Best Software for a Spanish Homeschool Program
Can Computer-Based Homeschooling Programs Teach a Foreign Language?
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 when it comes to using computer software to teach a homeschool language program and two of the most popular options on the market.
Using Computer Software in a Homeschooling Programs for Spanish
The biggest advantage to student-directed software in a homeschool program for Spanish is that parents don’t need to know Spanish to help their child learn a new language. Both Tell Me More and Rosetta Stone allow children to hear Spanish spoken by native speakers. The Spanish children hear when using this software is either on their level or just a bit higher allowing them to progress in the language without feeling confused or threatened.
A good computer program will use interactive software to teach Spanish not as a list of vocabulary but in its whole context. A poorly designed computer program may have nice packaging, but offer little more than an on-screen workbook. Both Rosetta Stone and Tell Me More employ the “Natural Approach to learning a language.” Believing that language is best learned and retained through listening and not through the use of memorization or drills.
Computer-based learning is a wonderful option, but it has its disadvantages too. While these programs are wonderful for visual and audio learners, students who learn best with hands-on lessons tend to get bored of language lessons on the computer screen. Secondly, the substantial cost of these two programs may be a problem for a number of homeschooling families. Finally, computer-based programs lack person-to-person interaction, which is the primary motivator for learning a new language.
Tell Me More as a Homeschool Program for Spaish
Tell Me More Homeschool Edition is published by Auralog. This homeschool program is recommended for students 11 years and older.
The package includes: two DVD-ROM discs with five levels and lessons comparable to a four-year language program, a User's Manual, a Quick Start Guide, a Lesson Study Guide access, headset, and microphone. The cost of Tell Me More Homeschool Edition is $299.99.
Review of Tell Me More as a Homeschool Program
This computer program teaches language through immersion. Students are engaged in conversations with a native speaker. They answer by reading a series of responses, then speaking their choice into the microphone. Tell Me More rates the pronunciation of the student’s response and offers activities to help with accurate pronunciation if necessary. A host of activities and games reinforce each conversation. Tell Me More’s guided option allows the program to select activities based on a student’s individual needs.
Special Features for Tell Me More: Homeschool Edition
Tell Me More Homeschool Edition offers a host of built-in assessments to track a student’s progress and uses speech recognition technology to work with student pronunciation.
Tell Me More offers free, 24-7 online tech support. It also provides students with a 30-minute news broadcast each week in the target language. Vocabulary and grammar exercises are incorporated into the show.
Audio exercises can be exported to MP3 players or downloaded to CDs for convenient listening on the go. Parents can also print activities for students who prefer to work with pencil and paper.
Tell Me More offers a 90-day money-back guarantee on all of its software.
Rosetta Stone as a Homeschool Program for Spanish
This homeschool program is published by Rosetta Stone (2002). The first level of Rosetta Stone’s Homeschool Edition includes an application CD, a language CD, audio companion CDs, headset and microphone, Quick Start Activation Card, a user’s guide, and a parent’s guide to help with lesson planning and tracking student progress. Rosetta Stone Homeschool Edition also includes a Supplemental Education Materials CD offering printable files for table of contents, scripts for each lesson, an index to all words in the program, student workbook including a quiz for each lesson, unit tests, answer key for workbooks and tests. Level one of Rosetta Stone costs $259. Levels one-three are available for $549, and all 5 levels are available for a package cost of $699.
Review of Rosetta Stone as a Homeschool Program
Rosetta Stone is a computer program, which displays four images on the screen. A native speaker describes one of the pictures, which the learner then selects. Rosetta Stone incorporates more vocabulary and structure as the child progresses.
Special Features of Rosetta Stone Homeschool Editionoffers built-in administrative tools to assist parents in lesson planning, tracking progress, and creating reports.
Rosetta Stone’s Homeschool Edition
Rosetta Stone offers lots of support to homeschooling parents. The program provides suggested lesson plans for a four-year homeschool language program. One level of Rosetta Stone is covered in each year of the curriculum. Rosetta Stone also provides audio CDs for convenient on-the-go learning.
Rosetta Stone offers a six-month money-back guarantee on its software.
Both Tell Me More and Rosetta Stone are excellent choices for homeschooling programs to teach Spanish or another language. Tell Me More offers more in the way of culture and pronunciation exercises, while Rosetta Stone starts out on a level which is easier for elementary aged children to follow. Both programs offer great instruction for middle-school students and above.
Parents may want to take advantage of the money-back guarantees to see which of the homeschooling programs suite their children’s learning style best.
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