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Small words, brave kids

By Tom, founder of Three Smiles

Three phrases are the easiest way to help children, and the rest of the family, lose the fear of speaking on holiday.

My children have travelled with me since they were small. Every trip, the same thing happened. They were curious about everything: the food, the shops, the noise of a market. Then someone spoke to them, and they froze. A shrug, a whisper of English, a look back at me to sort it out.

I understood. Speaking another language is scary at any age. You worry you will say it wrong, that people will laugh, or that you will be stuck when they reply. For children it feels even bigger, because embarrassment hits hard when you are eight or fourteen. English is the easy way out, it usually works, and so the habit sets early.

But when they did try a few words, the response was almost always bigger than a smile. An extra scoop of ice cream. A laugh. A lollipop slipped across the counter. Locals made even more of an effort when the whole family was taking part.

Start smaller than you think

Children do not need a language course on holiday. They need one word they can say with confidence. Hello, thank you and cheers are perfect for this. They are short, they come up all day, and nobody expects more from a visitor.

Make it a game

• Give each child a phrase to own for the trip. One does hello, one does thank you.
• Practise on the plane or in the car. Say it slowly, lean on the coloured syllable, and laugh at the bad versions.
• Let them be the one who says it: at the bakery, the ice cream stand, the hotel desk.
• Collect the stamp once all three have been said for real.

Why it works

The reward is instant, and children notice it straight away. One small win makes the next word easier, and the nervousness starts to shrink. It also changes how they see a place. The people stop being a backdrop.

It will not always go to plan

Some days they will refuse. Sometimes a word comes out wrong, or someone replies in fast French and the moment wobbles. That is fine. Laugh, say thank you in English, and try again tomorrow. Do not push. The aim is curiosity, not performance.

Grown-ups too

Plenty of parents feel the same fear and hide it behind “everyone speaks English anyway”. Going first is the best example you can set. Say it, get it slightly wrong, and show them it does not matter.

Three Smiles is free to try with Wales, France and Japan. For a lot of UK families, Wales is a short drive away, so you can start practising this weekend.