Rock n Learn Spanish is an effective video that helps simplify the process of reinforcing common words and phrases in Spanish. Through music videos, onscreen text reinforcement, and repetition, this 55-minute video takes viewers through the paces, beginning with simple greetings, and moving on to colors, body parts, counting, and much more.
The video begins with actors and actresses speaking common greetings, like "hello" and "What is your name?" repeated in both English and Spanish. Simple words and longer sentences are presented and reinforced through text, song, and dance. The presentation is lively and attention-getting.
A lesson in counting is presented first with individual number translations, and then with number sets. Later in the video, phrases that incorporate numbers, such as "I see 14 women", are offered.
Other categories covered include common words and phrases used when giving directions, telling time, describing family relationships, asking questions, and more. Viewers learn to say such things as "I live in a yellow house", "I have two brown dogs", and "I'm hungry" in Spanish. Vocabulary words also include food, the alphabet, countries, places, and more. Each category is presented well, with individual words taught first, and then used in sentences. For example, parts of the body are named individually and then are presented in sentences that also incorporate action words.
This video is effective largely because the learning is well-paced and the presentation is powerful. Approximately halfway through the tape, the phrases and sentences become more complex. Generally, new words and phrases are taught in an orderly fashion, and then mixed up. At some points, viewers are encouraged to come up with a translation on their own. Keep in mind that the video does not use an immersion approach to teaching Spanish. Rather, it presents English words and their Spanish equivalents side by side.
Because the educational content is quite intensive--plenty of vocabulary is offered in the video's 55 minutes--it is best viewed in shorter sessions rather than all in one sitting. Rock n Learn Spanish is appropriate for children in early elementary and beyond.
