Best Spanish Homeschooling Programs on Video/DVD
Can Movie Courses Teach a Foreign Language Homeschool Program?
Jun 22, 2009
Foreign Language homeschooling programs can take the form of language learning DVDs and movies, computer software, workbooks and audio CDs, or online homeschooling courses. Each homeschool program has its pros and cons. When choosing a curriculum, parents will want to take into account their own knowledge of the language, their children’s learning style, age, and the cost of each of the homeschooling programs. Here are the basics of using movies to teach a homeschool language program and two of the most popular options on the market.
Using Movies and DVDs in Spanish Homeschooling Programs
Homeschooling parents of elementary students often choose to introduce their children to a new language through educational movies. A big advantage to video-based learning is that parents don’t need to be fluent to emplement the homeschool program. Videos and DVDs also have the advantage of being able to offer engaging storylines and characters.
Well-designed video-based language courses will present the language holistically and on a level that can be understood by beginners. If children don’t understand what they’re hearing, they’ll tune it out within a matter of seconds. Since the programs don’t easily allow students to ask for clarification, parents wil need to be on hand to stop the movie and reword or explain when a student is struggling.
Unfortunately, the cost of video-based language homeschooling programs is prohibitive for many homeschooling families. A solution to this may be purchasing the movies to share cooperatively.
Finally, unlike learning a language through natural conversation or a computer based homeschool program, DVDs and videos aren’t able to provide ample opportunities for student participation. They can offer excellent exposure to a language, but are best when supplemented with games or activities based on the leson.
Muzzy as a Homeschool Program for Spanish
Muzzy is published by EARLY ADVANTAGE (1989). Level one of the program includes two story DVDs or videos with 66 scenes, two vocabulary builder DVDs or videos, one English version DVD or video, two audiocassettes or 1 audio CD with the complete MUZZY stories and 11 songs, one exploratory CD-ROM, a multilingual script book, a curriculum binder containing 575-pages of lesson plans, cultural enrichments, reproducible activities, and assessments. The cost of Muzzy comes to $385 for level one. Muzzy offers a trial period and money-back garentee.
Review of Muzzy as a Homeschool Program
The stories in the Muzzy series are completely in the target language. Words and concepts are introduced then used over and over again to provide opportunities for review. Muzzy also incorporates songs into each story and compiles these on CDs for on-the-go learning.
Muzzy’s stories may be challenging for children to understand without assistance. Also, a few reviews express concern that the diologue is hard to make out at times. Parents will want to be involved in the lesson and learn along with their child to help out when necessary.
Muzzy contains an abundance of materials and resources for a homeschool parent. The curriculum is complete with activities designed for many learning styles.
Salsaas a Homeschool Program for Spanish
Salsa is produced by Georgia Public Broadcasting. The program includes 15 DVDs containing 45 twenty minute episodes. Salsa’s cost is $1190.00, but the episodes can be viewed online at GPTV for free.
Review of Salsa as a Homeschool Program
The episodes of Salsa are completely in Spanish, but children can understand most of what is said. This is because vocabulary and sentences are kept simple and the episodes are based on popular fairytales.
Salsa’s diologue and characters are highly engaging, and the story is broken up into several segmants intersperced with interactive vocab practice. While the series is very well done, some children may find the puppets old fashioned compared with today’s computer animated characters.
Salsa’s website provides an activity parents can use to accompany each episode in homeschooling programs. These activities are designed to be conducted primarily in English or with students repeating one or two Spanish vocabulary words.
Educational movies are a great way to introduce young students to a new language in homeschooling programs. Salsa and Muzzi are definitely two options parents will want to consider when it comes to choosing their Spanish homeschool program.
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