Kids! Spanish
© 1998 Syracuse Language Systems (Vivendi)
Kids won't hear a word of English in this nice introduction to Spanish phrases and vocabulary. They are exposed to over 400 Spanish words as they play with colorful monsters who ask them to pick a certain picture out of a screen, or say a phrase. This isn't a glitzy program, but effective nonetheless in teaching vocabulary. There are dozens of vocabulary games in addition to a record and playback feature to check pronunciation. The games are simple but solid and provide several levels of challenge. Kids first click on a picture to hear the word in Spanish. They then go to another screen where a monster quizzes them on the words they just learned. Children will also find straightforward versions of Bingo and Connect the Dots as well as some humorous videos. On the upside, the program offers a playful introduction to a wide range of Spanish words in categories like Face and Body, Food, Clothing, Family, Occupations, Transportation, Calendar and Time. The repeated exposure to Spanish vocabulary and phrases helps kids build their listening comprehension and memory for the new language. On the downside, the activities are not particularly exciting and there is no record-keeping or end-goal for children to reach. Overall, however, the clear, simple graphics, responsive design and full immersion in Spanish make this a winner. Note: The installation of this program is a bit unusual in that you are asked to install two different versions of QuickTime.
$30, Win 3.1, Win 95, Win 98 (CD-ROM)
Teaches: Spanish