Review: Spanish by Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids
I really want my kids to be able to speak Spanish competently, since a lot of doors have opened for me, both in business and ministry, because I can speak and translate a basic level of Spanish. Because of this priority, I tend to jump at opportunities to review foreign language programs. Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids kindly sent us their complete Spanish Starter Set 1, and it’s a robust kit!
Our box included:
- DVD with videos for Levels 1-3
- Three Parent-Teacher Guides which sets out a detailed lesson plan, with a suggested viewing schedule and a variety of fun, supplemental and hands on activities to choose from to reinforce the material taught in the videos.
- Flashcards and Card Games for Levels 1 to 3
- Workbooks for Levels 1-3
- Stickers for Levels 1-3
Lots of goodies!!
Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids uses the immersion method of teaching kids. The dvd is full of fun videos showing kids interacting in normal everyday ways, using Spanish. There is no English in the videos, and it’s relatively simple of the kids to figure out what is meant by the Spanish words. Mine had fun discovering what the Spanish words meant in English.
FLK is careful to encourage parents to tell our kids that they won’t understand every word the first time they hear it. Setting this expectation helped them not get frustrated, but to know that it would take time. The discovery process turned into a game that they thoroughly enjoyed!
They also include lots of other activities, to help the kids engage in a tactile manner. After watching the first couple of lessons, the kids dive into using the workbook. It’s a full color workbook with fun matching games, word searches, and fill in the blanks.
This program can be used for a wide range of ages. My younger, not yet reading kiddos enjoyed the videos and the stickers. 🙂 Super D, who is reading well, could enjoy the workbook and the card game.
The teacher guide is VERY helpful! It explains exactly what to do each day you use the program. The teacher guide includes a list of new vocabulary words for each lesson, as well as several activities.
The first lesson takes only 5-15 minutes, depending on how often you watch the first video. We watched it twice, because the kids were really enjoying it.
The second lesson lasts longer – closer to 30-40 minutes. The kids watch the first and second lessons (first 8 minutes), then apply the fun Spanish stickers around the house. Then, they play a game with the flashcards called Duck Duck Goose – FLK Style and finish the lesson with a short geography lesson. This pattern continues, utilizing the videos, workbook, stickers, and various games to engage the kids and promote high retention rates.
The first level includes 10 lessons. Then the kids graduate to the second level, where they are learning higher level vocabulary words like afuera and adentro. The third level continues the vocabulary expansion and leads the kids in conducting conversations in Spanish.
This is a fun program and my kids enjoyed it! You can get started here –> Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids
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