Opinions/experiences with R.E.A.L. Spanish? (sale at HSBC)

[Tardis Girl]

This R.E.A.L. Spanish looks intriguing. I know it's newer, but has anyone used it? There is a sale on it through Homeschool Buyers Co-op through June.

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_hsbc_epp_order&Itemid=1567&c=1

 

The printed book is quite high, but the downloadable version is very reasonable. I'm looking to use something with my 1st and 2nd graders this coming year.

 

Thanks!

Stacey

[Satori]

I think it looks interesting. I emailed the author yesterday but haven't heard back yet. It's been over a day. Less 10 points for customer service, hehe.

[Tardis Girl]

I think it looks interesting. I emailed the author yesterday but haven't heard back yet. It's been over a day. Less 10 points for customer service, hehe.

 

 

She was having computer problems the other day, I know, because I emailed her too. Here is what I wrote to her, which may or may not be helpful to others. Would love to hear your thoughts on what she says!

 

 

 

--How much material/coverage is there for high school teens, in terms of putting on a transcript? The samples seemed geared to a younger set, so I am curious how this would work for high schoolers and if you would recommend supplementing with particular grammar or other materials. Would this program, perhaps with some supplementing, cover similar material (and time) for a full year of high school Spanish?

 

 

 

--With a younger group, say early elementary, what kind of schedule would you follow?

 

 

 

I'm trying to gauge both duration and coverage, as you can probably guess, for two very different age groups. I realize this would largely depend on how much time is invested in it, but I would appreciate some examples so I can understand better what I am getting into.

 

 

 

--What would be the next step following your program? Is there another level in the works, or would this lead into... something else?

========================

And here is her reply:

 

I believe that the curriculum covers almost everything in a first year high

school curriculum. If it is done well, your child will have a better grasp

of Spanish than the average student after Spanish I in High School, Being

able to epxand the time spent with the language and not being boxed in to an

hour or so a few times a week can improve the language learning experience.

However, there are a few things that will need to be 'covered' in order to

go on to a 'Spanish II' program. Some of these specific things are: present

progressive, dirct object pronouns, affirmative and negative commands,

commands with object pronouns, por and para and a few other items. You

could get a used textbook and introduce those things along the way, but you

would have to be careful not to get too caught up with comparisons between

them both. The Homeschool Spanish curriculum tries to introduce items as

you go in the context of what is being learned and tries not to put language

learning into boxes of grammar to 'learn'. It is not a traditional language

learning program. Unit ten introduces many verbs (some of which you will

have already seen throughout the book), which may be an exception to the

rest of the book. So whereas in a textbook, you may be introduced to

several verbs and their conjugations before the Homeschool Spanish does,

your child will be building fluency through speaking and working with the

vocabulary and phrases before getting into complicated and sometimes

hindering grammar. I believe many methodologies work well, it's a matter of

finding one that fits you and your family.

 

I am working on a daily curriculum guide for the product and I am on week 17

of the guide and have just finished through Unit 3. At that pace, assuming

the family keeps up a steady pace with time off for summer, you could finish

in about a year and a half. This is with an elementary child. A younger

elementary child might take two years. Or more. It is my experience with

people that I know that have used this curriculum that it is difficult to

keep up a steady pace, especially with a foreign language. But some families

are better at staying on track. A high schooler would be able to work on

this at a quicker pace. I've seen often that high schoolers in general

often have a tighter schedule and are able to learn the material faster.

 

When I designed the Homeschool Spanish curriculum, I planned for siblings to

be able to work together and speak Spanish together as they were learning.

It would be great reinforcement if your older child could spend some time

playing games or doing some of the activities with your younger one. For

example, the older one could spend a half hour for a couple days preparing a

board game that he would then play with the younger one. If he was

'teaching' his younger sibling, he would prepare extra hard. It might even

bring the children closer together if they participate in some of the

activities together. In theory of course. Each family is different. This

might work with some, but not all. The home educator, you, would also have

to know if this is something you could work on with your family. Although I

have built in many 'hands off' activities so that the home educator doesn't

get burned out, it is also hands on as well in order for the communication

in the target language to take place.

 

A typical week might look something like this, for your younger, a very

basic example: Day One: Introduce half of Unit 3A using your chosen

method, let's say you choose to bring in the food item and introduce the

words, asking if he likes or doesn't like. Day two: Spend some time with a

different activity using the same phrases and vocabulary. Let's say you

decide to place some of the food items you introduced yesterday on a table.

