Incorporating the Gouin Series in Spanish
You can substitute any foreign language into the title of this article and reap the benefits. However knowing the language itself will make the series much easier to do. If you are not fluent yourself, there is no time like the present. Learn right alongside your children.
In the article, “Review of Rosetta Stone,” I talked about how Charlotte Mason relied on the findings of Francois Gouin when creating her own foreign language teaching theory. Mr. Gouin was a big believer in making series. All this means is that you would teach the language while doing something practical.
I chose to make a sandwich. So, I put together a string of commands and sentences describing how to make a sandwich. I taught them to my kids while showing them through a demonstration, not simply translating. Then, I had them repeat the sentences. Next they received their own sandwich making supplies and repeated the sentences after me while building their sandwich. After much practice throughout the week of sandwich making, they were eventually ready to “perform” the series on their own.
The next step once they know the series well is to change the verb tense. The main vocabulary stays the same, but the verb changes. I always begin teaching the formal you or the Usted form. I do not introduce the informal you or the Tu form. In Texas, parents train their children to be polite. We say “yes ma’am” and “no sir” when speaking to adults, I still do to older people. Therefore, I wanted to teach my children to be polite in Spanish. I consider it to be rude if you only addressed people in the familiar form.
Saying that, I begin the series with the formal commands. In English the verb stays the same regardless, but not in Spanish. So in our language it would be something like:
Take out two pieces of bread. Spread mayonnaise on both slices. Add cheese, turkey, lettuce, and tomato to one
slice of bread. Place one slice on top of the tomato to make a sandwich. Put the sandwich on a plate and enjoy.
(Take a bite.) Oh, how delicious!
The next time we did this exercise I would change from formal commands to present tense in the Yo form or 1st person singular form. This would make the series say, “I take out two pieces of bread…” Then you can change the tense to the past tense where they describe how they made a sandwich.
At this point, my children are well-versed in sandwich making vocabulary. They easily recall the different food words. Of course, they do not have to always make a turkey sandwich. They can practice all different food vocabulary. They have learned grammar without doing workbook pages of verb conjugations. They have learned through a more natural process while doing a simple, everyday task. It is the beauty of the series.
Now you just change the series to something else. If they are learning about house vocabulary on Rosetta Stone, then create a series on the steps of cleaning a house. Keep the series as simple as possible at first. Dust the furniture. Sweep the floors. Vacuum the carpet. Wash the dishes, etc.
The Gouin series enables your children to learn a foreign language by making it not so foreign. The series becomes part of their day. It becomes a part of their life. They are literally working with the language in a hands-on manner. Using the series is a great supplement to Rosetta Stone or any other foreign language curriculum. All you have to do is try it.
We did our first series about what my husband does every morning before he goes to work. My daughter LOVED it! Since I am not a native speaker, we made a video of him saying the series for my daughter and I to watch and study together.
That is so AWESOME!!
I have been teaching Gouin series this school year in the classroom at a small Charlotte Mason school, where I teach Spanish. It is astounding how quickly young students learn to describe their daily routines, and with only 2 short classes per week! We’ve done just the 1st person of a bedtime routine, morning routine, and arriving at school. The students pantomime the action they are doing, thus keeping their imagination engaged and their bodies moving. Very effective! I like your idea of a housekeeping series.
Susie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I appreciate you sharing your experiences with the Gouin series. If you have any pointers for me, please let me know.