The homeschool-friendly Breaking the Spanish Barrier middle school program takes the original Breaking the Spanish Barrier Level 1 (Beginner) and reorganizes it into two parts: Level 1A: Vamos and Level 1B: En Camino. This option was created for students who prefer a more deliberate, comfortable pace with more review along the way. It can be used at the middle school level or in place of the original high school Level 1 (Beginner) which moves at a quicker pace. Whether you choose levels 1A and 1B or Level 1, completion of these courses will place a student into Level 2 (Intermediate).
If you are unsure which program to choose, here is an overview of each option:
- 1A: Vamos! (Beginner Year 1) begins with greetings and other commonly used words. You then learn the present and past tense (preterit), and move onto pronouns/adjectives, ser/estar, and prepositions/conjunctions, all with frequent review. This is a full-year course and can be used for high school credit.
- 1B: En Camino (Beginner Year 2) reviews grammatical lessons from Vamos! and continues with imperfect tense, adverbs, saber/conocer, progressive, comparisons, commands, por/para, and the immediate future. Like 1A, this is also a full-year course and can be used for high school credit.
- Level 1 (Beginner) is the original level. It starts with an introduction section called the Ten Steps. This provides a time for a student to become familiar with the look and sounds of the language before they begin the actual lessons. In addition to vocabulary, students will learn to use the present tense, preterit, and imperfect verb tenses. The course moves at quicker pace for the student who is enthusiastic about learning Spanish and wants to grow their grammar and vocabulary in a school year. This one-year course is a solid high school credit.
At these beginner levels, students will learn the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing, with a healthy dose of culture and fun in every lesson! Online access provides cultural videos, grammar exercises, and interactive vocabulary flashcards. The narrative teaching style feels comfortable and engaging. Students will use their own Student Edition workbook and Online Access for every lesson, and a parent will want the Answer Key. The course can be done independently using the 4-day lesson planning guide in the Homeschool Package. Students are required to have a consumable worktext and answer key, plus access to online instruction and resources.
Components:
- Student Edition with Online Access is now a full-color consumable workbook. Each student needs their own. This book automatically comes with your 12 months of online access. Also new are useful QR codes for a student to access pronunciation help from anywhere!
- Online Access includes 12 months of cultural videos, grammar exercises, and interactive vocabulary flashcards. This code is renewable 30 days from the end of your access for a reasonable fee.
- Answer Key shows reduced student edition pages (4/pg) with answers filled in. Looseleaf.
- Teacher Edition with Online Access is a full-size student edition with answers filled in. It is much easier to see when you are actively teaching a lesson. This is only available with 12 months of online access.
- Test Program includes all new consumable tests and quizzes just for this edition!
- Oasis is a laminated pocket guide with useful phrases and vocabulary.
- Homeschool Package is required for a high school student working for a full credit. Includes: Student Edition, Online Access 1-year, Test Program, Answer Key Booklet, Oasis Guide, and the Homeschool Pacing Guide, which now includes 1 semester of lesson planning (4 days a week, ~40 minutes a day). ~Sara