Take one away while he closes his eyes. When he opens them, he says in

Spanish which one is missing. You could introduce another of the phrases

such as if he wants to eat the item or not. Day three: Have your child

work on his vocabulary cards for Unit Three, work on your journaling if he

is doing this, using vocabulary from past chapters. Very limited at this

point, but if you keep up with it, he will see more and more of what he can

write down. Day four: Look at the culture web sites (you would have to

pick one out before hand), and spend time with him on one you've picked out

if he is too little to do this by himself, or have him work on his

own)....etc. You would finish 3A in a couple weeks.

 

The highschooler could work much faster using the same type of schedule.

There's no reason you couldn't pull out the food items and work on phrases

and vocabulary with the older one too. The 'which one is missing' is a

typical high school activity in many classes. You could work on the

vocabulary in, say one week instead of two. There would be time for

writing, journaling, culture and preparing something to do with the younger

one.

 

I am working on a Homeschool Spanish II especially with high schoolers in

mind, but nothing is completed at this time.

 

I hope this goes through this time and that my answers have helped you in

some way with your decision. Please feel free to write again if you need any

clarification.

[Tardis Girl]

OK, Satori, I love that you commented on my post because I always perk up when you comment. :) At one point I bookmarked your Spanish page on your blog because it sounded so good. But ya, guess I haven't kept up very well with some things in the range of toddler to high school senior <sigh>. So where are you at with Spanish and what are you looking for in a program?

[Satori]

We're still enjoying Elementary Spanish, which is a series of videos for grades 1-8. For grades 1-6 anyway, it takes 20 minutes a day. The program is super easy, but it is giving her tons of vocabulary and phrases. We just have been going through the program quickly. No matter what, I still intend to keep using this.

 

We are kinda doing Getting Started with Spanish, but as a Spanish major myself, having to teach it seems painfully easy, but I can see why people love it - it is indeed easy to teach.

 

I'm looking for something that offers a bit more than the two above programs... It looks like REAL Homeschool Spanish offers more fun interaction, hands-on, and writing, while offering fun puzzle activities on top of it all. I think it would be the kind of program I'd learn best from (seeing/reading/writing rather than just listening).

 

I'd love to try it out, but am impatient and don't want to wait another month to see how the HSBC ends up. :)

[Tardis Girl]

Thanks for the update on that, Satori. It's always good to hear feedback after extended use. :)

 

Anyone have opinions on R.E.A.L. Spanish?

[crazyforlatin]

Is every verb conjugated before it is introduced in a sentence? Or at least eventually? I didn't see an example of this. I can see that all the nouns are defined. I'm hesitant to use a program that is immersion-based since my Spanish is weak. I like GSWS because it is thoroughly explained and the author takes an incremental, grammar-focused approach. I was planning to use Las Puertas Retorcidas with SYRWTLS after finishing GSWS, but REAL Spanish might be a good supplement for DD to do on her own since it has games.

 

I wish the author would provide more samples so that I can see whether the verbs are fully conjugated like in GSWS. I suppose I could always look them up and have DD memorize them. I like a program where I can see the bigger picture (is that whole to parts approach?).

[Satori]

I sent another email to her yesterday and still haven't heard back. What email are people using to get through? The one on the website isn't working.

Edited June 9, 2011 by Satori

[Satori]

Got an answer! I'm very interested in this program, but don't have the patience to wait until the end of the month when the co-op ends. I'll probably give it a try and let everyone know how it works for us in the next few weeks. That will help people make their decision about the co-op.

 

There are at least two people on these forums who have used it. I think the discussion came up a week ago? I'll try to hunt it down.

[Tardis Girl]

I'll probably give it a try and let everyone know how it works for us in the next few weeks. That will help people make their decision about the co-op.

 

There are at least two people on these forums who have used it. I think the discussion came up a week ago? I'll try to hunt it down.

 

Keep us posted, Satori! Can't wait to hear more... anything!! :)

[Tardis Girl]

Satori -- any new thoughts to share on R.E.A.L. Spanish? The co-op sale ends June 26th, not the end of the month as I originally thought. Thanks! :)

 

(Other comments welcome, too!)

[boscopup]

:lurk5: I'm eyeing this program as well.

[crazyforlatin]

Yikes! Thanks, Stacey, for the reminder. I had forgotten about the sale. I was thinking this program would work well after GSWS and then I could use Twisted Doors.

[daffodil]

Anyone else with thoughts on this program before the sale ends?

[Satori]

I am writing my review now. I'll share a link as soon as it's done.

 

My daughter saw me pull the Homeschool Spanish books out and she's totally BEGGING to do Spanish right now! I might have to stop and do a lesson with her. :)