I'm sorry for the short hiatus from the article the past few weeks. We're back now in full swing to help you continue on your quest to learn a foreign language.
This past week, we went to a barnyard on a field trip. As an extra, the children and I reviewed Spanish and German words for each animal, and learned a short sentence: The _____________ says ___________. (The cow says moo, the dog says ruff, etc)
If you know a field trip is coming up, take a few moments to think of the items you will see. Make a list of ten words or fewer in your target language. Then create a short sentence with replaceable words that will help to give hints as to the meanings of the new words.
This way, you are able to incorporate your foreign language in a real-life way, make it immediately useable, and create motivation for memorization, all at the same time!
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of five children. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at
www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store.
Comments
Spanish CDs
10:11 AM, Oct. 18, 2008, posted by Anonymous
I was wondering if anyone can suggest a "fun" Spanish CD program. I know of Jumpstart. I was looking for something a little more advanced. I do not want a curriculum or anything at this point, more just exposure. We have used the Jumpstart Spanish and my children enjoyed it but that was years ago. I need something along those lines for 7 year old and 11 year olds.
I am not sure if this is the place to ask a question like this. Is there a site to go to where HSers discuss various things through threads or emails?
Thank You
Sharon
Spanish CD Program
To be honest, I haven't been impressed with too much. We do listen to Hop Skip and Sing Spanish, which leads them through some rhymes and exercises. But if I weren't bilingual, I think they would be frustrated, as my children often ask, "what does that mean again?"
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't suggest my own series Flip Flop Spanish - I had tried everything under the sun, as was un-satisfied, so I made my own packets, week by week, for my own classes. After three years of development, and several more of testing and tweaking, we ended up getting it published, just because so many people were wanting to buy "just the packets" from my classes. It does come with a CD, but it is not CD-driven. It's a workbook with a CD for help. What are you looking for? Something more just to listen to, or a comb effect? Or just songs? I have several on my shelf I can describe to you, and I'd love to help you find the item that will fit your family best!
