Foreign Language: Grades 3 and up
Speedy Spanish
Produced by: The Bechtel Family
For More Information or to Order:  www.speedy-spanish.com

As I begin this review, I believe it is important to let you know that I do not know any Spanish!  When I chose to homeschool I knew that someday I was going to need to "teach" my children a foreign language and that we would really be learning this subject together.  Like many moms, I have researched various programs for learning Spanish, so I do know a bit about what is available for homeschoolers.  When I heard about Speedy Spanish on an email loop, I knew I needed to give it a try.  As a Christian, I was interested in a program that would teach my children Spanish, while encouraging them in their spiritual lives as well.

Speedy Spanish is a course designed for upper elementary/middle school, but adaptable for older or younger students.  Created by the Bechtel family, the program includes a course book for each level and easy-to-follow cassette tapes featuring studio-produced recordings.  We were sent Book 1 and the Speedy Spanish cassette tapes for review.  The course begins with a thorough explanation of the philosophy behind Speedy Spanish and clear instructions for using the program.  Each unit is broken down into five sections, designed to last for five days.  We found that we would sometimes spend an extra day or two on a section before moving on.  While some Spanish programs teach grammar along with introducing the language, the author of Speedy Spanish believes that, just as children learn to speak English and then study grammar, they should also learn to speak Spanish first and then learn grammar when they are older.  Once they know how to speak phrases and sentences fluently (learning what "sounds right"), the grammar will make more sense.

Speedy Spanish I has 30 lessons, each taking one week, for a complete a school year.  There are new vocabulary words introduced each week with a different part of the lesson completed each day.  Each lesson follows the same pattern, so once your student(s) are comfortable with the flow, they can use the program independently.  Students listen and speak with the tapes, rewinding and repeating as necessary.  Depending on the age/ability of your student, you may find yourself listening and repeating to each part of the lesson several times to learn the new words and phrases.  (Dealing with the rewinding is a bit time consuming, as you have to try and figure out where to stop the tape when going back to hear something again.)  In addition to the new vocabulary words, the students also learn several phrases, do a "Match It" exercise and memorize Bible verses.  When they learn the Bible verse, they also learn a phrase from a hymn or chorus to sing and memorize. An important part of each week is review.  This is accomplished with "Quiz -nish" a Bingo-style game.  Throughout the course students are instructed to make a Word Bank, writing vocabulary words on a cards or using those provided in the book.  As with any foreign language, repetition is important - students need to drill the words using the tape and their cards until they know them well.  A review section is provided every 5 lessons to measure each student's progress. In addition to many common phrases and sentences, students learn over 500 vocabulary words making this a thorough introduction to Spanish.  Some parts of the program seem to move a bit fast, mainly the Bible verses; as the student becomes more proficient, they should be able to go back over previous lessons to better learn the verses. I appreciate that students are not required to write in order to use this program (older students are encouraged to add spelling of their vocabulary words to their weekly lessons). For those who have older students, the company offers Speedy Spanish Extra Practice - 30 pages of exercises.  These can be used as pop quizzes or extra work and may be copied to use with multiple students.

The charm of Speedy Spanish is simplicity of design and clear instruction.  Christian parents will appreciate the many Bible words and phrases, useful for equipping their family for sharing with Spanish-speaking friends and others.

Making the Grade: B+
Cost: $47 (Book 1 and set of Cassette Tapes)
Value for Your Homeschool Dollar: 9

In addition to Speedy Spanish 1, we were also sent The Speedy Spanish Primer.

Do you have preschoolers or lower-elementary students ready for a foreign language?  The Speedy Spanish Primer is an easy way to begin teaching basic Spanish words.  The Primer is a thick, spiral-bound book with over 300 pages.  A pronunciation tape is provided to cover the many vocabulary words that are introduced.  Perfect for younger students, the Primer also has simple illustrations for the child to color that go along with the words as they are presented in English and Spanish.  Some of the topics covered are colors, numbers, seasons, home, school, church, animals, people, body, foods, things, places and opposites.  The Speedy Spanish Primer lays a good foundation, preparing the way for more advanced vocabulary as presented in Speedy Spanish Book 1.

Cost: $19
Review provided by Cindy Prechtel, Editor