Hi folks,

Prior to our relocation next year, I am trying to investigate ways we can try to learn a bit of Spanish as a family, to help us on arrival.

Us grown ups have done the evening classes and now doing Rosetta Stone, but we want to help our 8 year old.  We know she’s at a stage to learn very quickly, and she is progressing through Rosetta Stone a bit but its not specially motivating for a kid - the images and vocabularly are obviously not child-orientated.  She has started learning a bit of Spanish in school this year, which is great, but they seem to have spent the whole year learning colours and numbers up to 10 which wont get her too far…

We had a brief look at Muzzy, borrowing the french version just to see it, but the impression we got was that it was hugely expensive and, er, not that good?  But we haven’t actually worked with it so I’d love to hear from anyone who’s actually bought/used it, what their kids thought of it?  Or any other products/resources/ideas, for thingst that could help our eldest especially (I am not so concerned about the 3 year old who will doubtless absorb the language like a sponge as soon as we arrive, although we do let her watch a lot of Dora in the meantime!)

It would be great to hear from other families/parents about what has worked for them, either learning together or specially for the kids, so we can help make this move as positive an experience as possible for all the family

Thanks so much in advance!

Mx

I wouldn`t worry too much about your children learning Spanish.

You may make the issue worse.

Children of that age will pick up the language because of the intensity in Spanish school, plus there brains are at the peek time to learn.

The Spanish teachers won`t speak in English or as little as possible to your child, and you`ll be incourageed to speak only Spanish at home, this will then speed up the process.

I`d concerntrate on you and your partner first.

Thats the most important.If you cannot communicate in Spanish at home, your children will suffer, it will take them longer.Most Expat children find it hard if both parents speak english at home.

You may find it useful for your daughter, also for you adults, to watch/read some Spanish children/family books/films, you can get them at Amazon.co.uk, don`t get the ones for learning, she will then get familar with the sounds and speed, but don`t try to teach her yet, leave that to the teachers in Spain.

My daughter suffered spelling in Spain, she was fluent in Spanish conversation, but some how she couldn`t spell in Spanish, she would use English sounds to spell Spanish words, the school sorted it within 6 months, aparantly it is a common problem in Bi Lingual children, as my wife is Spanish she grew up with both languages, but they can`t comprehend everything at the same time.

Since your child is still in school in the UK, you may make the issue worse.