How do I do this?

As a mother, I know super well how easy it is to get overwhelmed and lose sight of what's important.

So today, in our overwhelmed world, I'm going to give you ONE PHRASE in your Spanish journey...

más tarde

It means LATER. Yes, I'll do it... más tarde. (mahs-tahr-deh)

No ahora. (Not now)

Más tarde. (later)

And yes, I'll get better at posting here more regularly. Lots of funny things have been happening around here, in relation to languages. I'll look forward to intending to plan to tell you all about them.

Más tarde.

"Professional Spanish"

I had the pleasure of meeting several car salesman today.

One of them told me, "Yeah, I'm fluent in Spanish, but I can't speak technically. Can you help me with that?"

So, really, this young man has everything! He knows the rules, he knows the sounds, but he lacks the words. Well... that's not too bad. What is language any how? Lots and lots of words.

So, let me help him find a great resource: (Other than a dictionary....that's just TOO overwhelming, and if you know me at all, you know I don't do well with overwhelming stuff! So I break it down for you.)

Here's the break down:

1) Pay Attention to what you say.

2) When you speak to anyone in English, any customer, when you're done, head back to a desk, or a table, and jot down any three sentences you said. (Having a notebook dedicated to this is a good idea)

3) Then, within 24 hours, look it up. Email me, use google translate (and a good dictionary) and see it through. Write down the translation.

4) Practice it. Say the sentences at least three times.

So, that's for the self-sufficient, really motivated, on-the-ball Spanish student.

For others, here are some great books that "break it down" for you:

1) published by Barron's (Authors Navarro and Ramil)

This is a thematic approach and has phrases, and LOTS of vocabulary, as well as an extensive glossary and index. Excellent. (But no mechanics or auto parts in that book, sorry Jeff at Toyota)

2) is another GREAT resource, and DOES Have tons of technical nouns, and pictures to help Jeff learn new words.

To find out HOW to get those words into his brain, I hope he'll shoot me an email.

Crash Course Spanish Seminar July 31

I'm crazy busy. Yet, not as much as I thought I'd be. How's that for confusing?

This Friday and Saturday, we have our local Homeschool Book Fair Expo here in Bryan Texas, and I get to give two workshops, just like I do every year, about foreign language learning. It's always a wonderful experience, and I enjoy it immensely.

We're looking to get a homeschool community center started here, so that's a bigger focus for me than the seminars, but they both are, of course, important. And, my two biggest boys (ages 6 and 8 now) are going to help out in their cub scout uniforms.

Oh, and we're potty training our youngest. She was doing so well. And then today happened. I think we went 0 for 21 tries. Oh well. Que será, será.

But the BIG thing that I'm SUPER excited about is the Spanish Crash Course I'm hosting on July 31st. I'm so excited about that. The course I've taught more than 3 dozen times or more, and I so enjoy it. This will be the first time I really get to do it on my own terms, and really help people to just JUMP OVER the obstacles they feel they have in learning Spanish.

If you're local to Central Texas, you don't want to miss it. I'm asking my own family to come, because I know it'll help them SO much in their desire to learn Spanish.

Happily, it'll be made into a DVD course, so SOON it'll be available for purchase!

Any questions on what will be covered, or what those obstacles might be? Feel free to ask!

Free Flip Flop Jot and Spanish Fun Activity Calendar

Summer Spanish Giveaway!

Head over to the Flip Flop Learning Website, type THL in the subject line of the CONTACT US form, and you'll be entered to win one of 3 Flip Flop Jots, or 1 of 3 Spanish Fun Activity Calendars.

They're the perfect tool for light-hearted Spanish this summer!

The contest runs from now until midnight on May 24th, 2010.

We'll randomly choose 6 emails, and then contact the winners for their addresses. The winners will also be announced in the June e-newlestter from Flip Flop Learning.

Buena Suerte!

Summer time struggles....

Languishing in Languages? - Keep Going!

The summer is quickly coming to an end...How hot it is outside, and how run-down we start feeling. Where did the summer go? We were going to do SO much this season! Not to worry - a languishing reprieve is here for you!

Keep it Short

This week, we'll focus on a few SHORT ways to include your foreign language study without bogging down the family with too many high expectations. Think of little five minute explorations using word you already know.

Today we played CandyLand. As the kids called out their colors for their next turn, I called them out in German. Within a few turns, they were using German only, and any visitors could begin picking it up as well!

Keep it Real

As we were setting the table, we named plates, cups, and napkins in German. Each child got a chance to say their words, and before I knew it, they were counting them out in German, linking two or more words together. 

Keep it Fun

Maybe most importantly, be sure your children are smiling while they practice. If you see frowns or hear sighs, something is wrong. Remember: this is not the time to pile on lots of lessons or practice. Lessons in persistance and endurance can wait until the temperature drops! Just remind them that yes, they DO know Spanish, or German, or French, no matter how little. At one point they knew less, and in another month or few weeks, they will begin to know more. 

How can you get them to smile? Surprise them! My children wanted to color on their legs with markers. I really despise that.  But I DO have washable markers, and a back yard with a sprinkler... so why not? I can take advantage by saying YES, and let them be a little silly, and draw animals on their legs... all while practicing German!

Enjoy these few fleeting months, and keep it short and upbeat before more serious study starts in just a couple of weeks.

