BJU Spanish or SOS Spanish

[Grace]

Can anyone compare these 2 options for high school Spanish? I have heard great things about both. Is the main difference just the presentation, i.e. video vs. computer-based? Is the material comparable?

 

I see BJU has I, II, and III, but I have also read SOS I and II can be 3 credits if you add reading a book in Spanish and doing some writing.

 

Does anyone have thoughts or experience they can share?

Would either of these programs work with a bright 8th grader with minimal Spanish experience?

 

How did you decide which program to use?

 

Thanks in advance.

[teachmom3]

Hi, Grace--

 

I'm afraid that I will be able to address only a couple of your questions.

 

I did not even consider SOS Spanish, because of the poor experience I had with SOS World History. I tried SOS History myself first before assigning it to my children, and was so disenchanted with it that I didn't even try using it with my children.The SOS software (at least at that time, which was several years ago) was so inflexible that I felt no inclination to try any other SOS product. However, there are other parents on this board who have recommended SOS Spanish; perhaps the Spanish software is different from the history software I bought. I would do a search for SOS Spanish to see if you can find any of the relevant threads.

 

I have used BJUP Spanish 1 and 2 with three children at three different times. It is a rigorous (although Year 1 starts rather slowly), complete program. The main downside is that it is not intended for self-education. It was designed assuming that there would be someone available who had some experience with Spanish to help the student. I could have taught BJUP Spanish 1 and half of BJUP Spanish 2 with one year of college Spanish recently under my belt, but didn't need to, as our homeschool group hired a Spanish tutor.

 

If you had a Spanish-capable person available, I think a bright 8th grader could take BJUP Spanish 1. My ds with autism took it in 9th grade and got an A without much difficulty. (Having done Latin with him earlier definitely helped!)

 

JMHO, but HTH!

[Grace]

That was helpful. I have no experience with BJU on DVD or SOS.

I was hoping the DVD would be helpful since I do not know spanish. I didn't realize you need the DVD and a tutor.

 

Has anyone used BJU DVD spanish without a spanish-speaking tutor?

[Grace]

Sorry about bumping my own thread.

 

Has anyone used BJU Spanish DVD's without a spanish tutor?

 

If you used BJU DVD or SOS... What made you decide to go with that one?

[Colleen in NS]

bump, I'm curious, too.

 

You might do an advanced search here for SOS Spanish, with posts by Jean in Wisc. She has posted a lot about it.

[TXSusan]

Grace,

 

We are using BJU Spanish 2 this year, and used Spanish 1 last year. My sons (11th grade & 9th grade) are the students, and I am doing all the work alongside them. You do not need a tutor if you use the DVDs. I think the person who suggested using a tutor must not have used the DVDs.

 

I have been pleased with both classes. The interaction with students from Christian schools can lead to dead air or foolish questions, but some of the questions lead to helpful answers. We answer along with the students, to practice our Spanish.

 

I think it helps your student(s) to have a sibling or parent to take the class, too. This helps by giving them someone to practice with and helps with accountability.

 

One of my sons was an 8th grader when he started, and has been very sucessful. Next year he (and I!) will be taking Spanish 3. We had only done an elementary program several years earlier, before the BJU classes. They start off slowly, and a motivated student won't have any problem keeping up the pace.

 

I hope that this is helpful. I lurk on the boards almost daily, but rarely log in. I only log in to comment on something when it is about something that I have special experience with.

 

Susan

[LynnG in Arizona]

I would heartily recommend doing BJU Spanish with the DVDs. This is the best combo of resources I have seen for actually learning Spanish (both oral and grammar) for the typical homeschooling family. The exception would be if one has access to an excellent Spanish co-op class or tutor . . . but for the majority of us who do not, I think this is a great way to go.

 

We did Spanish I and II this way the previous two years. I would recommend the parent try to stay as involved as time allows, though in a pinch situation it is not absolutely necessary. I would watch the DVDs with my students and we would grade their work together. I would also correct their tests. (I have a reasonably strong background in Spanish, so was able to do this easily . . . but I left the actual teaching to the DVD teachers.)

 

My only complaint at all about the BJU Spanish DVDs is that they do move a bit more slowly than I would like. The Spanish II DVD series finishes maybe 60% of the book, which is unfortunate. But both teachers are excellent in every way.

 

We also used Rosetta Stone about 30 minutes/week for additional oral practice.

 

HTH. :)

[LatinTea]

nt

Edited April 7, 2009 by LatinTea
somehow posted in the wrong thread

[Dawn in MI]

Both of my sons successfully completed 2 years of Spanish at home, working independently with SOS. My knowledge of Spanish is minimal, so it would have helped to have someone else grade their short compositions, poems, etc. But that said, one son continued on with Spanish at public school & his teacher was very impressed with his grasp of Spanish. The school originally wanted him to "re-take" Spanish II for 9th grade, and we consented even though he'd completed both SOS Spanish I & II by the end of his 8th grade year at homeschool. However the school quickly realized he was too advanced and had to bump him up a level. So I think with SOS Spanish, you are actually getting a comprehensive 2 year course. Obviously, if you could arrange some conversation time with Spanish-speaking people, that would be all the better!

 

I have not used BJUP Spanish so I can't compare it to SOS, but it looks like you have gotten quite a bit of input on that already. Just wanted to say that SOS Spanish is a great program & you don't need a class, or even a buddy to do it. My boys worked independently of each other, each his own pace.

 

Hope this helps,

Dawn