About the Program

Children are naturally efficient language learners with a great capacity to learn a second language. Risas y Sonrisas taps into this ability, significantly enhancing the learning process through:

• Music
• Creative Visual Aids
• Games
• Practical Conversation
• Variety in Class Presentations
• A Relaxed and Fun-Filled Environment

STEPS

1) Essential pronunciation and reading skills are presented

• Visual representations of the sounds of Spanish vowels and consonants are used to teach basic pronunciation.
• Differences in pronunciation are taught using cognates - words that are similar in English and Spanish,  but pronounced differently.
• These skills are continuously reinforced through posters, cards, songs, games, Q&A, and skits.

2) A Song introduces each vocabulary unit in three different ways:

• CD-ROM - Students can read along and sing slowly, echoing each line.
• Posters and Music CD - Students can follow the song with lyrics or pictures
• Sign and Sing DVD - Students can learn the songs with American Sign Language

3) Games activate vocabulary in the songs

• Primary games introduce the vocabulary, which is then reinforced and reviewed in the secondary games.
• All games are visually stimulating and engaging with tools such as magnetic pictures, color-coded word cards, bingo cards, and matching dominos.
• New exiting Online Games coming soon to make practicing vocabulary skills fun and entertaining.

4) Q&A's and role-playing enhances practical conversation skills

• Students practice frequently used Q&A's and become comfortable speaking in Spanish
• The Q&A's recycle vocabulary from different units, allowing students to implement the words they learned.

5) A skit summarizes each chapter's vocabulary and Q&A's

• Students watch subtitled skits on the DVD, acted by native Spanish speakers.
• The book has skits in Spanish and English for the students to read, rehearse, and act out in class.

6) Students build picture sentences in the present, past and future

• Once students are introduced to verbs and personal pronouns, they can begin to build picture sentences using different tenses.
• Students gain confidence, knowing they can put together sentences from vocabulary learned in class.

7) A cultural point ends each chapter

• Cultural points expose and connect students to the culture of the language they are learning.
• Additional sources are recommended for further enrichment.

The Risas y Sonrisas Spanish Program fully meets ACTFL National Standards and Goals.
Learning a new language requires practice... make it fun!