FabuLingua: The Best Way for Kids to Learn Spanish at Home
As a homeschool parent, I have been looking for a way to incorporate a foreign language into our homeschool day. I need a great option that is easy to use, even for a complete beginner in a new language. We’ve tried several different online classes and apps, and I’m excited that we discovered FabuLingua. In this post, I’ll share what we’ve learned about the best way for kids to learn Spanish at home, and why we love the FabuLingua app.
I received compensation and a subscription to FabuLingua in exchange for my honest review, but all the opinions in this post are my own.
The Benefits of Language Learning at Home
Learning a foreign language is an important part of education for many students, and homeschoolers are no exception. Whether you choose a romance language like Spanish or French, a Germanic language, or something different entirely, there are a lot of benefits that come from the hard work of learning a new language. And, using a high-quality app like FabuLingua can be a great way to help your child succeed.
Choose the Best Approach
Learning a new language is easier when you follow the science of how your child’s brain learns. This makes learning easier and is the fastest way to help kids develop fluency. Experts tell us that understanding the language as it is used (this is called Comprehensible Input or CI) is the best way to learn a new language.
When kids are learning Spanish through Comprehensible Input, they should be exposed to a lot of Spanish language. They can watch tv shows or Youtube channels in Spanish, or listen to audio lessons from online Spanish classes. The goal is that they will spend a lot of time listening to Spanish, and they will start to understand the language that they are hearing.
Many classrooms do not teach Spanish through CI. Instead, they encourage kids to memorize new words. Unfortunately, this is often not the best thing for young children who are learning a new language, and it can make the process of learning Spanish take much longer.
I love that FabuLingua uses the CI method to teach Spanish. My kids are learning Spanish by understanding, not just memorizing. They think Spanish is a lot of fun and I know they learn a lot more, because they beg to practice. And I love seeing them using Spanish in their daily life!
Kids Can Learn at Their Own Pace
One good thing about homeschooling is that my kids can learn at their speed. This is very helpful when learning a skill like a foreign language because the amount of time needed to learn new words is different for each child.
I know that my kids need to hear and see Spanish regularly to learn it well, so we can include Comprehensible Input as a part of our daily homeschool routine. Since learning Spanish is a priority for us this year, we can include Spanish in our routine every day.
FabuLingua makes this so easy for me as a busy homeschool mom because my kids can use the anytime they want. I love that the app is designed for them to be able to work independently, with very little help needed. Even my kindergartner feels confident to learn with FabuLingua, and it is fun to watch her develop independence as she can learn Spanish “all by herself.”
Learn in a Stress-Free Environment
I love that learning at home means my kids don’t feel worried or stressed about making mistakes in front of other kids. Feeling relaxed helps them learn better, and research shows that this is true with language learning as well. When kids are nervous or anxious, it’s harder for them to learn a new language. This is called the Affective Filter, and it’s actually a common problem when kids learn languages.
FabuLingua makes learning Spanish fun and stress-free. My kids love that they can play and learn at the same time. They regularly ask if they can play FabuLingua (they think it’s a game) and I love that they are begging me to learn instead of the other way around. And, the more they practice, the more their confidence in speaking Spanish grows.
Respect the Silent Period
Whenever the brain learns a new language, it goes through a series of developmental stages. The first stage is called the silent period. This is the stage when the brain is listening to the language, beginning to understand it, and re-wiring itself for speaking.
Babies go through the silent period when learning English, too. This is why your child likely understood a lot of your spoken English for months before they began to speak. And the same process happens when our kids are learning a second language.
The problem is that in school, teachers need to “prove” that kids are learning, and the way to do this is to encourage them to speak the new language. This causes pressure to have kids speak the new language before they are ready to do so.
At home, I can give my kids this time. They can listen to Spanish on FabuLingua as much as they need before they start speaking. This way, they feel more confident when they start speaking Spanish.
Learn more about the science behind FabuLingua here.
The Power of Storytelling
Stories can help a lot when learning a new language. Stories use the foreign language in a fun and interesting way, and storytelling is a great way to make learning a foreign language more engaging for kids.
FabuLingua has many fun and interesting stories in Spanish. My kids love reading these stories and learning new words from them. My daughter loves the animal characters in the stories. She is always excited to see what adventures her favorite characters will go on next. And my son loves that on many of the pages, he can click the screen to interact with the characters and hear the Spanish words for different things in the pictures.
See all the stories included with Fabulingua here.
How to Learn Spanish at Home in 5 Easy Steps
Mastering a foreign language such as Spanish at home might seem like a daunting task at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips that can help.
Make Learning Fun
Learning Spanish, or any language for that matter, can be a lot of fun for kids with the right activities. I love that FabuLingua is designed to make learning Spanish fun for kids. My kids actually beg to play FabuLingua, because to them, the stories and games feel like fun, not learning.
Set up a Routine
Consistency is critical when kids are learning a new skill like a foreign language. As a former teacher, I know that daily routines help my kids know what to expect, help us remember to practice, and help my kids remember what they are learning. Spending just a few minutes each day learning Spanish is one of the best ways to help kids learn the new language faster.
