Frequently Asked Questions

Why Flip Flop? We know you have lots of choices when it comes to homeschooling your children. There are hundreds of awesome reasons to choose Flip Flop, but the three main areas to focus on when choosing ANY curriculum are: 

1. Ease - each and every lesson takes less than 20 minutes. Knowing that a lesson is quick (or long) greatly affects the motivation (or lack thereof) to get it done.
2. Learning Style - Flip Flop Spanish has products for each learning style. (More on learning styles down the page.)
3. History - Every lesson published has been tested for more than ten years in Sra. Gose’s classes and with guinea pig families (without Sra. Gose present, so the curriculum could stand on its own.) The age range, homeschool lifestyle, and busy-ness of children all were taken into consideration, and the outcome was: the children learn, retain, and are able to speak Spanish! 

Where do I start? Which product makes you think: this looks easy? Which one gives you a peaceful or excited feeling? Do that one!

 

What about grammar in SiSi?

Just like many parents, I want to know "Why?" when a new concept is taught to my kiddos. Children are just happy to communicate and use their new tool (which is another reason to start young, right!?) But having any doubt about how or why to use the words is a definite obstacle to absorption. So you'll see an "Egg Head" along the way - each time you see him, it's a grammar note for parents. You can then decide if your child would benefit from learning that concept or not.

 

 

After SiSi Level 1, how much Spanish will they know?

After the two year SiSi whole family program, they will have been exposed to about 350-500 Spanish words (depending on how deep they go with their own personal learning dictionaries during the lessons, and the types of activities that are done during the break weeks). They will be familiar with the present tense, and a litany of other grammar topics. High School Spanish Level 1 introduces 1000 words, present and preterit tense, and the grammar topics are also about doubled. So, your child will have been exposed to about HALF of what a Spanish High School Level 1 student will be exposed to. When they get to 9th grade or so, I still recommend that they begin "at the beginning" of Spanish Level 1. Their knowledge and depth and ability to speak SOARS as they ZOOM through the first dozen lessons (a whole semester) and feel WONDERFUL that, "I already know more than half of these words, and I can understand EVERYTHING I'm reading and hearing! WOW!"

That confidence is what causes their high school scholar-level learning to become truly useful as they move forward on their path to becoming bilingual.

 

 

Can I Use See it and Say it for Co-op? Sure!  We are working on getting you a set of supplemental worksheets that Sra. Gose has used. Check out THIS page for the eBook printable options coming soon for supplemental worksheets to hand out to your classes and co-op groups.

 

What about other Spanish Programs? While doing marketing research, we put together a chart of comparison...and figured you would like the same info in one handy place. We don’t expect that Flip Flop will work for everyone. But we hope so!

If I could only buy one thing, which should I choose?

• If cost is an issue, begin with a set of flashcards.
• If you are not a self-starter, and you’ve looked at the learning styles of your children, choose a workbook.
• If you dislike “structure” or the step-by-step nature of workbooks, the Spanish Fun Activity Calendar is best. One word a day!
• If you're an adult or beginning high school choose Spanish Geniuses.
• If you want to teach the whole family at once purchase See It and Say It.

How do I use it? The “How-To” page in each product is helpful. The product page also gives you more info. And we’re always here to answer questions on the Flip Flop Spanish Facebook page or via email or phone.

 

This is all kind of overwhelming.  How do you stay motivated to stick with a program? When you see progress, it’s motivating! When you have fun, it’s motivating! And, with the See it and Say it System, we even have built in “breaks.” Little chunks of accomplishment keep you going, and knowing that the next lesson will only be 10 to 15 minutes (in any of our products) helps the student and parent continue. Beyond that, every product is relational. You CAN’T do it alone - not effectively. So, your children look forward to Spanish because it is guaranteed one-on-one (or all children-on-one) time with you! No screens, no DVD’s, nothing to keep your attention away from your child. THAT is motivating.

 

What made you choose Spanish – or German – to learn as a family? Location. Because we live in Texas, the most easily practiced second language is Spanish. Spanish is also the second most common language spoken in all of the US, and 43 countries speak Spanish. German, for our third language choice, is because our family ancestry is of German descent, and my husband studied it in college, so the motivation to eat German food, go to Germany, and to please Daddy is high in the children.

 

How do you get your spouse and children on board for language learning? Most of them are excited already. But when you look at the sidebar on the right, usually one of those motivators resonates with the family members. Having a “code” of any kind is exciting for most ages, and as long as the lessons are kept chunky and light, and the sentences used to speak to them are able to be understood, confidence and momentum builds, with Flip Flop. However; boring grammar drill, or impossible to master lists of vocabulary are difficult to get excited about.

 

What do you think about Rosetta Stone? I actually have a whole blog post about this topic! Check it out!

 

Do you carry other languages besides Spanish?  We do have French as a PDF+MP3 download for the early learners, but the only current products for sale are Spanish.  Our philosophy is "when you divide your attention, both things suffer"; I'm a Spanish teacher...that is my first, best purpose.  Spanish is my focus because it's the second most spoken language in the United States. 

 

Learning Styles? What’s that? There are generally three accepted learning styles:

1. Visual (most people)
2. Audial (minority)
3. Tactile/Kinesthetic (pretty much everyone diagnosed with ADD/ADHD.)

To learn about your learning style, and how to achieve success in EVERY subject, The Key to Learning Anything will answer all your questions. Knowing YOUR style is very important as well. I have a free video seminar to help you more. Check it out!

How much time should I schedule each week for language study? The truth is ANY time studying is better than no studying. So five minutes a week is actually beneficial in a teensy way. However, for true progress toward fluency, the minimum would be three times per week, 20 minutes or so per sitting. Daily study, of course, is best.

 

 

ORDERING/SHOPPING FAQs:

Shipping: Our distributor ships twice a week. You'll sometimes receive a tracking number 24-48 hours before it goes to the post office. Thank you for your patience as we always strive to keep shipping costs low (and free!) for our customers!

Flip Flop Spanish Return Policy: If you receive an order by mistake, simply return it for a full purchase price, less the shipping costs (if in new condition.) Cost will be refunded upon receipt of goods back to the distributor in Central Texas. Unfortunately, we cannot refund money on any used items or opened flashcards.

Damaged items: If any items are received in a damaged condition, please contact us via sales@flipfloplearning.com within 3 days of receipt, and send a picture of the damaged items. We will do our best to be sure your products are replaced in a timely manner. Sometimes you may be asked to return those items, and your shipping costs will be reimbursed.

Electronic items: If you mistakenly order an electronic item, and do not download it, we are happy to refund your money.

Missing items: We have discontinued the use of audio CDs. We are updating the website now to make the audio for workbook purchases easily available via download. Thank you for your patience.

   If any other items are missing, please contact us via sales@flipfloplearning.com for a quick replacement, or a download code for your ebook and MP3s.

 

 

 

Coming FAQs:

Where can I research studies about the benefits of language learning (references)?

What are some study strategies that have worked with you?

Any tips for working Moms who want to help teach their children a language?

What is your best advice about teaching and learning language?

Which product fits me best?

What about immersion?

How often do I have to do it?

When will my child be able to translate?

What about an authentic accent?

More Questions? Send an e-mail to Señora Gose. She loves this stuff!