How long will it take to go through the program? If you do the program exactly as we have scheduled for you and as we recommend in the teacher’s manual, it will take approximately 30 weeks including the review at the end of the 15 lessons. The review consists of watching two or three lessons per week after you have completed the entire program at the regular pace suggested.
How long does each lesson take to complete? It depends on each individual family, but we suggest watching each lessons (app. 20-28 minutes in length), 3 to 4 times during the week, or until the students can answer the questions easily during the conversation portion of their lessons without much prompting and with the correct accent. The Teacher’s Manual suggests that you watch lesson 1 on Mon., Wed., Fri., and listening to the audio practice CD on the alternate days of Tues. and Thurs. as well as any other time you can (in our automobile, while cooking, playing, just before bedtime, etc.).
How do I know if my child has the right accent and pronunciation? This is simple. Just listen to my pronunciation during the lesson(s) on the video along with the students on the video, and then make sure your child(ren) sound the same. I do offer numerous pronunciation tips throughout the series. They will most likely pick it up without much correction. However, this does take practice!
Are you teaching a Latin American or Castillian accent? The program is taught in Latin American Spanish. While our cultural focus is on Mexico in Level I and then Spain in Level II, and Central America and the Caribbean in Level III, I try to teach a middle of the road accent with proper pronunciation, but without the regional dialects. They will pick those dialects up when they are exposed to them. Their accent and pronunciation will be easily understood wherever they go.
When should I do the cultural arts activities, cooking, and storytelling segments that come at the end of each lesson? Save them for the final time you view the lesson (which is usually Fridays for most families), so as to use it as an incentive to finish the lesson. If you do it the first time you watch the lesson, the children will want to move onto the next lesson right away. Let them watch the DVD instructional segments as many times as you like, especially the stories, just wait to do the cultural arts segments and cooking parts on the last day that you view that particular lesson.
What materials do I need to provide to do the cultural arts activities? Almost nothing. We have included everything you need except for the basic items found around your home such as: glue, colored pencils, tape, etc. The rest of the materials are included in the box. We suggest that you leave it in the box until it is time to be used so that it doesn’t get lost.
What do the workbooks and written materials consist of? There are 2 student workbooks and 2 sets of cultural arts supplies. They should be used as indicated by the Teacher’s Manual. Each lesson has different activities and requirements. NEVER do any written material before the students have watched a particular lesson at least 2 or 3 times. Please stay consistent with the schedule in the Teacher’s Manual.
What will students know and how much will they be able to converse after Level I? This is the most asked question and it is the most important one. They will know vocabulary for all of the topics covered quite proficiently because of La Clase Divertida’s format which allows great proficiency to develop before moving on to new material. They will also be able to converse using basic question and answers pertaining to the material covered. Example: When we are studying the animals, the students will learn the words for the basic domestic animals. They will also learn how to ask and answer questions such as “How many animals do you have?”, “What is your favorite animal?”, “What is your horse‘s name?”, “What color is your cat?”, etc. They will practical conversation skills in every lesson!
What do we do after we finish Level I? Purchase Level II and/or Level III! Just as the lessons in Level 1 progressed from each lesson to the next, each of the Levels in La Clase Divertida build from Level to Level. Once completed and mastered, there is an 18-20 year old Spanish conversation capability that is possible, again, when mastered and applied. Also, please see under Products on LCD's Home Page, the Forms/Certificates section to print out FREE Completion Certificates for your student(s)!
Can I use this in a co-op or classroom situation? Absolutely, it works wonderfully! We have hundreds of co-ops using La Clase with great success all over the country. It is being used in a multitude of different ways. The best way is if each family purchases a full kit to use in their home while getting together periodically with their co-op to practice conversation and do the cultural activities. If five or more families purchase a full kit, each family receives a discount of $15. It also works well with one person buying the kit and each student purchasing an Extra Student Packet which provides all needed materials for a full year of Spanish. Each family must purchase an audio practice CD so the family can practice between co-op meetings. If you have further questions concerning co-ops or a classroom situation please call 386-677-0421, or email us at [email protected] and we will try to help you with your questions.
