BJU Press Blog

Spanish

Technology Tools for Learning Spanish

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Spanish ToolFor most kids, it takes a lot more than an hour of lessons five days a week to become proficient in a foreign language. Fluency comes through constant use. If you want your children to be fluent in Spanish, surround them with resources to reach that goal. You can use those resources in addition to their regular Spanish curriculum.

One of the most useful aspects of the current technology boom is its focus on breaking down language barriers. An abundance of free resources is available online and through apps. Try some of these resources to further your child’s foreign language goals.

Language Apps

  • Memrise (app) is a fast-paced vocabulary memorization tool. The app uses a game structure rather than a traditional educational experience. Users set a daily goal of new words and expressions to learn. They will also have the opportunity to start conversations with native speakers of the language they’re learning.
  • Duolingo (app) is less game-like than Memrise. Users memorize new words, match items, translate sentences, and test from level to level.

Both of these apps are excellent ways to solidify vocabulary, especially in the early stages of language learning. In the beginning, most lessons focus on making introductions and identifying common objects. They also have premium or full versions that can greatly expand the user’s language-learning experience. However, these versions aren’t necessary to get the main benefit of the apps: daily interaction with the language.

Other Online Learning Opportunities

  • MyLanguageExchange.com (website) allows members to find language partners from around the world, encouraging them to build fluency through live chat or email. It pairs two people learning each other’s language into groups, and participants spend sessions using both their native language and the language they’re learning. MyLanguageExchange provides lesson plans for chat sessions so that participants may easily get started. Its purpose is introducing language learners to conversational forms of a new language, as well as increasing vocabulary and confidence with the spoken and written word. [Note:  MyLanguageExchange pairs users automatically, so there is no option for choosing who your child is matched with. While interacting with native speakers offers a tremendous benefit for language learning, you and your child should approach all sessions with caution.]
  • Platillos Latinos is a downloadable PDF of a Spanish-English cookbook from the US Department of Health and Human Services. It provides healthy recipes in both languages. Preparing any of these meals with just the Spanish instructions would be an excellent exercise for the more advanced student.
  • busuu (app) presents a more traditional experience, separating learning into lessons in which users match terms and definitions. Users have the opportunity to have their lessons corrected by native speakers who are also learning a new language. They can even correct other users’ lessons. While there are both free and paid versions, the free version does not offer as complete an experience as Duolingo or Memrise.

Printed Learning Opportunities

You may find other (low-tech) resources helpful as well.

  • Spanish-English picture books such as  El Pato Paco: A First Look at Spanish, ¡Buenos Dias, Carlitos!, ¡Buenas Tardes, Carlitos!, and Rosa la Osa from JourneyForth are an excellent way for both early learners and high school students to gain experience in reading Spanish. Since picture books are designed for simple vocabulary introduction, even Spanish-only books would be excellent for a high school student becoming familiar with Spanish. Your local public library likely has a good collection of such children’s books.
  • Basic discipleship and Bible study materials in Spanish can be used with more advanced learners. Fundamentos básicos para el creyente, the updated version of Basics for Believers, is now available in ebook format.
  • A Spanish hymnal is useful for learning Spanish versions of familiar songs, and it can tremendously expand vocabulary and grammatical understanding. Most students will automatically begin to make connections between the familiar English version and the Spanish version of well-known hymns.

Several of these resources involve communicating with native Spanish speakers and interacting with their culture. Using these resources can encourage your child to follow the ultimate goals of the BJU Press Spanish curriculum: to understand the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries and be confident enough in the language to share the gospel in Spanish.

What Benefits Does BJU Press Spanish Offer Homeschool Families?

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Most of us took some time in high school or college to study a foreign language. For me, the only option available in high school was Spanish. So I took my required foreign language courses—all three of them.

By college, my understanding of the Spanish language helped me test out of first semester Spanish. And truth be told, my textbook from second semester was full of tic-tac-toe and other word games. But my final grade proved I already knew that material too.

I’d like to share how the BJU Press secondary Spanish curriculum contributed to my success as a language learner because I know it can give your junior high or high school student a solid foundation in the Spanish language too.

3 Benefits of BJU Press Spanish

The courses focus on developing communication skills, but they don’t neglect the vocabulary and grammar skills that make clear communication possible. By emphasizing clear communication, the curriculum seeks to prepare your son or daughter to share the gospel with Hispanics in their own language. And to do that effectively requires mastery of both the words and the syntax.

Vocabulary

Your teen is introduced to everyday words in groups by focusing on specific contexts, for example family relationships, talking on the phone, or cultural events. The words are seen on paper (usually with an illustration) and heard on the included recordings. Opportunities for students to listen to and model their pronunciation after native Spanish speakers come in the CD sets included with the subject kits. Also included in the back of the student text are reference tables and a glossary. These pages provide additional help for vocabulary words such as the calendar months, numbers, and the gender of a specific word (masculine, feminine, or neuter).

