Should You Use Slang When Teaching Kids a New Language?

When teaching a second language to children, many parents and educators wonder: should kids learn slang too?

The answer isn’t black and white. While slang can add cultural depth and real-world communication skills, it must be introduced thoughtfully, especially when working with younger learners.

Here’s what to consider when deciding how (and if) to incorporate slang in your child’s language learning journey.

1. Know the Purpose of Slang Slang reflects how native speakers actually talk in casual settings. It’s often tied to humor, emotions, and social belonging. Phrases like “what’s up?” or “no worries” may seem informal, but they’re essential to understanding real conversations.

Teaching some slang can help children:

  • Understand native speakers in movies or songs
  • Sound more natural in informal conversation
  • Connect with cultural nuance

2. Keep It Age-Appropriate Stick to slang that’s harmless, light, and commonly used among children. Avoid anything tied to sarcasm, strong emotions, or adult themes. Examples for kids:

  • English: “cool,” “yummy,” “oops”
  • Spanish: “¡guay!” (cool), “chido” (awesome)
  • French: “trop bien” (so good), “c’est nul” (that’s lame-but use gently!)

3. Start with Context, Not Lists Rather than memorizing slang terms, help your child hear and use them naturally through stories or videos. Programs like Dinolingo expose kids to authentic conversational phrases in structured, age-specific formats.

You can also find child-friendly immersion content on:

  • BBC Bitesize – French for Children
  • Rockalingua – Spanish songs and videos

4. Balance Slang with Standard Language While slang adds flavor, it shouldn’t replace foundational grammar and vocabulary. Make sure your child has a strong base in the formal structure of the language before layering on informal expressions.

5. Use Media to Spot Slang Together Watch cartoons, read comics, or listen to songs in the new language and point out casual phrases together. Discuss what they mean and when they might be used. This builds cultural awareness alongside vocabulary.

Final Thoughts Slang isn’t essential to early language learning, but when used intentionally, it can help kids feel more confident, curious, and connected to how people really speak.

Keep it light, relevant, and appropriate to your child’s age. A few casual expressions can go a long way in helping language feel alive.

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