I am yanking my hair out here! Please help me!!! I was wondering if anyone knows of a course that covers, practical, conversational Spanish for families/children. I'm trying to look for something that goes beyond shapes, colors, and basic vocabulary. If I see one more book going over the Alphabet I'll scream!!! Nothing grammar heavy, and nothing thats so babyish its insulting to the human intellect either *grr* Please, tell me there is something out there. I've considered and rejected The Easy Spanish, as it isn't secular and I dont like the Spanglish. I prefer 100% Spanish. I'm not shelling out hundreds of dollars for something like Rosetta Stone either as it isn't CONVERSATIONAL. I can teach random words in Spanish myself, but I wouldn't pay myself hundreds of dollars to do it. Please, please, please help! Next year we'll probably work our way through Destinos but I expect that to take us an entire year but I want it to be more of a review/cementing exercise than anything else. My students are 9, 7 and 5 (I know, I still type 8yo, 6yo and 4yo but I'm lazy!) I'm mostly doing Spanish with 9yo, as its something she's passionate about and has been for a few years now. 6yo and 4yo will tag along if they want to or not, they are a lot more fickle about learning Spanish, but the general consensus is that they want to learn.
Have you looked into Mango? My boys seem to like it. We get it through our local library for no charge, but you can also purchase it individually.
Looked at and Rejected it. It doesn't seem to cater to the everyday topics that we need. And I have to say that $150 it is at the upper extreme of my budget. Isn't there anything else? It doesn't have to be software or even "home-school curriculum" just some program that can get you from point A to point B. It can be a book with or without audio CD as I can read Spanish and my accent is fairly good. Anyone?
You might check out Visual Link Spanish. It seemed more conversationally based to me, but I haven't actually used it. Do you have anyone local to practice with? My daughter tutors a boy in algebra and he helps her with conversational spanish. They play cards, talk about pets, whatever we can do to get them talking. Also check your library for Mango. Many libraries have access to it, and free may work better. Live Mocha is still free for the lower levels I believe. HTH
I've tried three different language programs and don't like any of them. I have now ordered a set of Learning Lingo that I got used off of eBay. I have hopes, but they aren't high If you find something, please share it on here! I'll let you know how the Learning Lingo goes. I couldn't find it new anywhere. They must have recently stopped making it or something.
My daughter has been successfully using OSU Spanishonline for high school spanish. She took Spanish 1 at a charter high school last year, but has completed Spanish 2 and started Spanish 3 with OSU this year. It isn't cheap, but does include lots of different activites from textbook exercises, small novels to read, videos to watch, listening activities, and lots of recorded oral assessments. She also phones in to talk to the instructor weekly. Not much help for elementary ages, but if anyone was looking for high school credit they might consider it. I am hopeful that with her 3 years of high school spanish, she can take Spanish at the local U or CC next fall.
Have you looked at Speedy Spanish I & II? I haven't used it, but it's listed as for 3rd and 4th grade. I think some games are included.
The best way to learn is to immerse yourself in the language. Like to read? Start with simple books in Spanish. Watch TV? Turn that DVD to Spanish. On the computer? Switch the language from English to Spanish on the options. spanish-only dot com is a good blog to learn some excellent techniques. If you really want to learn and you want to be able to speak without sounding "American" it's best to do away with conventional schoolbook methods.
I just googled "spanish for kids" and found a couple of online things that I like. One was 'SpanishTown for kids'. the pronunciation was very clear and the kids can use it by themselves. I like that it's free. I don't pay for anything if I don't have to.
I just ordered Kids Stuff Spanish (Bilingual Kids Series): Easy Spanish Phrases to Teach Your Kids (and Yourself) based on some recommendations on another site. It lists hundreds of things you would say to kids in a conversation. I haven't gotten it yet. We are going to do some kind of Spanish program as well. I am trying to decide between Sube, Singnspeak or Sonrisas. Edit: I just checked online and I am supposed to receive it tomorrow. I'll let you know how I like it!
Thanks kristinannie, I look forward to hearing about it. I'm familiar already with the concept and ideas of immersing yourself in Spanish media and using vocabulary around the house. Thats what we're working toward now, all my students are TV addicts but its hard for me to get them to watch something in Spanish because they want TV in English all the time. I'm hoping that after the Phase one spanish program that I'm putting together for the kids that they'll be willing to watch actual cartoons in Spanish, and that by the end of the year that they'll watch a Disney DVD in Spanish. I am using all my resources to put together a Basic Spanish 1 program to be used in 10 weeks as a crash course for someone who has already got the standard "basics" down, (you know, simple colors, numbers, some nouns, basic greetings and phrases and such) but can't really comprehend spoken Spanish. I'm not looking to waste any more time or money on redundant materials. I own a lot of books and CD's already. My big challenge now is to put everything that we have together to make it into something coherent and useful but I'm looking to bridge the gap between simple sayings and phrases and basic conversations to a more conversational approach.
