The Best Spanish Curriculum for Homeschool
The Best Spanish Curriculum for Homeschool
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As a homeschool parent, one of my concerns for our homeschool curriculum was how to teach my children a foreign language.
Since I learned the Spanish language as a child, naturally I was looking for Spanish courses for my children as well.
After searching many programs, I decided to try Homeschool Spanish Academy as our main Spanish homeschool curriculum.
I was provided with six months of lessons however all views are my own.
Keep reading to learn how to get your free lessons!
About Homeschool Spanish Academy:
Homeschool Spanish Academy is a company based in Guatemala that provides a unique way for language learning that goes beyond video lessons and audio CDs.
Homeschool Spanish Academy has actual Spanish speakers who help teach children with live video classes.
I like that my young children are learning a new language with actual native speakers and can hear the correct pronunciation of words.
Getting Started:
First, HSA sends a welcome email for the parent portal where you will log in to and schedule your classes.
The classes are purchased in a block of sessions that are good for one year.
Next, choose the teacher for the class.
When choosing the teacher, you can actually see the picture of the teacher, read their bio, and their level of English.
I actually chose teachers with a lower level of English fluency so that the teacher could speak to my children mostly in Spanish instead of reverting to English.
My children were still able to understand the teacher in all of the levels of English, and they had multiple teachers.
Last, your children attend a live class and improve their language skills immediately.
Who is Homeschool Spanish Academy for?
Homeschool Spanish Academy has classes for preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, and even adult students!
Early Language (ages 5-12)
Middle School (12-15)
Adult
Middle and High School students are also able to earn foreign language credit for their high school transcripts.
Many popular homeschool charter schools and online schools are associated with Homeschool Spanish Academy, so check to see if your school offers credit as well.
Class Format:
There are multiple options to choose from when signing up for Homeschool Spanish Academy.
My 5th and 7th grader were in a paired class with one teacher for a 30-minute session.
When you go to the main page, you can choose between individual and paired lessons.
Each class includes a review session, then introduction of new concepts, and last your child will be able to practice what they just learned with the teacher.
Scheduling Classes:
In order to schedule your Spanish lessons, you first choose a teacher and time period.
You can choose to schedule one class at a time or schedule all of your classes at once.
I chose to schedule one class at a time so that way my children could work with multiple teachers to find one they connected to.
There are two different session lengths to sign up for: 30 minutes and 50 minutes.
Homework:
At the first class meeting, the teacher asked if I would like my children to receive homework.
I thought the Spanish homework would be a good addition to our homeschool program and for them to improve their Spanish learning.
The homework is a worksheet that you download and print, then you upload it so the teacher can correct it and review it in the next session.
The worksheets are also editable pdfs, so you can have your child complete it online and then save it and upload it as well.
Pros:
Lesson Plans
Homeschool Spanish Academy gives the homeschool mom a break by planning the language lessons for you.
All you need is an internet connection, and your child can learn Spanish in a fun way.
Spanish lessons with native speakers
When you log in you can see pictures of the teachers as well as their level of English proficiency.
Flexibility
I like the flexibility of scheduling and rescheduling the classes online. We had a family emergency, and it was very easy to change our class time for another date.
You also have 1 year to book your lessons.
Easy Payment Options
Homeschool Spanish Academy offers easy payment options to fund your Spanish classes.
Complete Curriculum
Older children and younger children will love to learn Spanish with the complete curriculum offered by Homeschool Spanish Academy.
You can download a free syllabus before signing up to see the lessons and subjects that will be covered.
Inside the Parent Portal:
Syllabus
You can access the entire syllabus, with the lessons, quizzes, and exams your student will take.
There is also a download button to either download the lesson pdf to practice before the lesson or review after the lesson.
Cons:
One con of the program is that it is hard to get a consistent teacher. Since you can schedule all of your lessons at once, it may be difficult to book a certain teacher to meet your personal schedule.
Since my children's schedule change weekly due to their extracurricular activities, we had to have different teachers in the Spanish program.
This can also be a pro since your child has the ability to learn a second language from multiple speakers.
My Children's Reactions:
4th Grader:
"My favorite thing about Homeschool Spanish Academy is talking to my teacher. I feel like I really learned a lot of new words in each class."
7th Grader:
"I like how my Spanish skills have improved with each class session. Even though we are learning at our own pace, the teachers make the learning process fun and engaging."
Additional Material:
Of course, to improve and increase language retention, it is important for your child to keep practicing their Spanish.
Flash cards, online videos, and even reading short stories in Spanish can help to improve listening and speaking comprehension.
When you log into the portal, you can also see your child's progress on their quizzes and tests as well.
Videos:
Homeschool Spanish Academy has a YouTube channel with short informational videos to help children learn Spanish.
My children liked learning new topics in Spanish and enjoyed the content.
Even my younger children who aren't enrolled enjoyed watching and learning new words in Spanish.
Things to Keep in Mind:
I like that there is little parental involvement and HSA has an effective way of teaching children Spanish.
As a homeschooling mom, I am responsible for all of the other subjects, so it is nice to have one thing off my plate.
Conclusion:
Overall, my children and I really like Homeschool Spanish Academy.
I enjoy being able to schedule authentic Spanish lessons with just a click of a button, and the flexibility for my children to learn at their own pace and needs.