Phonetic Zoo Question

[BinahYeteirah]

I'm considering switching my oldest to Phonetic Zoo for spelling, but I'm having a hard time swallowing the price. It seems very expensive for a bunch of word lists, the zoo rule cards, a few pages of instructions, the lecture DVD, and audio CDs reading the lists.

 

I'm wondering about the content of the audio CDs. Are the CDs really just simple audio tracks of the spelling lists being read? Is there much other content on the CDs? I've heard that the lists are read in two different voices, but, otherwise, is that it? If that's the main attraction of getting the CDs (rather than the economy version without the audio CDs), is there any reason I can't just dictate the lists using my phone or computer to record the audio? Recording my own audio would be fairly quick and painless, much cheaper, and would preserve the independent aspect of the program that so many appreciate.

 

Am I missing out on anything else about the program if I get the economy version?

[plain jane]

I'm considering switching my oldest to Phonetic Zoo for spelling, but I'm having a hard time swallowing the price. It seems very expensive for a bunch of word lists, the zoo rule cards, a few pages of instructions, the lecture DVD, and audio CDs reading the lists.

 

I'm wondering about the content of the audio CDs. Are the CDs really just simple audio tracks of the spelling lists being read? Is there much other content on the CDs? I've heard that the lists are read in two different voices, but, otherwise, is that it? If that's the main attraction of getting the CDs (rather than the economy version without the audio CDs), is there any reason I can't just dictate the lists using my phone or computer to record the audio? Recording my own audio would be fairly quick and painless, much cheaper, and would preserve the independent aspect of the program that so many appreciate.

 

Am I missing out on anything else about the program if I get the economy version?

 

No, you are not missing anything by skipping the audio and doing it yourself. I've done the program for two consecutive years now and am making my own audio for level C. You just read out the rule and start dictating the words. Then there is another track with the spelling of the word. :)

[BinahYeteirah]

Okay, I'm just now getting around to recording my audio tracks. Just to confirm, I read the rules, then dictate the words, right? A separate track has the words spelled out. There aren't any sentences using the spelling words or anything else I need to say, is there?

[Jim]

Yes, there is a sentence example to put the word into context.  The spelling rule is also repeated every third word.  The second track for each card offers the correct spelling.