My family has made FabuLingua a part of our daily homeschool routine. This regular exposure to Spanish vocabulary, stories, and interactive games helps my kids learn and remember new Spanish words faster and better.
Make FabuLingua Your Main Learning Hub
My kids and I have tried several different language learning and flashcard apps over the last few years, and I have struggled to find a kid-friendly solution for learning a new language. Many language programs are designed for adults and are later adapted for children, but FabuLingua is different. It was crafted specifically for young language learners.
FabuLingua combines story-based learning with a beautiful mobile game interface. And as a teacher, I love that everything is based on a learning method that’s focused on scientific principles of how kids’ brains learn. It truly is a complete package for language learning, and it’s very different than the boring flashcard apps that kids often dislike.
Get the FabuLingua app for Apple or Android here.
Learn With Them
I took a few years of Spanish in high school, so I have really enjoyed reviewing and learning some Spanish along with my kids. I love that I can encourage my kids to try new things and keep learning when they see me learning too.
Although my kids can learn independently with FabuLingua, I try to check in with them on a regular basis so I can see what they are learning. I love that I am learning Spanish right along with them!
Supplement with Netflix
Netflix can be a great supplement to language learning apps, so that kids have extra chances to hear their new language spoken. I set up a new Netflix profile for my kids to learn in Spanish. I allow my kids to choose the shows they want to watch from within the filters I applied, and they love having extra TV time to practice their Spanish. Octonauts and Gabby’s Dollhouse in Spanish are their favorites right now.
We started with English subtitles, but as their Spanish skills grow, we plan to switch to Spanish subtitles, and eventually to no subtitles at all. We’ve also found that it helps to start with shows they are familiar with, so they will have a basic understanding of the episode.
Why is FabuLingua the Best Way for Kids to Learn Spanish at Home
Let’s talk about FabuLingua, and why it’s such an incredible tool for introducing Spanish to our young learners at home. I’m excited to share our family’s experiences!
Learning Spanish is a Game
One of my favorite things about FabuLingua, and what really sets it apart from other Spanish learning apps, is how much fun it is for my kids. They love visiting new parts of the island, hearing the stories from different characters, and collecting cards along the way.
FabuLingua calls this “invisible learning.” That means that kids are learning Spanish without even noticing it. I love seeing my kids’ Spanish skills grow at they play the games in the FabuLingua app!
Based on Science
As a homeschool parent, I love knowing that FabuLingua is based on scientific research. My kids aren’t just doing boring flashcard drills and memorizing vocabulary lists. Instead, they are listening to the language spoken in context by native speakers. FabuLingua uses the Science of Second Language Acquisition to make learning Spanish both easier and more fun for kids.
Comprehensible Input
FabuLingua’s app is designed to give kids a lot of experience with comprehensible input, so they can listen and understand Spanish language. The Magical Translations feature helps make children’s stories accessible and enjoyable, so that kids can have fun learning Spanish.
Engaging Interactive Stories
I love that FabuLingua uses fun and engaging storytelling to teach Spanish. My kids really enjoy the interactive stories, and they want to keep playing so they can find out what will happen next. The stories also provide a context where kids naturally pick up new Spanish phrases and words. And it’s so enjoyable, they don’t even realize they’re learning!
Designed for Independent Learning
One thing that’s been an absolute lifesaver for me as a busy parent is FabuLingua’s design for independent learning. This has allowed my children to learn Spanish at their own pace, and take ownership of their learning. It also allows me to focus on working one-on-one with their sibling while they are learning Spanish independently, which is important when homeschooling multiple kids or a large family.
Parents Don’t Need to Know Spanish
Although I did study Spanish in high school, it has been a long time since I have practiced the language, and I certainly wasn’t feeling qualified to teach it to my kids. That’s why I’m so glad that FabuLingua doesn’t require parents to know Spanish in order for their kids to learn.
I love that my kids hear only native Spanish pronunciation from native speakers. My kids have also been recording themselves speaking using the CopyCat Imitation Mode. This feature allows them to compare the pronunciation to the native speakers and keep improving over time.
Develops a Full Range of Linguistic Skills
FabuLingua is not just about learning to understand and pronounce Spanish. Kids are also learning about spelling, grammar, and reading while they play. I love that my kids can learn Spanish grammar through playing games, instead of memorizing verb conjugations like I did!
Culturally Authentic
I love that my kids are also learning about Latin American and Spanish cultures when they use FabuLingua. The stories are all written and illustrated by Latin American and Spanish authors and illustrators. I love that my kids are learning about culture while they play!
It’s So Affordable!
Even with all of these great benefits, FabuLingua is still affordable for homeschool families. An annual subscription that includes six students is just $69.99. This makes FabuLingua an excellent resource for any homeschooling family on a budget.
Start Your Free FabuLingua Trial Now!
Ready to dive into this exciting world of language learning? FabuLingua is one of the best ways for kids to learn Spanish at home.
Click here to start your free trial of FabuLingua and get one month free with the coupon code HS4H1MONTHFREE.
