapter.

Warmly,

 Lisa Renea Shaw

Author of Liam’s Faith Adventures & Aaliyah es Una Chica Especial |amazon.com/author/lisareneashaw | Chief Language Specialist, My Other Tongue Language School |www.myothertongue.com/courses | Educator, Curriculum Designer & Mompreneur | https://linktr.ee/lisareneashaw