Speak Up Saturday–TOS Review–Speekee TV

 

Today I am reviewing Speekee TV, an online video-based Spanish program for kids 2-10 years old. I will be the first to admit that we didn’t get to use this as often as I would have liked since we received it, as I have heard great things about it around the blogosphere. But with the end of summer (vacation!) and the beginning of 1st grade and tot school (yep, I’m leading a co-op of 5 kids under 4), it just got pushed to the middle of the pile instead of the top. That said, though, we have really enjoyed what we did try out!

Here’s what they say about their program:

Speekee TV is designed so that children can learn Spanish in their own time and at their own pace. Available only via the web, Speekee TV is loved by children and their parents around the world.

• 10 episodes of Spanish
• Over 150 minutes of pure Spanish learning
• Learn Spanish from real Spanish children in real Spanish locations
• Features songs, animation and puppets
• Optional subtitles in Spanish and English
• Free activity sheet downloads
• Great fun and extremely effective
• Created by specialist language teachers
• Free optional curriculum
• Songs you can't stop singing

This program includes not only a video series, but also has a weekly FastTrack email lesson plan to help you with other activities and specifics to help “maximize your child’s Spanish learning experience”.

The interface is easy to use and navigate. If you click through the emailed FastTrack, you can get to the web-based version, which has the links to specific video clips within the main video for the week as well as any printable activity sheets that are available.

The thing that I liked most about this program is that Nate (who is 3) and Kahlen (who is almost 6) enjoyed watching the videos together. Nate really liked it that he was included in Kahlen’s schoolwork, and I felt like the videos were simple enough for him and not too babyish for Kahlen.

I enjoyed the pace of the videos as well. I think a lot of the Spanish programs I have tried thus far try to teach too much in a lesson for this age of child. Speekee did not do that, and I am grateful.

The only complaint I have is the time commitment, which is absolutely nothing against Speekee! Learning Spanish isn’t one of my utmost top priorities right now, and with everything else we are trying to cram into our new school year, it has just really fallen behind. I think to truly use Speekee to it’s full potential, you’d have to commit to four 1/2 hour times per week, and I just don’t have that available right now. Again, though, that’s no fault of Speekee TV, and I think that with half that time, you and your children could still benefit from this program, just not to the full extent that it was designed for. It’s easy to use and requires little to no preparation from you!

Subscriptions to Speekee are $7.50 per month or $60 per year, which is incredibly affordable! This includes the FastTrack lesson plans, access to the videos, and access to supporting printables such as worksheets and flashcards. Also, they offer the first two weeks free with no obligation to continue.

~S

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product through The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.