Why Aren’t We Teaching This in Schools? The Power of Survival Expressions in Language Learning

When immersion isn’t possible, language teachers have to get creative. But here’s the big question: How can we make language lessons relevant—especially in traditional, non-immersive classrooms?

As both an online language coach and a classroom teacher, I’ve seen one reality play out again and again: language learning in schools often isn’t personal.

Class sizes are too large for individualized attention. Teachers don’t have the bandwidth to adapt lessons to each student’s pace, strengths, or struggles. And students notice.

Here’s the truth: Learning in school isn’t personal. Neither is the teaching.

According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), smaller class sizes in world language programs lead to better outcomes. With fewer students, there’s more opportunity for authentic communication, individualized feedback, and a comfortable learning environment—all critical factors for language acquisition (ACTFL, 2019).

That’s why one of the most powerful things a teacher can do is build rapport and spark genuine interest in the language. Because language learning isn’t about passing tests—it’s about connection, confidence, and curiosity.

No amount of perfect lesson plans can guarantee a student will learn unless they feel invested.

Why More Learners Are Turning to Coaches

Today, many language learners—especially adults—turn to language coaches not just to learn, but to be truly heard. Unlike traditional instruction, coaching offers personalized, one-on-one support that meets learners exactly where they are, helping them work through real fears, doubts, and goals with empathy and strategy.

I often tell my clients:

“My goal is to prepare you to not need me anymore.”

It might sound like bad sales strategy, but it’s true. My own journey learning English took years, but once I learned how to learn, I could progress on my own. Today, I use authentic content every day—not because I have to, but because I know how to make it work for me.

That’s what I want for my learners too.

The Survival Expressions We’re Ignoring

Most schools teach a few “classroom Spanish” basics:

• ¿Puedo ir al baño? — “Can I go to the bathroom?”
  
  
• ¿Cómo se dice…? — “How do you say…?”
  
  

And that’s about it.

But that’s nowhere near enough. When students don’t use the target language in everyday, practical ways, it quickly becomes “just another school subject” they forget after graduation.

Psychologist Harry Bahrick’s research on language attrition—the gradual loss of a language when it’s not used—found that students often see a sharp drop in ability within the first 5–6 years after instruction ends. After that initial decline, what remains is called the 'permastore'—core knowledge that can last for decades (Bahrick, 1984).

In my coaching experience, I’ve lost count of how many adults in the U.S. have told me:

“I took two years of Spanish in high school, but I can’t remember any of it.”

This isn’t about laziness—it’s about lack of meaningful, frequent use. Fluency takes time, intention, and interaction.

Teachers: Your Goal Isn’t Fluency (Yet)

In many classrooms in the US, students may only get between 3 and 10 hours of Spanish per week. At that pace, students are unlikely to reach fluency without consistent practice and exposure outside the classroom.

But you can equip them with Survival Spanish Expressions—high-frequency, transferable phrases they can start using immediately.

For example, instead of defaulting to:

“Can I borrow a pencil?”

Teach them to say:

¿Me puedes prestar un lápiz, por favor?

From there, the structure transfers naturally:

• ¿Me puedes prestar tus audífonos?
  
  
• ¿Me puedes ayudar con esta pregunta?
  
  
• ¿Puedes darme un bolígrafo?
  
  

These patterns give students the tools to adapt and create new sentences without memorizing isolated word lists.

As Stephen Krashen famously wrote in The Input Hypothesis (1985):

“Language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious grammatical rules... it requires meaningful interaction in the target language.”

Make It Playful, Make It Stick

Here’s a fun trick: if a student says something in English—like “Can I borrow a pencil?”—pretend you don’t understand.

It becomes a playful challenge. Soon, classmates will jump in to “translate” for them:

“You have to say it in Spanish!”

This simple approach increases engagement, peer-to-peer learning, and ownership of the language—just by using a handful of survival expressions.

To All the Brave Language Teachers

If you teach in a non-immersive environment—thank you.

And if you’ve ever “not understood” your students on purpose to keep them speaking Spanish—double thank you.

That’s how fluency begins: one relevant, real-life phrase at a time.

Survival Expressions are the bridge between classroom learning and real-world communication. Research shows that language knowledge fades quickly without frequent, meaningful use—and sometimes, even when these phrases are taught, they aren’t reinforced enough for students to remember them. Unfortunately, most schools still overlook these everyday expressions.

By teaching patterns students can apply to multiple contexts, you give them not just vocabulary, but confidence, independence, and the ability to keep learning long after they leave your classroom.

As teachers and learners, we hold the power to transform language education from rote memorization into a meaningful experience that sparks curiosity and confidence. So let’s keep pushing forward, knowing that even small, real-life phrases learned today can build the foundation for lifelong communication tomorrow. Together, we can create classrooms—and lives—where language truly comes alive.

Ready to start right away? Download my Free Interactive Beginner’s Guide, complete with audio, and get a ready-to-use list of Survival Expressions you can introduce in your class—whether online or in person. Let’s make your students’ Spanish unforgettable.