We are trying a new software called PowerSpeak for Spanish. Rosetta stone just got too hard too fast without explaining what they were doing and a friend recommended this program to me. I don’t like forking out cash when we’ve already purchased something else (praise God I got Rosetta for CHEAP!), but Spanish just wasn’t happening at this point and it was either change or quit, so…
We plunged into PowerSpeak , and so far my daughter LOVES it! They have fun interactive games to play to re-enforce the vocabulary they’ve learned in each lesson. The lessons are so fun, that a crowd usually gathers to watch.
When you first log-in, you create an Avatar that you get to design, then as you go through the program, you earn money that can later be spent on sprucing up your Avatar.
Once lessons start there are 2 kids who tell stories, the first time is in English and as they repeat the story, they add in more words in Spanish. Each lesson is followed by various games that help to reinforce/practice the words learned thus far. Finally, each week is completed with a quiz to track your progress. You can repeat lessons if necessary, or move ahead to the next session.
The system also keeps track of students progress and each time you log-in you can easily find where you left off.
The Spanish 1 course contains 90 lessons. The lessons are laid out in a five day per week schedule on the calendar. This is because the brain does a much better job of accepting a new language if it is exposed to that language five days out of the week. If your student follows the lesson plan, they will complete the course in 4 ½ monthsHowever, you have access to the course for a full 6 months.
We are just completing our 2nd week of lessons so far, and right now I’m giving it a “Super Thumbs Up!”
very cool!
That sounds fun. I can't wait to hear your review after you've used it for a while.
Sadly, I didn't get Rosetta Stone cheaply. My seventh grade daughter and I really hit a wall where we felt we weren't retaining the information and we weren't understanding verb conjugation well. So, I've slowed down and have added The Easy Spanish. I would be very interested to hear a review of Power Speak once you have been using it for a while – particularly comparing it to Rosetta Stone.Samantha
Love this
Keep us posted. Right now my daughter is watching muzzy, but she loves computer games and this sounds like something she might be interested in.
I'd love to hear another review after you've used it a bit longer also. We bought Switched On Schoolhouse's elementary Spanish and I wasn't overly thrilled with it. My daughter (3rd grade) said, "Mom, I'm not learning anything!"
Hi everyone, I will post a followup review after we've been using it for longer, but so far we're doing really well with it. My daughter is picking it up quite well.
Just saw your post on this program and wanted to know how it went this year. I am looking for a spanish program to use with my 8 and 6 year. We were doing private lessons but the teacher moved away and I want the kids to continue with learning spanish even though I can't speak a second language I want them too. Anyway would love an update
MARTIN: Great idea, we still love it, but I will do an update!
I am wondering if you still will recommend this program. I am trying to create a mini language lab in my school and I am looking for the perfect program to help my students with they immersion on the new language. Did it finally work for your kids?
Hi – how long is each lesson? My 7 yr old goes to public school so this would need to be done in the evenings. Thank you!