5 comments about Hola Amigos 2.

1. My daughter did not like this video. There appeared to be very little animation, just a series of drawings, like a film strip. She asked me to turn it off after a few minutes. She preferred Professor Parrot.



2. I purchased this DVD for my bright grandchildren, aged 4 and 2 because they seemed to be very attracted to "DORA" and her Spanish pronunciations, often using her simplistic lessons in their everyday vocabulary with ease.
   
   When I sat with them to view "HOLA AMIGOS" for the first time, I realized that it was definitely not for beginners, using complicated sentence structuring and often blurred pronunciations. I had four years of Spanish in school and know that this DVD is definitely not an entry presentation, especially for young children.
   
   The visual seemed to have clear connective attraction which kept their interest but the overly complex sentences lost appeal.
   
   If this DVD was created by someone who did not already have a Spanish accent, it might be more easily assimilated for someone new to the language, English speaking and not of Spanish descent.
   
   I feel this DVD was incorrectly marketed under the guise of entry-level. It is not.



3. I only write this to save well-intentioned people from wasting their money and suffering disappointment. I checked out this series from our local library (big fan of 'try before you buy') and I'm glad I did. Seeing the poor animation and 'teachy' structure of the videos helped me avoid spending my hard-earned money. My daughter, who has a good share of quality Spanish books, CDs, and videos, asked me to turn it off after only a few minutes. The best Spanish products are engaging and and true learning happens as a result of the child being engaged. This was your run of the mill, poor quality, "listen and repeat" format, that tried way too hard to TEACH and not enough to ENTERTAIN. (bored kids aren't learning kids) Please keep searching.



4. My Daughter loves this movie, for that matter she loves all movies. This is a gift I bought for her because I want her to show interest in different languages.



5. I am very pleased with this video. My son is 3 years old and he loves watching it. He already is singing along and saying phrases from it. He knew a little spanish before watching the movie so I think that helped him a little too. The movie is a little slow but very easy to understand. I especially like how it says the word in english then in spanish and shows you how the word is spelled in spanish...very helpful.

No comments about Instructional Version on VHS to Accompany Sol y Viento.

5 comments about Numbers & Shapes in Spanish.

1. We recieved the video as a gift and after the first viewing I thought it moved much too slowly, but my daughter loves it. She was counting to ten in Spanish at 21 mos and we're an English speaking household!



2. As an adult, I found the video slow and rather tedious -- however the kids loved it, and would actually sit still and lap it up. The music is soothing and pleasant (of course) and the content colorful and educational. I found some of the settings cluttered and I would have thought confusing for the children -- but I was wrong, they loved it. I would definitely recommend this and my son has expressed interest in the Spanish version now that he is older. It seems good (and strange) that he can learn the same information in a second language using exactly the same material that he originally learnt from!



3. I am very happy with this tape my son is almost 3 now and he still loves it!! I started him out on this tape along with the ABC's offered by Mozart in Spanish and in English version. My son was 3-4 months old when I purchased the tapes. I would play them over and over. Id start with a Spanish tape then does the English version. At first I was getting discouraged with them due to I thought my son was not picking up any of the in Spanish. He got the English version down. By the time he was a year old. One day hubby and I were having a conversation and there was our son saying his ABC's in Spanish soon after he was saying his numbers and shapes! By the time he was a 1 ½-2 he was saying his letter, numbers and shapes in English and Spanish. There are times my son chooses to play with his toys but as long as he hears it is still learning them. If you decided on these tapes they are a wonderful start. It will take a bit of time and even if they don't seem interested in looking at the letters they will still hear it over and over. I also purchased other Spanish tapes in which I will right reviews on as soon I am done with this review. What a great introduction to the Spanish language. Worth every penny!...



