Elementary Lesson Plan: Introduction to International Language Skills

There are many words in the English language which are universally the same in other languages, as well as easy-to-learn international phrases providing an introduction to the world of languages. Just as no two cultures are exactly the same, so too languages differ in exciting ways.

International Speaking

Your students are probably aware of some internationally shared words, and discovering them together can make a fun class project or assignment. For instance the word "international" is almost universal in its meaning and spelling, and your cultural-mix of students can help with their native-conversational languages.

Don't overlook the numerous translation resources such as vacation travel guides for commonly-used conversational phrases, available at local bookstores or libraries. There are also convenient palm-sized personal translators, available as cell-phone apps, or thin calculator-style models which travel conveniently in pocket or purse to school and abroad.

Other foreign-language resource options include online translating tools, which are as easy as a right-click, for immediate word and phrase translations, in every known language. An online search for foreign-conversational language lessons (somewhat different from written language) will assist you in teaching culturally-influenced conversational phrases to your students.

Simple Words & Phrases

Some words are universally the same in English as in other languages, such as our word for "no" in English. It is also spelled "no" (with the same meaning) in Spanish as well as Italian. Your students might also be familiar with the various words for "yes" in other languages.

In French "yes" is "oui" (pronounced we), "ja" (pronounced ya) in Dutch and German, or "si" (pronounced see) in Italian and Spanish. However "bien" is used in conversational Spanish literally translated at "well" but is used in agreement like we use "yes".

Have your students research polite conversational words and phrases in other languages such as "please" and "thank you", which in Spanish is "por favor" and "gracias" (similar to "grazie" in Italian). Both "gracias" and "grazie" remind us to be "gracious" or "grateful" and say "thank you". The phrase "thank you" or "thanks" is "danke" in German, similar to "dank u" in Dutch, or "mahalo" in Hawaiian, and "merci" in French.

Around the World Sports & Currencies

Although soccer is a kick-ball type of team sport played in the United States and around the world, many countries call "soccer" "football", which is different from American football. Some countries like France do spell "football" (meaning soccer) the same way we do, but "soccer" is spelled "futbol" in Latin American countries.

More word puzzles include terms used for monetary exchange. In Latin countries the word for "money" is "dinero" (spelled "denero" in Italy) but the word for currency in France is "monnaie", similar to our word "money".

Currency in America is the dollar, however Chinese nations refer to their money as yen, and Russian countries use the word rubles. The word used for the monetary system in Europe is the Euro, and no translation is necessary.

Education in Other Countries

The English word for "school" is also used by the Dutch, however the French call it "ecole", the Spanish word is "escuela", and the Italians call it "scuola". Our word for "student" is the same in German, Dutch, and Italian with a minor difference in spelling ("studente" in Italian).

Favorite Greetings

Some languages even have a favorite word or two expressing the English equivalent of hello, goodbye, welcome, good day, good night, with love, greetings, and best wishes. The Hawaiian "aloha" is used to describe all of the words listed above, along with appropriate hand gestures.

There is another language which also has a single word expression used for all of those same greetings. The Hebrew word "shalom" expresses all the wishes above, and I'm told, also includes "good luck", "peace", and "prosperity".

"Happy Birthday" in Spanish is "Feliz Cumpleanos" which is similar to the Italian "Felice Compleanno". "Happy New Year" in Hawaiian is "Haoulemakahikiho" (pronounced How-owe-lay-maw-kaw-he-key-ho) which is spoken quickly, yet it is only said after wishing a "Merry Christmas", which is a mouthful; "Mele Kalikimaka Haolemakahikiho".

Hawaiian might be the most fun of all the languages, as many details can also be expressed through hand gestures of the "hula" (meaning "dance" in English) and is similar to hand-signing. Have your students learn different conversational language phrases as an introduction to international language skills.