Hey there, Joyful Journey Makers! Today, let’s explore how the Natural Approach to language learning can be combined with fun activities like riddles to help your students build their Spanish vocabulary. The Natural Approach is all about creating a low-stress, immersive environment where students can learn language naturally, just as they would their first language. It emphasizes real communication over grammar drills and encourages students to pick up the language in meaningful, real-world contexts.
In this post, we’ll define the Natural Approach, share examples of how to use it in your classroom, and introduce my Spanish Numbers 1-10 Riddler Card Game—an activity that helps students engage with numbers in a fun, stress-free way.
What Is the Natural Approach?
The Natural Approach is all about making language learning feel natural—just like how students picked up their first language. It’s about giving them language that’s slightly above their level, but still easy enough to understand – in other words, comprehensible input. Instead of focusing on perfect grammar or memorization, this method helps students focus on the meaning of what’s being said. It’s less about getting every word right and more about understanding and using the language in real, everyday situations.
Here’s how the Natural Approach works:
Examples of Using the Natural Approach in the Classroom
- Interactive Riddles: Create a low-stress, interactive environment by introducing riddles that require students to use target vocabulary in context. For example, if you’re teaching numbers, give students simple riddles like, “Uno más uno son…” and have them guess the answer. This encourages them to think about numbers in a fun, engaging way, without the pressure of getting everything perfect.
- Real-Life Conversations: Use everyday scenarios to introduce new vocabulary. For example, if you’re teaching days of the week, ask students about their weekend plans: “¿Qué harás el sábado?” (What will you do on Saturday?). The focus is on meaningful communication rather than grammar drills.
- Storytelling: Encourage students to use new vocabulary in storytelling. Start with a basic sentence structure and have them add their own details. For example, if you’re teaching colors and numbers, ask them to describe a colorful scene: “En el parque, vi tres flores rojas y dos pájaros azules” (In the park, I saw three red flowers and two blue birds).
3 Easy Ways to Incorporate the Natural Approach
- Use Visuals and Gestures: When introducing new vocabulary, use pictures, props, or gestures to help students understand the meaning without needing to translate. For example, when teaching numbers, show fingers or objects to represent quantities as you say the numbers in Spanish. This provides students with comprehensible input.
- Make It Interactive: Encourage students to speak and listen as much as possible, even if they’re making mistakes. Try games like riddles or role-playing activities that get them communicating naturally. Focus on fluency over accuracy.
- Provide Lots of Listening Opportunities: Make sure students are hearing the target language throughout the day. You can narrate classroom activities in Spanish, or play simple Spanish songs that use the target vocabulary. The more they hear the language, the more comfortable they’ll become with it.
Get Your Resource: Spanish Numbers 1-10 Riddler Card Game (El Acertijo)
One of the best ways to introduce vocabulary naturally is through games that engage students while reinforcing their knowledge. My Spanish Numbers 1-10 Riddler Card Game is perfect for getting students to practice numbers in a low-pressure, fun way.
What’s Included:
- Riddle Cards: The game challenges students to solve simple math riddles using numbers 1-10 in Spanish. For example, “Uno más uno son…” (One plus one is…) and students must guess the correct answer: “Dos” (two). It’s a great way to get students thinking and speaking in Spanish without the pressure of formal grammar rules.
- Interactive Gameplay: Students take turns being “El Acertijo” (The Riddler) and reading the riddles aloud to the group. The first student to answer correctly wins the card, and the game continues until the time runs out!
- Additional Fun Cards: Watch out for the special Acertijo cards, which add fun twists to the game, like having students switch cards or return them to the pile!
How to Use El Acertijo in Your Classroom
- Whole-Class Riddle Fun: Use this game as a whole-class activity. Choose one student to be “El Acertijo” and have them read the riddles aloud. Encourage the whole class to participate and shout out their answers. This is a great way to build confidence in using numbers in Spanish.
- Small Group Play: Divide your students into small groups and have them take turns being “El Acertijo.” In this low-pressure, small group setting, students can practice speaking and listening to numbers in Spanish, while supporting each other’s learning.
- Math and Language Combined: Use this game as a way to reinforce both math and language skills. The riddles include simple addition and subtraction problems in Spanish, giving students the chance to practice their math skills while speaking Spanish naturally.
The Gist of it All
The Natural Approach is all about getting students to use language in meaningful, real-world contexts, and games like El Acertijo are the perfect tool for achieving this. By combining numbers, riddles, and conversation, you’re creating an environment where students can learn naturally and feel confident using their Spanish skills.
Resources
Blog, S. (2024, January 16). How to gain fluency in a second language through the comprehensible input (CI) approach? https://sanako.com/the-comprehensible-input-approach
Busciglio, D. (2023, July 14). Why real conversation is key to language learning. Lessonface. https://www.lessonface.com/content/why-real-conversation-key-language-learning
Krashen, S. D., & Terrell, T. D. (1983). The natural approach language acquisition in the classroom Stephen D. Krashen and Tracy D. Terrell. Pergamon Press Alemany Press.
Vasquez, V. (2023, November 16). Lowering the affective filter for English language learners facilitates successful language acquisition. Collaborative Classroom. https://www.collaborativeclassroom.org/blog/lowering-affective-filter-facilitates-language-acq/