4. This Miracle of Mozart Numbers and Shapes along with the ABC video are among the best videos I have. If you never own other videos, at least own these two plus Leapfrog Letter Factory! I have collected NUMEROUS Number and ABC Videos (foster kids) over the past 20 years and have to say that I prefer these over ALL of the other videos except for the Leapfrog videos (but these are IMO a great start/foundation to use for letter recognition before they see Leapfrog Letter Factory). I began playing the videos for my own child at 9 months mostly because of the wonderful music. Between these Babyscapes videos and the Leapfrog Fridge Phonics toy, my child knew Numbers 1-10, and all of her ABC's AND their sounds at age 17 months. That is not to say that your child will (and it doesn't matter) but just to say that this is QUALITY television! I could have sat her in front of Elmo or Barney at these ages and she would have learned...what? She laughs at her ABC's and loves to say them! I hung ABC flash cards as a wall border in her room with poster putty. She looks at and points to her letters after I put her in bed. Later, from the living room, I can hear her calling out her letters (like counting sheep?)before she falls asleep! So cute! After kids learn all their letters, a great and fun video for learning letter sounds is Leapfrog Letter Factory and Leapfrog Word Factory (phonics!). I don't force early learning on my child; however, some opportunity/exposure is a good thing and I think most kids will show an interest in these videos if they aren't first overly-inoculated with hyper TV monsters like Elmo. How can kids be attentive and calm if their TV role models are bouncing off the walls? Get this video, play it, relax and enjoy. Don't damage your kids by "forcing" early education on your timetable. Give them some opportunity/exposure and have fun with it!



5. I didn't think much of this video when I first received it (very basic)... but my son (20 months) really likes it and all the repetition helps kids learn the numbers and shapes...

5 comments about Hola Amigos 3.

1. My daughter did not like this video. There appeared to be very little animation, just a series of drawings, like a film strip. She asked me to turn it off after a few minutes. She preferred Professor Parrot.



2. I purchased this DVD for my bright grandchildren, aged 4 and 2 because they seemed to be very attracted to "DORA" and her Spanish pronunciations, often using her simplistic lessons in their everyday vocabulary with ease.
   
   When I sat with them to view "HOLA AMIGOS" for the first time, I realized that it was definitely not for beginners, using complicated sentence structuring and often blurred pronunciations. I had four years of Spanish in school and know that this DVD is definitely not an entry presentation, especially for young children.
   
   The visual seemed to have clear connective attraction which kept their interest but the overly complex sentences lost appeal.
   
   If this DVD was created by someone who did not already have a Spanish accent, it might be more easily assimilated for someone new to the language, English speaking and not of Spanish descent.
   
   I feel this DVD was incorrectly marketed under the guise of entry-level. It is not.



3. I only write this to save well-intentioned people from wasting their money and suffering disappointment. I checked out this series from our local library (big fan of 'try before you buy') and I'm glad I did. Seeing the poor animation and 'teachy' structure of the videos helped me avoid spending my hard-earned money. My daughter, who has a good share of quality Spanish books, CDs, and videos, asked me to turn it off after only a few minutes. The best Spanish products are engaging and and true learning happens as a result of the child being engaged. This was your run of the mill, poor quality, "listen and repeat" format, that tried way too hard to TEACH and not enough to ENTERTAIN. (bored kids aren't learning kids) Please keep searching.



4. My Daughter loves this movie, for that matter she loves all movies. This is a gift I bought for her because I want her to show interest in different languages.



5. I am very pleased with this video. My son is 3 years old and he loves watching it. He already is singing along and saying phrases from it. He knew a little spanish before watching the movie so I think that helped him a little too. The movie is a little slow but very easy to understand. I especially like how it says the word in english then in spanish and shows you how the word is spelled in spanish...very helpful.

5 comments about Brainy Baby - Spanish.

1. My two year old and my 7 month like the video. The words are basic and are repeated enough so my two year old is able to follow with no problem. My toddler enjoys the video and I noticed that she is starting to repeat what is said in the video. Also she started using the sentences from the video on actual conversation such as pointing to the clouds and saying "Nubes blancas".



2. I bought this for my 21 month old daughter. She is in a bilingual class once a week with Boca Beth materials but this DVD got better reviews so I bought this one. She likes it but only for about 20 mins and then she asks to watch something else. Her attention span at the class is short too - maybe too much new stuff at once??



3. For those of you who want a bilingual child, starting early is the best way to achieve success. Brainy Baby is a great place to start!



4. Bought this for my 18 month old. He has no interest, would rather watch Plaza Sesamo (sesame street) or the Cantarima series. This is toward older children I assume.



5. I am a hispanic mother married to an american. I am the only source of Spanish in my household and it is very important to me that my baby learns Spanish. My 18 month old baby has been watching this DVD for about a month now. She sits and watches without interruption for most of the DVD. She really likes it and it's bearable for me to watch with her. Some of the words in the Maria tenia un Corderito song are not pronounced correctly. Also, they use the word Creyón (crayon) which does not appear in the dictionary of the Real Academia Española. My baby seems to like this DVD much better than Cantarima's Numeros y Figuras. This DVD's length is much better than Cantarima. I would recommend and give Brainy Baby - Spanish as a gift.

