Rosetta Stone or Power-Glide or something else for Spanish?

[EKS]

I am interested in finding a computer program for Spanish for my 6 yo that he could do independently (for the most part) that would give him a good introduction and develop his ear for the language. I would prefer native speakers.

What are your experiences with language software?

Thanks!

[Beth in Central TX]

I dear friend on this board has recommended Switched on Schoolhouse Spanish. Her daughter used this program, and I believe she tested into Spanish IV in college. That's what I plan to use in high school.

SOS Spanish offers many levels: elementary, secondary, I, and II. http://www.aop.com/sos/Subjects_Electives.php

[strider]

My kids started with it pretty young, too--my 6yo does 3/4 of the program independently.

[nmoira]

My 6yo is doing well with Learnables (http://www.learnables.com) Spanish and is enjoying it. I find that the lessons stick better with me than those in Rosetta Stone. The simple narrative stories make it more interesting and easier to follow. Only two modules of The Learnables are on computer though -- Spanish Level 1 (comprising 1/2 of Level 1 along with Basic Structures) and Level 2 Grammar Enhancement. Presumably, all the listening books are being adapted to CD-ROM. The student needs to be able to read to do Basic Structures.

If you're willing to look at other formats, both my 6yo (then 5) and 3.5yo picked up a surprising amount of Spanish from DVD based Puertas Abiertas (http://www.language-publications.com/home.html). It's unfortunate that Level 2 isn't out yet (Level 1 only gets you halfway through the alphabet), but I highly recommend it anyway.

[Cindyg]

Oh, gag! Not Power Glide! Have you seen the big chart of Spanish options? Click here (http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/spanishcurriculum.htm).

[Shari]

I just finished researching this question myself for the upcoming school year. I had been determined to find a computer based program, too, as I don't know Spanish and am not particularly inclined to learn! LOL

After all my research, though, I settled on The Easy Spanish (by the same author as The Easy French). It is a gentle, CM approach utilizing notebooking and narration. The only drawback is that it is an audio set only and will require me to actually teach it. Workbook pages are in PDF form on a disc you print as you go, so there are no extra books to buy. There are sample lessons at theeasyspanish.com. Younger students take two or three years to do the program.

What I really like is the conversational approach to language, with emphasis on high frequency vocabulary. There's not a lot of grammar and conjugation .. which I'm not wanting at this point.