I once had a Concert Band rehearsal at UNT with one of the associate conductors who was here from Japan at the time. He was stumbling over his words and having trouble expressing himself properly.

Maestro Corporon, who was observing, told him "Stop worrying about the words. Speak in Japanese if you have to. Just show them how you want them to play." He didn't attempt to speak another word of English that day, and the performance improved dramatically. He sang, he demonstrated, and the ensemble responded.

Your kids aren't to that level of musicianship yet. But the fact is the same - verbal communication is the LEAST effective form of communication. Demonstrate. Repeat. Show them what and how to do what you want. Don't explain, SHOW. Or, as they say in writing, "show, don't tell."

If you absolutely have to, use Google Translate on your phone. But music is said to be a universal language for a reason. Just teach.

Additionally, brush up on your ESL/ELL trainings. What we do in music classes every day is the same thing as ESL/ELL. We're teaching another whole new language to kids. The principles behind ESL/ELL instruction apply equally well to us.