Which resources are most useful?

[Barbara]

We have seen Rigolo, Espresso, Early Start and Chatter Chatter. We are about to start Spanish in our junior school but would love to know which you think is the most value for money!

[Jog On]

Well, as I have planned the first unit for each year group, I have planned for 1/2 hour slots and then given suggestions for the other 1/2 hour (not all at once!!!). We have been teaching MFL for a while now, so it's just changing things around a little bit!

If you're just starting out with MFL, definitely would consider doing small slots and building up...although some of the resources make it really easy to get the first half an hour done and the hard(er) work comes in the consolidation throughout the week (IMO).

[Jan Lewandowski]

La Jolie Ronde does a Spanish scheme - I think people forget it is there because of the French name. It isn't the same as Rigolo though. LCP do a Spanish resource file but I think it is likely to be too hard going for the non-specialist.
For publishers it is a simple case of economics at the moment; if only 10% of schools are offering it, they won;t have a big market just yet. Will keep my eyes open for anything new or in the pipeline.
Anybody else found anything good?

Jan

[Barbara]

Thanks! I shall find La Jolie Ronde. I was hoping to get do a mix of Early Start, Espresso and A&C Black photocopiables for the time being!

[Jan Lewandowski]

What about BBC Primary Spanish? At least it is free!

[mmichels]

Check out:

www.aimlanguagelearning.com/ijovenes-en-accion.htm

which is being trialled across Canada and the US right now. Having seen the results this methodology produces in French and ESL/EFL, I can thoroughly recommend it. This material is targeted exactly at the level of students you describe.

Check out the "workshops" page also for details on a workshop in England in July to introduce the methodology in England. Whilst the Colchester day will likely concentrate on French, the methodology is the exact same for Spanish or ESF/EFL or French.

[Jan Lewandowski]

What do` hispanists' think of La Jolie Ronde Spanish SOW? Don't you just love being called hispanists- sounds like a secret society; which in a way it is, in comparison with the relentless tide of French! Only joking, there's room for every language.

[Barbara]

Thanks for all your replies.... it really hs been a great help. Unfortunately off to the summer fete now.........grrrrr!!! work on a Saturday.