FAQs About Fabulingua
What is FabuLingua?
FabuLingua is a second language learning platform based on interactive storytelling designed for elementary school age children from 6-9 years old. Through the use of technology, engaging animation and a unique and effective teaching method, we turn children’s stories into interactive language-learning magic.
How do you use it?
Easy!
* Download the free app from the App Store or Google Play Store HERE.*
* Open the app and follow the onboarding flow and prompts to set up a profile and account.
* Go to tutorial beach and tap on the fox to go through the tutorial story. Earn a gold and diamond key for having completed that story mode. Go to the Fabled Shop (treasure chest icon at the bottom of the screen) to buy a Discovery Chest with your diamond key. Tap it to open it, tap the rewards that come out to collect them – including the Magical Compass.
* Go back to the island (map icon at the bottom of the screen) and see that location 1 is now unlocked. Tap on it to open it up and tap one of the characters in that location to hear their story (if you did not subscribe you will only have access to the free story).
* The Learning Path for that story will open up, tap the first and only available step on the path. Complete that mode and you’ll earn keys. Complete the next steps on the Learnign Path to earn more keys.
* Go to the Fabled Shop (treasure chest icon at the bottom of the screen) to spend your keys on different chests that contain rewards of stickers, playing cards and Magic Compasses. Magic Compasses are needed to unlock new locations on FabuLingua Island!
* If you haven’t already done so, press the orange ‘Subscribe’ button to subscribe and get unlimited access to all stories and games and rewards.
What languages can I learn with FabuLingua?
For the time being, Spanish and English. But we have plans to expand the number of languages you can learn with FabuLingua in the future!
Do you teach lessons?
FabuLingua is designed around the concept of ‘invisible learning’. This means our teaching is not divided into what looks like formal ‘lesson units’ where the child explicitly sits down for a lesson on fruits or animals (like you would find in other online language platforms). Instead they simply choose a story to read that appeals to them. We then take them down a guided learning path for that story which leads to them mastering it (including its vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling). Some of our stories focus on narrow vocabulary groups (like the fairy story focuses on colors and articles of clothing, of the frog one focuses on family members and opposites), so when they’ve mastered that story, they’ll certainly have mastered that vocabulary. Other stories are more whimsical, and just amazing stories (like ‘Grande’ and ‘Un árbol’), and they’ll learn a wider range of vocabulary that is less focused on a specific theme. Both really improve their Spanish. So we do ‘teach lessons’, they just don’t look like the classic language learning lessons we’ve come to expect, and learning instead happens through exposure and immersion in an almost subconscious way. It’s way more fun and engaging, which means your child will learn more.
What is the recommended age for FabuLingua?
FabuLingua is designed for children 6 to 9.
But it’s never too early to expose your kids to fabulous bilingual stories and train their ears to a new language. And our research has shown that older kids who are interested in learning a new language find these illustrated children’s stories to be a low stress, unintimidating, pleasant way to learn Spanish.
Does my child need to know how to read to play with FabuLingua?
Not at all! In the default modality, the narrator will read the story alternating languages rhythmically. So your child can relax, enjoy the illustrations and animations and follow along without needing to read the text. They can even practice their pronunciation in the more advanced modes, without being able to read!
How much time should my child spend playing?
We recommend limiting the amount of daily “screen time” to whatever you deem reasonable.
Given that FabuLingua can be an after-school educational experience, a bedtime activity, car / travel entertainment, a game and a bonding ritual; we believe that the more of your set “screen time” you allocate to FabuLingua, the better! The more exposure, the faster the brain will rewire and get used to the target language. 20 minutes every day will establish a great Spanish reading routine for them that will be fun and very productive!
My child is a pre-reader, the last mode (Ready by Myself) seems like something they won’t be able to do.
For some younger pre-readers, the Read by Myself mode will be too advanced. In those cases you can model to your child how you do it, so that over time they’ll feel like it’s something they’ve seen modeled a lot and can aspire to trying. They may also get a real kick out of hearing you read in Spanish! Over time you can even do it together. It can be a real bonding experience for you two to ‘share’ this last most challenging mode.
For many older pre-readers, however, this level may be more relevant than you’d think. Many parents have observed the phenomenon (in their native language) that if they read a particular book to their child over and over again, the child will eventually start to mouth the words under their breath as the story is read them. They have memorized the words on each page!
We can make use of this phenomenon in our last mode. If your child has done the previous modes over and over again (more than a couple times per mode), there is a good chance that by the time they get to this last mode, they have memorized the pages and phrases in the story and can have a go at ‘reading’ the story. It doesn’t mean they can read any other stories in Spanish, but they will be able to ‘read’ this one. Watch them beam with pride over their accomplishment!