April 12, 2025 by Alexandra H. Our Top Picks 0 comments

9 Ways to Keep Your Middle Schooler Engaged in Spanish (Even if They’re Already Fluent)

Don’t let fluency turn into boredom. Challenge your children’s minds and fuel their curiosity.

If your child is already fluent in Spanish—reading full novels, carrying conversations, and maybe even correcting your grammar—you might be wondering, Now what? They’ve come so far, but keeping them engaged and growing can feel like a challenge, especially when most programs focus on beginner or intermediate learners.

Here’s the good news: this is actually where the fun begins.

Fluency opens doors to richer, deeper learning—not just in language mechanics but also in culture, creativity, and critical thinking.

By the end of this post, you’ll have 9 fresh ideas to re-ignite your child’s interest in Spanish. And as a bonus, we’ve included a free PDF called “The Spanish Enrichment Playbook,” packed with 20+ activities you can download and start using today.

Why It Matters? Fluent Doesn’t Mean Finished

According to the Modern Language Association, fewer than 1% of American adults are proficient in a second language, even after years of classroom study. So, if you’re reading this, your child is already ahead. But staying ahead means you need to move past basic vocabulary drills and into real-world, meaningful Spanish use.

As a parent, educator, or both, you know that middle schoolers thrive on novelty and challenge. So let’s give them just that.

1. Start a Spanish-Only Journal

Have your child reflect on their day, write short stories, or even answer daily prompts, all in Spanish. This will build vocabulary, encourage creativity, and keep grammar sharp.

Bonus Tip: Choose a theme for each week (dreams, emotions, nature, sports, music, etc.) to keep it fun and focused.

2. Watch (and Analyze) Spanish Films

Skip the dubs and head straight to the original Spanish-language content. Films from Spain, Colombia, or Mexico can expose your child to diverse accents and cultures.

Try watching with subtitles off or pause to discuss scenes and vocabulary.

Great platforms for this include Netflix and Pantaya on ViX+ and YouTube.

3. Give Them a “Passion Project” in Spanish

Is your child into marine biology? Anime? Space exploration?

Let them explore those topics in Spanish. Encourage them to research, create a presentation or essay, or even conduct an interview with an expert in Spanish.

4. Start a Spanish Book Club (Even if It’s Just You Two)

Reading advanced literature helps keep comprehension sharp. Choose books with rich narratives and cultural context, like Sandra Cisneros’ La Casa en Mango Street or Horacio Quiroga’s Cuentos de la Selva.

Discuss plot, character development, and vocabulary together. Make it feel like a grown-up club.

5. Assign “Teaching Days”

Flip the roles. Let your child teach you Spanish once a week. Have them prepare a lesson or mini-quiz. This will reinforce their knowledge and build confidence.

You’ll both laugh and learn.

6. Explore Music and Lyrics

Help them create a playlist of favorite Spanish songs and analyze the lyrics. What are the themes? Is there regional slang?

Music connects language with emotion, and because of rhythm and repetition, it can help consolidate their knowledge.

7. Cook Together—With Recipes in Spanish

Choose a traditional dish from a Spanish-speaking country, find the recipe in Spanish, and follow it together.

Cooking connects language, culture, and family time in a tangible, delicious way.

8. Host a “Spanish Immersion Day” at Home

Designate one day per week or month where all communication at home happens in Spanish. Put labels on objects, put on music and movies in Spanish, and encourage them to speak only en español, too.

Also, add fun challenges like “who slips into English the most has to do the dishes!”

9. Connect with Native Speakers

Language is an important social element.

Give your child opportunities to speak with real people, whether through pen pals, online tutors, or virtual exchanges. This boosts confidence and exposes them to authentic accents and idioms.

Programs like Homeschool Spanish Academy offer 1-on-1 lessons with native speakers tailored for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners.

Want Even More? Grab the Free “Spanish Enrichment Playbook”

If you’re excited about these ideas, you’ll love our Spanish Enrichment Playbook, a free, printable collection of over 20 activities designed specifically for advanced middle schoolers.

Inside, you’ll find:

Creative writing prompts
Cultural scavenger hunts
Music and media exploration ideas
Hands-on projects
Weekly challenges you can actually stick to

Download it here: The Spanish Enrichment Playbook (Coming soon!)

Final Thoughts

Keeping your child engaged in Spanish once they’ve reached fluency doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just takes a little creativity and the willingness to explore the language as a living, breathing, exciting part of your daily life.

Your child has already done the hard work of becoming fluent. Now, let’s make it unforgettable.

Also, do you want help customizing your child’s Spanish journey even further?

Check out our one-on-one programs designed for advanced learners at Homeschool Spanish Academy. We’ll meet your child exactly where they are and keep them moving forward.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3