homeschool Spanish – Little Learner and Mom

We were sent Breaking the Barrier ¡Vamos! for our honest review!

As an Afro-Latino homeschool mom, one of the most important goals I’ve had in our homeschool journey has been ensuring that my son not only learns Spanish but learns it authentically. Over the years, we’ve tried multiple Spanish curriculums, each promising fluency or cultural enrichment, but most have fallen short in one major way: authenticity. Many lacked meaningful cultural context, used outdated or Eurocentric examples, or leaned too heavily on rote memorization without fostering true communication. That changed when we discovered Breaking the Barrier’s new middle school curriculum: ¡Vamos! Beginner “A” Homeschool Package.

Why Vamos Stands Out

¡Vamos! Beginner “A” Homeschool Package is the first book in a two-part middle school Spanish series created by Breaking the Barrier, a well-respected company known for their high school and college-level language materials. This series was designed specifically with younger learners in mind, offering a gentle yet rich introduction to Spanish through a blend of grammar, vocabulary, culture, and conversation practice. The second part of the series is titled ¡En camino!, and together, the two books offer a complete and thoughtful middle school Spanish foundation.

Unlike other programs we’ve tried, ¡Vamos! feels warm, modern, and rooted in real-life language. It’s designed to engage middle schoolers not overwhelm them and the pacing is flexible enough for diverse learning styles and homeschool schedules.

The Curriculum Deep Dive: What You Get

1. The Textbook
The ¡Vamos! textbook is beautifully laid out, full-color, and incredibly user-friendly. Each unit includes:

Clear vocabulary lists
Grammar explanations that are age-appropriate and approachable
Short cultural readings that highlight the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world
Dialogue practice and real-world scenarios to encourage speaking and listening
Fun review activities that reinforce learning without it feeling like busywork

The content is rooted in authentic language use, avoiding the awkward or robotic phrases found in other beginner programs. My son actually laughs while doing his lessons and most importantly, he’s using the Spanish he learns in real conversation.

2. The Online Platform

The companion online platform elevates the program with:

Audio recordings for vocabulary, dialogues, and readings
Native Spanish speakers, ensuring students hear the language as it is truly spoken across various Spanish-speaking countries
Digital exercises to reinforce each unit
Auto-graded quizzes and review sections
Cultural videos and pronunciation guides

The use of native speakers is one of the biggest highlights for us. It gives my son the confidence to recognize and repeat the language with accuracy and natural rhythm, which is essential for meaningful language acquisition.

One of the things I appreciate most about ¡Vamos! is that it is almost 90% immersive. From day one, students are hearing and engaging with Spanish in a way that feels natural and consistent. The majority of the content whether audio, instruction, or response is in Spanish. This level of immersion helps my son think in Spanish, not just translate it. It’s one of the most effective and research-backed ways to build fluency.

3. Flexible Schedule
We will use ¡Vamos! 3-4 days a week over the summer and fall, and my son will meet with his Middle School Spanish co-op class every Thursday in fall, which aligns perfectly with the ¡Vamos! suggested weekly schedule. Each unit is designed to be completed over 1–2 weeks, allowing for flexibility based on your child’s pace or your overall homeschool flow.

Why It Works for Our Homeschool

As a culturally conscious family, we were drawn to ¡Vamos! for its intentional inclusion of diverse voices and regions within the Spanish-speaking world. It doesn’t center just one country or dialect, but instead introduces learners to a broad, respectful view of the language as it’s spoken across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain.

The pacing is perfect for middle schoolers, but ¡Vamos! is also a wonderful starting point for high schoolers who may be new to Spanish or need a gentle, thorough introduction. In fact, Breaking the Barrier notes that this program can be adapted for high school credit when paired with additional enrichment or instructional time.

Who ¡Vamos! Is Ideal For:

Middle school homeschoolers seeking a gentle but rigorous Spanish curriculum
Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, and multicultural families looking for cultural authenticity
High school students new to Spanish who may feel overwhelmed by traditional programs
Families using ESA funding in Georgia (and a growing list of other states)
Co-ops or online classes the format works well for group or individual learning

Final Thoughts

¡Vamos! Beginner “A” Homeschool Package by Breaking the Barrier has filled a much-needed gap in our homeschool. It’s authentic, well-paced, beautifully designed, and culturally respectful. Most importantly, it has helped my son feel connected to his identity and confident in his ability to learn and speak Spanish. I finally feel like we’ve found a program that doesn’t just teach Spanish it celebrates it. If you would like to check a lesson sample click here.

We’re excited to continue with ¡En camino! Beginner “B” Homeschool Package next year, and I wholeheartedly recommend ¡Vamos! to any homeschooling family looking to make Spanish not just a subject but a vibrant, living part of their homeschool experience.

Many homeschool families look to outside resources such as Excelerate Spanish Streaming from Excelerate Spanish to teach a foreign language. As a Spanish speaking family we have always felt it is important that our son learn to speak Spanish. He learned to speak and understand the language but the struggle is learning to write and read the language.

Excelerate Spanish Streaming is exactly what I have been looking for to give us the in class experience. Excelerate Spanish Streaming is a self paced so there is no rush to get lessons completed. You can watch the lessons receptivity if you need and pause and stop to answer questions. Each lesson is about 30-60 mins long and combines 90% immersion learning approach which is something that I feel is the key to learning a language best.

The teacher speaks clearly and she covers proper verb usage and annunciation. Students will learn how to write sentences, grammar and conversations. The teacher also demonstrates lessons using students and props. We used Excelerate Spanish Streaming videos lessons by lining them up to match the Spanish program we have been using. Pairing the streaming videos lessons were perfect because my son was able to interact and be apart of what looks like a traditional Spanish and it was nice that to have someone else doing the teaching beside myself. The language immersion teaching method I really like because I have a bad habit of speaking Spangilsh to my son which can be very confusing when you are trying to teach how to read and write a language. My son also like seeing and hearing the other children in the videos respond and learn along side him.

Excelerate Spanish Streaming can be used by the entire family and I would encourage a parents to learn along side their child if they are wanting to learn a new language as well. The website has helpful resources including games, flashcards and quizzes. Excelerate Spanish Streaming does have a student workbook ($16.95) which I would recommend if you would like to reinforce lessons learned. Excelerate Spanish Streaming is designed so your student will be able to speak Spanish fluently as well as write and read the language.

We received Excelerate Spanish Streaming 1 and 2 streaming video lessons which is a complete year of Spanish lessons at 24 lesson per session. Excelerate Spanish Streaming for levels 1 and 2 streaming cost $249 there is also an option for monthly cost of starting at $14.97. Families will receive unlimited personal support while using the program.

I recommend this program if your family is looking to learn Spanish, the lessons are well done and students will learn to speak Spanish and proper usage. Be sure to chek out the rest of the Crews reviews on Excelerate Spanish Streaming by clicking the banner below.

Until Next Time,