Grammar

A high school student who becomes familiar with the new words and sounds can also begin to understand Spanish grammar. The verbs are covered in depth since they must agree with other parts of speech, especially the nouns and pronouns.

Each lesson in the student text presents key verbs and other parts of speech for your child to learn. Examples of grammar concepts are given in the context of how they should be used. The student activities manual includes more oral and written exercises for your high school student to apply what he or she is learning. And all the correct answers are provided too!

When I began to learn the structure of Spanish, my understanding of English was also strengthened. How everything works together became clearer. Your high school student will probably have a similar experience—and maybe his or her English grade will go up!

Learning clear communication (vocabulary and grammar) allows your high school student to see the structure of the Spanish language and understand it. It also engages your child in critical thinking because the curriculum provides a grid to use in choosing the best part of speech by understanding the proper tense and gender. But there’s also a third unique benefit to BJU Press Spanish curriculum.

Video Lessons

If you have any hesitation about teaching your teen Spanish, it will probably ease your mind to know that someone else is available to teach these lessons. BJU Press offers Spanish video lessons that your high school student can use. Our Distance Learning teachers are fluent Spanish speakers, but they also speak in English so that the student doesn’t become frustrated during the lessons. The video sessions are around thirty minutes in length, and each course lasts a whole school year. Meet Mrs. Kuhlewind, our newest Spanish teacher.

Today it amazes me the words and conversations I can recall and understand when I happen to hear something in this beautiful language. Much of that understanding can be attributed to the thorough education I received using the BJU Press Spanish curriculum. My belief is that it can benefit your high school student the same way it did me.

Passport to Learning Another Language

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One of the keys to helping your children succeed in learning a foreign language is giving them lots of linguistic input that is both understandable and authentic. (If you want to know how important this kind of foundation is, you can read about it here.) BJU Press has developed its elementary Spanish curriculum based on that principle.

Called Pasaporte al español, it’s an introductory Spanish curriculum for grades 1 to 6. The material comes in two sets—Kit A for first through third grade and Kit B for fourth through sixth. Each kit is chock full of tools you can use to whet your child’s appetite for foreign language learning, including a hand puppet, various kinds of visuals, songs and stories on CD, read-aloud books, and much more.

Comprehensible communication

Pasaporte uses a total physical response method to teach grammar and vocabulary. Rather than translating and analyzing sentences, children watch your motions and observe the context to figure out what they are to do. At the beginning stage, the emphasis is on action and movement (standing, sitting, walking, pointing, etc.) rather than on responding verbally.

◊ Fostering openness to another culture

Communication is a cultural act, and language is only one aspect. So this curriculum introduces children to the richness of Hispanic culture through fascinating visuals about various countries, recipes, holiday celebrations, and cultural notes.

◊ Engaging all the senses

The lessons use visual and contextual clues to make the foreign language input comprehensible and compelling. The kid-friendly mascots (one for each grade level) as well as the versatile animal hand puppets (named Choco and Nacho) serve to get children involved in uninhibited communication.

◊ Instilling a biblical worldview

Like all the content we develop at BJU Press, this curriculum has an underlying worldview that is based solidly on Scripture. We know that God wants individuals from every linguistic group included in His kingdom (Revelation 5:9), and communicating with people in their native tongue is an effective way to demonstrate Christian love. That perspective comes through in Pasaporte in the explanations of Bible verses, missionary moments, the lyrics of songs, and the stories.

Extracurricular input

Regardless of what program or curriculum you use, here are some other steps you can take to expose your children to Spanish (or another foreign language) to facilitate their learning.

  • Attend a foreign-language church service. Many churches have Spanish-language congregations or Bible studies. This can be a great way to connect with native speakers.
  • Travel to Spanish-speaking areas. Whether it’s a mission trip or just a vacation, going to a place where Spanish is spoken will give learners’ comprehension a boost. Even a field trip to a local Hispanic grocery store is something to consider.
  • Visit your local library. It likely has a collection of picture books, story books, periodicals, and videos in Spanish.
  • Exercise hospitality. Invite Spanish-speakers into your home, especially families with children the same age as yours. Have a cookout; play games; celebrate a holiday together.
  • Explore the internet. You can access a wide variety of audio, video, and print resources in Spanish, but keep in mind that research shows that interaction with a person rather than a screen will result in more progress in learning the language.

Take a closer look at Pasaporte al español Kit A and Kit B.

¿Hablas español? Misconceptions About Teaching Your Kids Spanish

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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if your kids could learn a second language as they’re growing up? There are some great benefits—especially in today’s increasingly globalized society. When my wife and I began homeschooling our three boys, I had high hopes of teaching them Spanish. After all, I had majored in it and had a graduate degree in language teaching. But in spite of those advantages, it didn’t happen. My plans fizzled out before we even got started—mainly because I didn’t make learning Spanish a priority for the boys but also because I had some misconceptions that got in the way.