Buena Suerte - Good Luck!

conversations with another mom

I had a fellow homeschooling mother ask me a few questions, and she gave me permission to share our conversation with all of you.

Hi, Senora Gose,

I've just purchased your Flip Flop Spanish - Level 1 workbook and I'm
eagerly awaiting its arrival. I'm planning - hoping - to introduce our
children - ages 5 and 3 - to Spanish this summer. I'm a bit intimidated by
the prospect since I'm not fluent in Spanish, though I am latina and have
studied it some in high school. 

In addition to Flip Flop, I've purchased flash cards and have the Eeboo
bingo game and the Beth Manner's Fun With Spanish CD. I also plan to label
with index cards items around the house - fridge, stove, couch - so we can
begin to use Spanish in our daily lives. (My little ones are not independent
readers so the index cards are more of a prompt for me!)I'd like to
supplement my resources with:

1. a DVD. We rarely watch TV but I like the idea of having another tool.
2. a CD. 
3. a game or two in addition to bingo. 

I've been searching through amazon.com and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. If
you have just a moment to offer some suggestions, I would be grateful.

Hola Christina!
Thanks for your vote of confidence - you will find Flip Flop Spanish to be nice and simple for you.
If you check out the website, you can find tons of games for Flash cards that will help you after you make your index cards.

http://www.flipfloplearning.com/flashcard_games/
As far as other CD's, I haven't been impressed with too much - I do like the ones by Ana Lomba, but I think they're a bit to old for yours - my 6 year old just now got into them, and he's been exposed to Spanish his whole life, so I'm not sure if the others are just too young, or I'm the only one that likes it!

The Spanish Champs DVD's and CD's on the shop are also quite good for your 5 year old, but they're more class-type learning, and I think you're looking for something a little more fun, am I right?

Unfortunately, everything out there is pretty.... cheesy, that I've seen. I do like watching a small chapter of a movie they like already in Spanish - just choose Spanish from the DVD menu. This idea and more are listed in the teaching tips:

http://www.flipfloplearning.com/teaching_tips/

You could do Dora the Explorer of course, and Go Diego Go has a bit of Spanish in it as well. - But it's just a few words each time, rather than real good immersion. My kids like Professor Toto, but it drives me CRAZY... the music and animation just is so silly.

Perhaps you can send me a few games or CD's that you were looking at, and I can let you know what I think, if I've reviewed them or not.

I'm afraid I haven't been much help.... You can also look at my weekly article for more information.

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HSBCompanyBlog/Languishing%2Bin%2BLanguages%3F/

The mom asked me about a few more resources, here is my response:

I do like all of Rebecca Emberly's books, although there are some that are obviously mis-translated. I think she may have just used a Spanish dictionary, rather than being bilingual - (check the reviews, and you'll see mine in there most likely.) So it's neat, and for something that you REALLY want to get in their heads, it's great, but I would think flash cards are just as helpful.

I also have some listmania's on the Amazon.com site that'll help you. Look for "Fun with Spanish" or "Spanish for Toddlers"

"This isn't my cat" books in Spanish are neat, or just choose a book they already like in English, and find it in Spanish - Buenas Noches Luna (Good Night Moon) is precious in both languages, and Green Eggs and Ham is a pretty good translation (Huevos Verdes con jamón) but probably are a bit over their head still. Check the library - a lot of times they have books on tape in Spanish.

DVD's are there too - maybe give them a call and get them to pull it for you first. (I know it's hard to go to the library and actually LOOK when you have little ones in tow.)

I had forgotten that Professor Toto was so expensive - I got it from a friend who wanted us to review it for her.

Try the memory game, too, in Spanish.

After you do a few lessons in Flip Flop, try the Spanish Fun Activity calendar - I think you'll see a lot of games will work for you from there, and you don't have to look or think about it.

I am working on Flip Flop Spanish for Families too - and hope that will be out by next Spring (I'm testing the curriculum this summer) so next year they'll be primed and ready for some more fun that way with really specific ideas for you along the way for games and such.

You're doing a great job! Just getting started is a HUGE step!!

Now what?

For the summer, I have a few fun activities planned, and you can adapt them for your own students or family!

Spanish Bingo: I present the students with 20 words that are illustrated in a grid, with the Spanish word beneath each one. They will color and repeat the words, and then cut out the squares (you can use index cards, cut outs from magazines, or stickers, or even The Memory Game, just look up the words beforehand.) On a separate grid or BINGO Cards - we do 4 x 4 so there are only 16 spaces, and no free spot - we place each picture. As the word is called out (in Spanish), the student flips the card over as his "marker." Four in a row wins! Of course, the student must name the items in Spanish to get the prize!

Spanish Activities: Remember, the key to acquiring a second language is motivation. So, keep this summer nice and light - we're making piñatas, maracas, and  other instruments, as we learn some simple words (even one a day!) and phrases to go along with each activity. To reproduce this simplicity, you can use  Spanish Fun Activity Calendar, 
Flip Flop Spanish Flash Cards: Verde (Cards), 
Spanish: Level 3 (Skill Builders (Rainbow Bridge Publishing)) , 
or Let's Learn Spanish Coloring Book (Let's Learn Coloring Books) 

Remember, the key is fun and light! Just using CD's over the summer will also help it all to stay fresh in your head. Have fun this summer with Spanish!