Learning a new language as a family provides an opportunity to grow closer while improving skills. English as a second language is difficult for adults and children. Utilizing resources outside of a classroom improves speaking skills and speeds the learning process. As a family, spend time teaching and learning from each other. Include lessons within daily activities. Expand into the places and things of everyday life. Encourage each other through the process.

Favorite Part of the Day

Spend time learning about each other and learning new words at the same time. At the end of each day, ask each other to explain the favorite part of the day. Prepare to explain it in English. Provide each family member with a translation dictionary. Look up words not understood from the stories. Spend time on each individual's day and ask questions, in English, to help with conversation skills. As everyone's skills improve, continue the exercise without the dictionaries.

Memory

Use one color of construction paper or other thick paper, and cut it into rectangular cards approximately the size of a domino. Take two cards. On the first, write the word in your native language. On the second, write the word in English. In a corner of the word side of the cards, write down the same small number on both cards for easy reference to verify matches. Begin with 10 different sets of words. Build vocabulary by adding words to this game each day.

Video Games

Resources online keep children and adults interested through game play. Utilize teaching websites and challenge each other to the video game activities. Word searches, hangman, dueling pirates and crossword puzzles engage multiple skill levels. Keep a scoreboard that lists who played which game and the score. Points are awarded though vocabulary and conjugation knowledge. ESL Tower and ESL Lab host multiple games enjoyed by all ages. Prepare a fun reward, such as a traveling trophy, for the person with the most points each week.

Weekend Adventure

Each weekend, take a small trip with the family. Plan ahead and show everyone where the trip will take them. Spend the week preparing vocabulary and sentence structures to use during the trip. Create a cheat sheet for phrasing questions and some key words. For example, take a trip to the zoo and practice action verbs for the animals in addition to animal names. A trip to the grocery store includes food vocabulary and math skills.