Anyone teaching Spanish? What are you using? I would like something that 1) I can learn along with them, 2) it can be used for learners as young as pre-k, and 3) it isn't too baby-like for an 8 and 10 yo. Cost is also an issue. This homeschool stuff is really starting to add up There are so much cool stuff out there to use. I just want to get it all :lol:
When a child learns to speak Spanish, English, or any language in the home as a first language, they learn by the repetition of speaking it. When they are school age they learn to write it and read it. So, my suggestion would be to get a book that you can learn from and learn a sentence or two a week and say it to your children as part of the regular day. For example, if they have to write their name on their paper, you can say something simple like, "Escribe tu nombre por favor." You just asked them to write their name. Repeat this for every lesson until they understand it. Have them say it as well. You can teach simple things like colors. Cut out rags of different colors and make a game out of it by saying, "Amarillo", which is yellow and the child who runs and grabs it first gets to call out the next color. Same for numbers and simple words. "Que hora es, por favor?", means what time is it, please? (ignore my punctuation. I don't know how to make my computer type in Spanish ) You can ask them a few times a day what time it is and teach them how to respond. You can teach them how to greet people and before bed ask them to brush their teeth in Spanish. Make it part of their day then you will all understand it more. When they catch on add more and more and more. Then you can start teaching how to write it and read it. The reason for making it part of your day is for some people if you do not use it, you loose(sp?) it. I know this by experience. Spanish was my first language and when I started school I was not allowed to speak Spanish so I forgot somethings since but remember it when I speak it again. In my Spanish college class my teacher played these above games with us. It really helped people learn faster, then she taught us how to write it. We played a game where she threw a ball and said, "Uno." Whoever caught it said, "Dos", and we kept doing this until the class learned to count to 100. It was fun too. Hope this wasn't to long. Language curriculums are helpful and I do not knock them because they do work but personally I did not learn to speak Spanish as a child by working from a work book, I learned from hearing it and association. I think if you teach as you learn, your children will catch on quickly. This will also help them not get confussed with their English curriculum. It might appear to take longer but they will retain it and they have until they graduate and more to do so. Like I said, this is only my opinion. Good luck!!! Patty Patty
Patty, I have tryed that many times, it's ok if you know how to say the word, but sometimes the way I look at it and say the word it's how they say it. So, I like where I hear someone say it then we repeat it and write it if you know what I mean.
Patty, I really like that approach, but I think I need to hear it correctly as well before I say it. I am thinking a combination of something formal with the slower pace would fit perfect for real learning. Thanks!
There are numerous of DVDs and CDs that teach Spanish. This way you can hear it. Unless you purchase a curriculum that includes a CD or DVD, it might still be difficult to say it correctly if you can't hear it being said. Patty
we use powerglide (retails for around 150, but on ebay for 48!!) its a computer and audio cd program with 12 cds and work books (reproduiceable!) each lesson coresponds with a tract on the cd. listen to it, stop the tape, do the written assigment in the book, listen to the next part of the tape and participate verbaly (there are pauses in the tape for you to "answer" the speaker and a cheat sheet so you can see the answer (or grade someone answer!). there is a computer cd that has games on it. the games can be used in conjunction with each lesson or played independly. i dont make my younger kids do the written stuff yet but my 6 year old is doing just as well at the computer stuff as my older two. there is a bonus cd of conversations and songs that yu can listen to in the car or while doing art that drill the vocabulary into their heads while they listen to it in normal conversation. i dont speak a lick of spanish and i was compleatly comfortable teaching (and learning from) this program!
ok i just went to the website http://www.power-glide.com/products/spanish.asp and it looks like they have split the program up into early education, school aged and high school/adult the price went down a big, $120 for each series. i would look on ebay and the like before i payed that much for it. ebay has some HOT deals right now. they look like they are the older casset tape versions..but the language is still the same! the childrens spanish is avalible to "buy now" for under $20 INCLUDING shiping!!! they also have latin french and japanese and a !!!homeschool cirriculim course!!! for less than $50. heres the link, im gonna buy whatever you girls dont grab lol! http://search.ebay.com/power-glide-...iZQQsaprcloZQQsofocusZbsQQsubmitsearchZSearch
For the younger kids the Jumpstart is real good and fun. Rosetta Stone is for when they get older & mom. I figured it was expensive but...if I put them in spanish lessons that would be $10 per class/ per kid so....Rosetta Stone didn't seem so expesive after all. I do think you need to check out library books to reinforce it. See if your library carries beginning reading Spanish books.
If you can't find beginning readers for Spanish, you can make them. Kind of like coloring books. Draw the animal or object, write the word under it and have your child color it. I used to do this for Ems when she was learning shapes and colors. She liked them. Patty
I finally ordered La Clase Divertida for the boys. funclase.com We got level one and it looks like it's going to be a good program. With each lesson they watch the DVD and listen to the CD several times, and then do a little workbook work. There is also some Mexican history in each lesson and a craft to go along with the history. Each lesson takes a week or more depending on how often you do it. We just started lesson 1 and they are learning the vowels, colors, and how to ask someones name and introduce themselves. They think it's a lot of fun. Lisa
We can't afford the La Clase Divertida at this time. Have to pay for Christmas and relatives visiting. But some time this winter, I think that will be the program we purchase. Thanks!
It is a little expensive... at least to me, it may not be compared to others. Deena, It says it's for grades K-6. My 3 yr old enjoys watching the DVD, and he does everything right along with it. To me a 6th grader would find the songs silly and the some of the crafts to easy. But like I said we've only done the first lesson, it may change as it goes along. One of the crafts is making a pinata, that would be fun for older kids. Lisa
It's $110. You get the DVD, CD, Teacher's Manual, 2 Student Workbooks and craft supplies for 2 students. You can also order extra student kits, I think they are pretty cheap. Lisa
Exactly, ABall, I definately want to teach it. But it is going to have to wait for our expensives to get settled.
Deena, I'm not sure if you can get it for just one student. Maybe if your DD has a friend that wanted to, they could do it together and you could split the cost. What I really like about it is the whole family can learn together. The kids learn from hearing and saying it over and over. They also show the words on the TV while we're saying them, which is really good for me. I have to see things to be able to understand them. I'm hoping my 14 month old will pick up on a little as he's learning to talk, just from hearing the rest of us. Lisa