No comments about Just the Facts: Colonization - Spanish Settle.

No comments about First Fun with Spanish (Usborne Video).

1 comments about Standard Deviants TV: Spanish.

1. Parents of my Spanish students are always asking me to recommend tapes and/or videos to help their children. SDTV-Spanish is the very first video I have ever whole-heartedly recommended. Great for students from elementary school through college, SD makes language learning fun. It's fast and witty. A wonderful review for advanced students and teachers!

4 comments about Rock 'N Learn:Spanish.

1. I have this video and my children age 2 and 6 both watch it. I find that it starts out pretty simple with teaching names of body parts, colors and numbers and then gets harder by teaching whole sentences. Everything that is said in English is repeated in Spanish. Ex: If they say, "Let me teach you a trick", they will repeat Déjame enseñarte un truco. I find the latter part of the video helpful only if you already know some Spanish. It is good to have on hand and I find that it keeps the kids' attention with all the dancing and music.



2. Our 4 yr girl and 5 yr son love this video, and so do I. Even our 18 month will watch it. Good visuals, fun music, lively scripting. Starts at a very easy level and builds progressively.

   I speak Spanish for business and have enjoyed watching this with my kids. Its been a useful tool for developing their interest in learning another language.




3. If you're over 18 or if you're buying it for smaller children (say, under 8.) The graphics are really cheesy--think 1970's disco--and the music sounds like every synthesized excercise class you've ever seen on TV. There's very little "Rock" in this video. However, the "Learn" is there, if you can get past the cheddar. The vocabulary is good...basics from numbers to "pass the carrots" and "please be quiet" is covered. This would be a good introduction or review for middle school or high school students. The video is not really geared for younger children and can become boring. My 3 year old will watch it for a while--especially the number portion...but then she (and I) get bored and attention wanders. The graphics are repetitive and the music can be soporific.



4. When I watched this video with my two-year-old daughter I intially thought the video was cheesy and silly. However, my daughter loves it. She dances and sings to the music and asks to watch it almost everyday. The bright colors, dancing, and catchy songs keep her attention while teaching basics such as numbers, letters, seasons, body parts, etc. I would definitely recommend this tape for children six and younger.

5 comments about Hola Amigos: Spanish Made Easy for Children, Volume 1, Grades 4 to 9.

1. My daughter did not like this video. There appeared to be very little animation, just a series of drawings, like a film strip. She asked me to turn it off after a few minutes. She preferred Professor Parrot.



2. I purchased this DVD for my bright grandchildren, aged 4 and 2 because they seemed to be very attracted to "DORA" and her Spanish pronunciations, often using her simplistic lessons in their everyday vocabulary with ease.
   
   When I sat with them to view "HOLA AMIGOS" for the first time, I realized that it was definitely not for beginners, using complicated sentence structuring and often blurred pronunciations. I had four years of Spanish in school and know that this DVD is definitely not an entry presentation, especially for young children.
   
   The visual seemed to have clear connective attraction which kept their interest but the overly complex sentences lost appeal.
   
   If this DVD was created by someone who did not already have a Spanish accent, it might be more easily assimilated for someone new to the language, English speaking and not of Spanish descent.
   
   I feel this DVD was incorrectly marketed under the guise of entry-level. It is not.



3. I only write this to save well-intentioned people from wasting their money and suffering disappointment. I checked out this series from our local library (big fan of 'try before you buy') and I'm glad I did. Seeing the poor animation and 'teachy' structure of the videos helped me avoid spending my hard-earned money. My daughter, who has a good share of quality Spanish books, CDs, and videos, asked me to turn it off after only a few minutes. The best Spanish products are engaging and and true learning happens as a result of the child being engaged. This was your run of the mill, poor quality, "listen and repeat" format, that tried way too hard to TEACH and not enough to ENTERTAIN. (bored kids aren't learning kids) Please keep searching.



4. My Daughter loves this movie, for that matter she loves all movies. This is a gift I bought for her because I want her to show interest in different languages.



5. I am very pleased with this video. My son is 3 years old and he loves watching it. He already is singing along and saying phrases from it. He knew a little spanish before watching the movie so I think that helped him a little too. The movie is a little slow but very easy to understand. I especially like how it says the word in english then in spanish and shows you how the word is spelled in spanish...very helpful.