Spanish Oasis Dictionary/Phrase Book

Written on the premise that the fastest way to learn a language is a solid understanding of grammar, Breaking the Language Barrier (BLB) is a core text, workbook & reference all in a one-on-one conversational format between teacher and student. While other programs focus on listening and speaking alone, BLB has a different approach. You start out with conversation right away, which will bring up questions, but dont worry because all of the grammar will be explained by the end of the book. It is very clear where you need to listen to the CD and what track to go to. You can also just listen to the CDs in your car, or whenever, for more pronunciation & listening practice. You will write in the text and it is not reproducible. Listening to the CD is like having your own Spanish or French teacher sitting with you. When given the chance to write or speak your answers to the exercises, try and do both.

Level 1 (Beginner) is for someone with no prior language experience, but it can take a few tries to get used to the new sounds and spellings. For this reason, you will spend a lot of time on pronunciation in level 1. Also covered in Level 1: maps of French-speaking (francophone) countries, subject pronouns, regular/irregular verbs in the present tense, adjective/noun agreement, plural, prepositions, expressions, d.o./i.o. pronouns, possessive adjectives, past tense, weather, reflexive verbs, imperfect, near future, partitive, choosing between the 2 past tenses, commands, and the future tense.

Level 2 (Intermediate) has quite a bit of English at the beginning and less towards the end. It reviews present tense, francophone maps, past tense of irregular verbs, negatives in past, imperfect, more irregular verbs, conditional tense, relative pronouns, pluperfect and future perfect, imperative, numbers, expressions, subjunctive, present participle, comparatives, superlatives, adverbs, and idiomatic reflexive verbs.

Level 3 (Advanced) has very little English, reviews the maps, the 2 past tenses, pluperfect, imperative, future, future anterior, recent past, conditional, past conditional, negative, comparisons, phrases, expressions, subjunctive, and francophone Africa & islands.

Homeschool Packages include the student book, an answer key booklet, 2 CD audio set, a printed test packet and a small, laminated pocket language guide (perfect for travel & quick reference) for that specific level. For the enthusiastic language student, you can now purchase 3 levels at one time. Levels 1-3 packages include all materials listed under "homeschool packages" for all 3 levels of a single language. We offer the components a la carte as well. Instruction and practice exercises are done in the Student Worktext. The back of each book has additional student resources including a verb tense reference, glossary and index. The Answer Key booklet (loose leaf, in sleeve) has answers to all of the student book exercises. The Audio CDs model new vocabulary by native speakers and include a 6-part adventure series, reminis­cent of old-fashioned radio shows. Each scene is followed by comprehension questions. Printed Test Packets are loose leaf and reproducible. Includes test answers. Teacher Test CDs are printable tests and test answers. You need either the printed tests or the teacher test CD, not both. There are some additional warm-ups and lesson plan ideas at this link: www.tobreak.com

Each course is a year in length and would certainly be a high school credit of work. You must have the homeschool package to get started. Do not try and make this work with just the student book. The grammar is quite in depth, and there is more writing with this course than a computer course. If you have middle school students, they can do level 1 now and save levels 2 and 3 for high school credits. I really liked the friendliness and independent format of this program. A parent can really just administer the tests and check answers with the key, or even have the student grade their own exams and exercises. Parents are not expected to know the language themselves, so no worries there! This is a well-designed program that does not require anything special beyond a CD player. If you have been asked to teach a homeschool co-op, this is a great option as well. Student book is 320 pp, sc. ~ Sara