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Though not taught in Mason’s schools, Spanish is the second most common language in the United States and is a common choice for many Americans.

Vocabulary

In the early years, vocabulary is developed through pictures and objects around the student’s environment.  Below are resources you could use for vocabulary.  The key here is to remember that the students are not to see the words.  In some cases, you may need to find a way to cover the words.

• Teach Me…Spanish and More Spanish-this is a GREAT resource for songs, stories, vocabulary and poems!  AND it comes with an audio CD!! Excellent for Form 1 beginners
• In the Town All Year ‘Round-this book is nearly perfect for vocabulary development and picture narration, without any words cluttering the pages
• Picture Flash Cards
• More Picture Flash Cards-these and the flash cards above are great because the pictures are on one side, with the words on the reverse.
• These flash cards have the words with the picture, but there are more of them.  Same with these.
• 1000 First Words in Spanish-this book includes pictures with words and would require covering the words.
• Spanish Audio Flashcards-appears to be a useful tool for all ages, but especially older students starting Spanish

Songs

• Mama Lisa’s World: International Music and Culture
• Here is a YouTube Channel with Spanish nursery songs.  A quick note: the work in the early years is oral and the means of acquiring language is through the ear, so use these for their audio only.
• Songs in Spanish for Children
• Coloreando: Traditional Songs in Spanish for Children

Stories

• The Beelinguapp is a new app that reads aloud stories in a variety of languages along with side by side text of the native and target language!
• The Bible in Spanish–with audio
• Librivox has a variety of Spanish audio books including poetry, the Bible, Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, and the Adventures of Tom Sawyer
• The Spanish Experiment hosts a handful of Spanish nursery audio stories, great for beginners
• Here is a YouTube Channel with stories for beginners.  Note: in the early years, language is acquired through the ear, so you would want to use these for their audio only.
• This is another YouTube channel with Spanish fairy tales.
• The Tales of Mother Goose by Charles Perrault
• Grimm’s Fairytales in audio
• Aesop’s Fables in Spanish
• Aesop’s Fables on Librivox
• Aesop’s Fables in English/Spanish on CD
• Project Gutenberg has a number of Spanish books in print and audio
• A First Spanish Reader by Erwin Roessler and Alred Remy; this is great for a story lesson!  You can find it online for free as well!
• A Progressive Spanish Reader by Carlos Bransby
• An Elementary Spanish Reader by L.A. Loiseaux
• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
• An Elementary Spanish Reader by Earl Stanley Harrison

Poems

• Mama Lisa’s World: International Music and Culture
• Librivox has a Christmas poetry collection with one poem in Spanish
• Uno Dos Tres: My First Spanish Rhymes by Yanitzia Canetti
• ¡Pio Peep! : Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes by Alma Flor Ada
• Arroz con leche: Popular Songs and Rhymes From Latin America by Lulu Delacre

M. Gouin’s Series

• Cherrydale Press published Speaking Spanish with Miss Mason and Francois

Formal Lesson Books

Mason used similar books for lessons in her programmes.  Teachers were required to read the preface to educate themselves and did not use them exhaustively.

• First Course in Spanish by Everett Ward Olmstead-Mason often used books such as this but would not use it exhaustively.  Teachers were required to read the preface.  This book specifically would be for Form 2 and up.
• Progressive Spanish Reader with an Analytical Study of the Spanish Language by Augustin José Morales

CM-Friendly Curricula/Online Programs

• TheULAT.com is a great resource for older students, with its native speakers and dependence on the ear and gestures for learning–it would still need to be supplemented with songs, poems, stories, etc.
• The Learnables-an immersion-based program for older students that begins with listening and speaking before moving on to reading and writing
• Destinos: full immersion TV series from the 1980’s developed to teach the audience Spanish.  Comes with online practice, vocabulary, etc!  For the older student ready to read Spanish.  Very engaging!
• Livelingua.com: online Skype lessons with native speakers
• Spanish and Go: YouTube channel for learning conversation Spanish.  Not course material, but a good base.  Not full immersion.