Review: Flip Flop Learning

Last month we were sent See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish, from Flip Flop Learning, to review.  Flip Flop Spanish is appropriate for ages 3 on all the way up to adult age, and costs $99.95 (it ships for free, which is always a welcome bonus!).

What comes in the kit?  A 2 year Spanish program compromised of 4 audio CDs, a set of paddles for quiz/review purposes, flashcards, and of course - the curriculum manual.

What's to love?

• The schedule!  It's very doable and goes at a nice pace.  One lesson a week, and every 6 weeks is a "break" week to review what you've learned and take it easier.  It only takes 10-15 minutes for a daily session, so it's not hard to get it done.
• Extremely easy to get started with.  Follow the quick step guide which tells you how to start in 5 minutes - put your manual in the binder, open it.  Grab your flash cards and hit play on CD 1!
• The flashcards are organized by color and number (which lesson you see it in).  This makes it easy to find the ones you need.
• You can easily adapt this for different ages.  With younger kids (like mine) just do one lesson a week and stretch it out.  With older kids move at a faster pace and add in a Spanish notebook to focus more on their grammar.
• The program only teaches 160 words over the course of the curriculum.  But this means you really know those words, and you have plenty of practice with using them in sentences.  It also allows time to focus more on the grammar of the language, because you're using small set of words to practice with that you (hopefully) know very well!  The Pareto principle that 80% of the  value comes from 20% of the work may well apply here too - learn the common words, and their sentence structure, first and you're well on your way!
• It's easy for the kids to quiz each other with the paddles and the flash cards.  I can participate if I want to, but I don't have to be there for them to get some practice time in.
• Extra resources are available online.  Like this section of the website, for example, that provides extra tips and ideas on games to play to help learn the words!
• A big focus of the curriculum is actual USE of the words you're learning - the application of them.  Not just a laundry list of cool words in your head that you'll probably forget soon.
• Hand writing = optional.  My children (and I'm sure they're not the only ones) quickly get tired of writing during the day.  Since you can use flash cards to make your sentences the amount of writing required by this program is minimal.
• There is a white board paddle included that you can use to play Spanish Pictionary with your flash cards, and to write answers to questions on - the kids think that's fun!
• The audio tracks for the lessons are split out, so the tracks for one lesson are on 3 different tracks.  This makes it MUCH easier to review just the part of the lesson you might need to.
• If you want to make it all a little more *formal*, you can purchase student workbooks, available for different age ranges, to supplement the program.
• The flash cards are nice and sturdy.  Which means they can handle the abuse they will, inevitably around here, be exposed to.  :)
• Why is it called SEE It and Say It?  The curriculum revolves around the flash cards, which have pictures on one side and the word on the other! 
• Easy and more fun to do as a group!  As opposed to some language programs that are either 1) designed to only be used by one student at a time, or 2) workbook based so you can do them together but you're still, in effect, working alone.

How do we use it?  At lesson time on day 1 you listen to the CD while you follow along in the manual.  At different points in the lesson you flip over/arrange the flash cards being used in that lesson - so you need to have those out and ready.  On day 2 of the lesson you do the same lesson over!  On day 3 some teacher time is involved as the lesson is taught, again, without the CD this time.  Once all the words for the lesson are mastered you can move on to the next level!

There is a fun looking iPhone app that goes along with the program that I haven't checked out yet but I plan to.  It's a flash card app with some nice extras - tons of lists already in the app and more (free) coming when you purchase it, the ability to check or x the words you know, shake to shuffle, and more.  I think my kids will like it.

The verdict on See It and Say It Flip Flop Spanish?  If you're looking for a different and entertaining Spanish program that is easy to use and fun then this should definitely be on your short list to research!  Fun and entertaining do not, however, mean that the program is not substantial and with value.  An easy and non intimidating introduction to Spanish?  Check!  I just wish it came in a whole slew of languages.  :)

If you'd like to see what other members of The Old Schoolhouse's Review crew thought of this product, you can check out their posts here.