How do I help with homework without speaking the language?

Terms used

• Agenda escolar — The agenda escolar is the paper school diary where homework and notes between school and family are written.
• Tutor/a — The tutor is the teacher in charge of a class and the main contact for families.
• Hora de tutoría — The hora de tutoría is the weekly or fortnightly hour when a tutor meets parents, usually by appointment.
• AMPA — The AMPA is the school's parents' association.
• Orientador/a — The orientador is the school counsellor who can advise on support, interpreters and mediators.

Key rules

• Your role: You support the routine and check that homework is done; you don't have to check the content.
• Translation apps: Use them to understand instructions, and let your child write the answers in Spanish.
• Access codes: Ask the school for platform access codes at enrolment, because each school picks its own platform.
• Interpreters: Schools don't always provide one, so ask the counsellor or bring a helper.

You don't need to speak Spanish to help

Your job is not to teach the subject. It is to give your child a routine, make sure the task is understood and keep in touch with the school. All three work in any language.

Build a routine at home

• Pick a fixed homework time and a quiet place.
• Ask your child to explain the task to you in your home language. Explaining it out loud helps them understand it, and it shows you what they have to do.
• Check that the homework is finished. You don't need to check whether the content is right.
• Read together in any language. It builds skills your child will use in Spanish too.

Use translation tools for instructions, not answers

Use an app to understand what the task asks. Let your child write the answers in Spanish, because heavy use of translation can slow their own learning.

• Google Translate is widely available and works offline. Its camera mode is useful for photographed worksheets.
• DeepL gives very natural Spanish and suits longer texts and documents.
• Microsoft Translator suits live two-way conversation.
• WordReference and Linguee are better for single words and context. The RAE dictionary is the authority on Spanish.

Machine translation can get subject terms and idioms wrong. If an instruction looks strange, ask the teacher. Check the school's rules on AI tools before your child uses them for homework.

Learn how the school sets homework

Most schools use a paper agenda (agenda escolar) for homework and notes. Many also use a digital platform for homework, projects, grades and messages. Each school chooses its own. Common ones include Educamos, ClassDojo, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams and Moodle. Some regions have their own, such as Racó in Catalonia, Séneca/iPasen in Andalucía, Rayuela in Castilla y León and Educamadrid in Madrid. Email and WhatsApp groups are also common.

Ask for your access codes when you enrol. Then check the platform and the agenda regularly so you know what is due.

Talk to the teachers

Each class has a tutor (tutor/a), who is your main contact. Tutors hold a weekly or fortnightly parent hour (hora de tutoría), usually booked in advance. You can also write through the platform, by email or in the agenda. The parents' association (AMPA) is another way to meet other families. Schools also hold a meeting at the start of the year and give grade reports each term.

You can ask the teacher to explain a task, or to give tasks in simpler wording while your child learns Spanish.

Schools don't always provide an interpreter. Ask the school's counsellor (orientador/a) whether an interpreter or intercultural mediator is available, or bring a helper. Support for newcomers differs by region and school. It can include reception classrooms, such as aulas de enlace in Madrid, aules d'acollida in Catalonia and ATAL in Andalucía.

If your child needs more help

• Look for free homework clubs run by the school, NGOs or libraries.
• Pair up with another family whose child is in the same class.
• Ask the school for bilingual or school-approved resources.

The checklist and the questions below cover the main steps and common worries.

Checklist

• Set a fixed homework time and a quiet place at home.

• Ask the school for your access codes to its homework platform at enrolment.

• Photograph worksheets and read the instructions with a translation app.

• Check that the homework is finished, rather than checking the content.

• Ask the teacher for tasks in simpler wording if the instructions are too hard.

• Ask the school, a local NGO or the library about free homework clubs.

• Read together for a few minutes in any language.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use a translation app for my child's homework?

Yes, translation apps help you understand the instructions, but your child should write the answers in Spanish. Google Translate's camera mode works well on worksheets, and DeepL gives more natural Spanish for longer texts. Machine translation can mislead on subject terms, and some schools have rules on AI tools, so check yours.

Will the school provide an interpreter for meetings with the tutor?

Not always, because interpreter and mediator services depend on the region and the school. Ask the school's counsellor (orientador/a) or the management team whether they can arrange an intercultural mediator, or bring a helper who speaks Spanish.

How do I get access to the school's homework platform?

Ask the school for your access codes at enrolment, because each school chooses its own platform. Some use regional systems such as Racó in Catalonia or Séneca/iPasen in Andalucía. Others use ClassDojo, Google Classroom, email or WhatsApp groups, and the paper agenda (agenda escolar) is common too.

What can I do if my child needs more help than I can give?

Ask the tutor about free homework clubs run by the school, NGOs or libraries. You can also pair up with another family, or ask the teacher for tasks in simpler wording.