If you want to give your kids a good foundation for learning another language, don’t allow the following four misconceptions to keep you from making Spanish part of your homeschooling or to derail your efforts in the early stages.

“If they hear lots of Spanish, they’ll just naturally pick it up.”

It’s true that the best way to bring up fully bilingual children is to immerse them in both languages from the very beginning. Ideally both parents speak the two languages, and the children have plenty of opportunities to interact with a variety of native speakers. But few families have those ideal circumstances.

Work with the resources you have, but remember that unplanned, unstructured exposure to the language probably won’t have much impact. What will help learners of any age is input they can understand about activities or topics they are interested in. (And by all means, if you do know Spanish, speak it to your children often!)

“I should have started sooner.”

Younger kids do very well at picking up pronunciation, but school-age children (and even teenagers) have definite advantages when it comes to other aspects of language learning. For example, they understand better how language works, and they’re more skilled at deducing patterns. So no matter what age your child is, the best time to start teaching him Spanish is now. Thinking that some magic moment of opportunity has already passed may be just an excuse on your part.

“It’s too hard to teach a foreign language.”

While it is more difficult to teach than some skills because language involves a complex set of abilities, making Spanish a part of your homeschool curriculum is likely more doable than you think. It’s essential to have reasonable expectations and to use the most productive approach. Your goal should not be for your child to master a certain number of vocabulary items or verb tenses.

A better initial goal might be to create lots of positive “Spanish-friendly” experiences that can set the stage for later learning. Instead of mind-numbing drills and endless lists to memorize, think in terms of playing with language—having so much fun with Spanish that your child will pick it up almost without realizing it. Of course, on your part it will take discipline and a good bit of work (thinking, planning, arranging, etc.) to make it happen.

 “I can’t teach a language I don’t know.”

This is a big hurdle but not an insurmountable one. Obviously it will be easier and you can do more if you do speak Spanish, but here are some balancing points to keep in mind:

  • You can commit to learning along with your children. Homeschooling parents often have to do this in other subjects they have no expertise in, whether it’s geometry or economics. It’s not easy, and we all have limitations, but for the sake of our children’s education, we tackle these subjects. (Warning: If you take this on, set a realistic goal and be sure you’re willing to stick with it. If you give up before reaching the goal, your student will have little motivation to keep trying.)
  • See yourself not as the teacher (as the expert who provides content) but as a facilitator (one who provides access to content). In language acquisition, the learner’s success largely depends on receiving comprehensible input (i.e., hearing and reading authentic, understandable communication in the target language). This is something you can do without knowing the language.
  • Similarly, an essential part of your facilitator role is to guide the learning by means of an organized, systematic approach. Usually that means using a curriculum that is designed to present things in a logical sequence. It should provide a framework without being rigid and limiting. In a future post, we’ll take a look at one such curriculum.

Perhaps you’ve had more success in teaching your children another language than I did with mine. What has worked for you?

Why Distance Learning Is Perfect for Learning Spanish

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When I was in school, my experience in my foreign-language class was not so great. I didn’t feel like my teacher knew the language well or how to teach it. Even though she did her best, I discovered when I got to college that I was behind the other students in my class. I didn’t enjoy the subject and was frustrated because I had a lot of catching up to do. I want a better foreign-language experience for my kids, and I’m sure you do too. Our Distance Learning courses for Spanish can make that happen.

Spanish Is Important

The United States now has more Spanish speakers than any other nation except Mexico, and the number of Spanish speakers is expected to increase dramatically in the near future. Getting a foundation in Spanish at a young age has never been more important. Learning Spanish can open the door to a new world of employment and ministry opportunities. Consider other benefits of studying a foreign language.

Spanish Can Be Scary

I won’t beat around the bush. Teaching Spanish can be hard, especially if you (like most parents) aren’t fluent in the language. And knowing the right way to say things can be difficult even if you are. This could be one of those times when it’s best to delegate the teaching of a particular subject to an expert. And who has more expertise than a native Spanish speaker who also has a strong teaching background?

Meet Mrs. Kuhlewind

Let me introduce our newest Spanish teacher, Mrs. Aida  Kuhlewind. Originally from Venezuela, where her parents are missionaries, she is a fluent speaker of Spanish and has first-hand experience with Hispanic culture. She’s also an accomplished Christian teacher. Señora Kuhlewind teaches our new Spanish 2 Distance Learning course. When we asked her about the course, she couldn’t stop talking about her goal of getting kids to love using Spanish so much that they want to use it outside of their academic course.

Inviting Mrs. Kuhlewind into your home means your kids will learn not just the language, but also about Spanish-speaking countries, their culture, and history. It’s like taking a field trip right in your living room. Your kids will love the lessons, and you’ll be confident they’ll be ready for advanced Spanish.

Ready to get started? Check out Spanish 1 with Señor Cancino.

Interested in Spanish 2? Check out the video below to see Mrs. Kuhlewind in action.