Spanish

[luna]

My daughter has taken 3 years of high school Spanish at the local public school. It was a weak program and this year we decided it wasn’t worth the time. We are regretting that choice because our makeshift plan to do it at home with a variety of sources isn’t working well. Can anyone recommend a good, inexpensive course online? We really want the 4th year of the language. Thank you for any help.

[klmama]

Every course builds on what was taught in earlier years, so it would help to know what text series she used for Spanish 1-3, how much was covered, and what you thought was weak in the local school's program.  

[retiredHSmom]

we just signed my son up for Homeschool Spanish Academy, high school level for credit. I have been impressed so far and they did a placement test the first day to see where he should start so they can adapt to her background.

[luna]

The school didn’t have a text book. She had lots of worksheets prepared by the teacher. They didn’t speak often enough. By Spanish 3, I think they should rarely use English in class. I will look into the Homeschool Spanish Academy.

[happypamama]

We love Homeschool Spanish academy as well!

[Lanny]

Here is, IMO, part of the problem: In a Brick & Mortar school, Public or Private, usually (in any subject) they do not and cannot cover the entire textbook. My DD is a Distance Learner, and she goes from front to back in her textbooks. Using the same textbooks, in a B&M school in TX, I believe that would be impossible. There simply isn't enough time...

 

So, as someone very recently posted, I think the subject was French, they only covered 50% of the textbook in French 1.  Then, going to French 2, the student has a handicap. Maybe in French 2 they also cover 50% of the material in the textbook.  If going on to French 3, maybe they have 25% comprehension?  

 

My DD has I believe completed the 3 years of Spanish available to her. 

 

If she needed something beyond that, I would be looking at MOOC courses, to get a more intensive course.

 

I don't have a specific thing to recommend to you, 

 

Good luck with the Spanish!

 

P.S.

I asked my DD about this...  She said if it were her, she would probably go to a web site like lang-8.com 

http://lang-8.com/

 

DD said there are 2 ways you can use that web site: The first is that you exchange your native language skill with someone who wants to learn your language. You help them for 30 minutes. Then, you switch and they help you with their language.  That's free.  Or, you can pay for Tutoring service.

 

So, if DD were going to use that site, she could help someone in U.S. English (her strongest language) or in Latin American Spanish (very strong) and she could learn Japanese or French, which she is interested in learning.

 

P.P.S.

This is the URL for the SENA of the Colombian government. I do not know if their courses are available to people outside Colombia, but they are I believe free and SENA is respected here in Colombia. Possibly they have Spanish?

http://portal.senasofiaplus.edu.co/index.php/component/content/article/513-cursos-virtuales-sena

 

Looking at the right side of that web page, the only language I see is English, which is a Foreign language here.