Disclaimer: I received 20 free lessons of this program in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Regulations.
What has been the MOST challenging subject to find suitable curriculum for my homeschool? Not math. Not science. Not reading or writing or spelling. The subject I’ve had the most difficulty has not been the result of a lack of curriculum available, but because none of what’s available has fit for our needs…until now!
Let me back up a minute and share with you I love Spanish and the reasons I wanted my kids to learn Spanish as their foreign language.
We live in Texas
Spanish speakers account for a third of the population in Texas and I have personally seen how being able to communicate in Spanish is hugely beneficial in connecting with others. When I taught in public school, one of the primary reasons I was able to build a rapport with my students is because I had some basic Spanish speaking skills. I could understand some of what my Spanish-speaking students were saying which made them feel as though I valued their heritage and culture. I was able to communicate with Spanish speaking parents that didn’t always feel comfortable coming to parent-teacher conferences because of the language barrier. There was no greater feeling than to see them relax and listen to their student’s progress in my class in their language. Additionally, some of the auxiliary staff at the school spoke only Spanish and I was able to build a rapport with them when they would come to my classroom.
My oldest daughter discovered personally how beneficial being able to communicate in Spanish was on her first job this summer. She had co-workers who only spoke Spanish and she wanted to connect with them—especially because they were training her as a team member.
The Ability to Speak a Second Language, like Spanish, can Boost Employment Prospects and Enhance Travel Experiences
Having lived abroad, speaking a second language can be beneficial for traveling, working, or living in a foreign country. We never know where life will take us. I never expected to one day live abroad, but having studied Spanish for years in school really helped me to pick up and understand other languages on some rudimentary level. My ability to hold a basic conversation in Spanish helped me when I met someone who didn’t speak English, but had Spanish as their second language as well!
In our increasingly global market, speaking a second language can be helpful in making my kids more marketable! They will be prepared better to compete in a global market where being fluent in a second language may give them an edge over their competition.
My Headache Finding a Suitable Spanish Curriculum
Too Many Parts
I know there are a ton of Spanish curriculums available. Many of the ones I’ve seen involved multiple textbooks, flashcards, videos, worksheets, dictionary, etc. and to be honest, trying to manage all of these parts to the curriculum was overwhelming and laborious for me. My kids and I didn’t want to have to go from one part of the curriculum to another in order to complete each lesson. At times, we were confused about what to do when and in what order and eventually just gave up.
Foreign Language Apps
While there are a number of great apps to practice Spanish, I consider these apps as great supplemental study tools. I felt as though many of these apps provided great practice, but not enough background explanation of grammar, phonics, or sentence formation instruction to consider it a curriculum.
The Need to Speak Spanish with a Live Person
While my kids might have the opportunity to practice speaking Spanish phrases they learn, there is no replacement for speaking with another person where they would have to formulate phrases and think through what they’re saying in real-time. Conversation is, in my opinion, what advances language learners towards fluency and no amount of technology can replace speaking with a person. While I could practice Spanish with them, I have limits because I am not a native speaker and not fluent in Spanish. Plus, there are times where I would want my kids to practice Spanish without having to depend on their super busy, multitasking homeschool mom!
A Wonderful Solution for Learning a Foreign Language (Thank me, later!)
Finally, I’ve discovered a solution to my foreign language curriculum woes that is comprehensive and a peace of mind for me as a homeschool parent! Homeschool Spanish Academy takes ALL of the weight off of my shoulders as a parent desiring her kids to learn Spanish! Here’s some of the highlights of having my kids take Spanish lessons through Homeschool Spanish Academy:
Online Lessons with a Native Speaker
As I mentioned earlier in this post, being able to practice the conversational skills you acquire is extremely important if you desire fluency in a language. I love Homeschool Spanish Academy because my children get to practice with a native speaker who can correct their pronunciation and grammar. As a native speaker they can also carry the conversation in Spanish much further than I could and my kids also practice listening skills that help them with the Spanish accent.
Certified Spanish Teachers
All Homeschool Spanish Academy teachers are certified Spanish teachers. This means that they are skilled as native speakers, but skilled in teaching the language. I noticed this right away for my youngest daughter who had no exposure to Spanish. In her lesson, she was learning the Spanish alphabet and one creative way the teacher helped her to remember the letters and letter sounds was by writing her name and her family members’ names’ on paper and then spelling the names aloud. The technique was simple, but effective in helping her to remember the letters.
Another thing I really appreciated about Homeschool Spanish Academy teachers were how professional and patient they were with my daughters. My youngest daughter’s Spanish level was zero, but her teacher was patient and didn’t mind me assisting her during sessions. My oldest daughter, who is an introvert and shy, even was comfortable speaking with her Spanish teacher.
Homeschool Spanish Academy Curriculum, Assessment, and Course Credit
Homeschool Spanish Academy provides their own curriculum, homework, and assessments (after every 2 lessons) for your children. This means I can schedule my kids for lessons and feel confident that they are progressing in learning Spanish. Homeschool Spanish Academy even provides parent-teacher conferences to discuss your child’s progress! Based on lessons, assessments, and homework at the end of a school year the Homeschool Spanish Academy curriculum is the equivalent of 1 course credit of foreign language. As the mom of a rising senior, I can attest to the peace of mind it is that my daughter can receive course credit for foreign language. My oldest daughter really enjoys the lessons and being able to do assigned homework after she has had time to practice speaking with her online Spanish teacher. This also gives me the freedom as a homeschool parent to focus my attentions on other aspects of homeschooling.
Intuitive Platform and Reasonably Priced Lessons
The Homeschool Spanish Academy is very intuitive and easy to navigate in order to schedule classes, download and upload homework, and access class sessions. My daughter and I had no problem using the platform. Class sessions are held on Google Meet and teachers had engaging curriculum my kids through.
As an online ESL teacher who has classes that range from one to four students per class session, I can testify that having 1:1 class sessions with Homeschool Spanish Academy is a big deal, especially considering what you get for the cost.
Click on the picture below to get started!
