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Review by Mieke VanderBorght, Common Sense Education | Updated September 2013

Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds - English Reading and Spanish Speaking

Name: Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds - English Reading and Spanish Speaking
Item: Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds - English Reading and Spanish Speaking
Rating: 3
Author: Mieke VanderBorght

Lively intro to sound/letter recognition and Spanish action words

Subjects & skills

Grades This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.

Pre-K–1

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Pros: Engaging characters provide a fun intro to Spanish vocabulary.

Cons: No cohesiveness exists between English and Spanish games, and learning potential is limited.

Bottom Line: Spanish section is stronger than the English reading section, but both lack depth in overall learning.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use Rosetta Stone Kids to reinforce letter and beginning sound recognition through individual play. It's also a fun and gentle way to introduce basic Spanish vocabulary to English-speaking students, so it would work well at the beginning of a Spanish-language unit. The Spanish games could also help young students whose native language is Spanish learn initial sound/letter combinations for English words in an environment that seems familiar. This app would work best for individual play but could potentially be used in small groups.

What Is It?

Editor's Note: Rosetta Stone Kids Lingo Letter Sounds is no longer available.

Rosetta Stone Kids is divided into two sections. In the English section, kids tap Lingos to release bubbles with a letter inside (one Lingo for uppercase, one for lowercase) and then choose which of three toys (also trapped in bubbles) begins with that letter. Three levels are available; in each, kids choose the beginning letter/sound of different words. In the Spanish section, kids repeat a Spanish word or short phrase (e.g., salta, salta alto). When kids say the word or phase, they can watch the Lingos complete that action. In the three levels in this section, the narrator speaks progressively more Spanish (although the content remains the same). Adults who provide an email address can see a very basic progress report as well as additional information and settings. There's no capability to set up the games for multiple players.

Is It Good for Learning?

In the Spanish portion of Rosetta Stone Kids, even though kids learn very few words, they do practice seeing, hearing, and speaking some basic Spanish and are rewarded with seeing the Lingos react to their directions. Hearing familiar directions in gradually increasing Spanish allows kids to become familiar with the language without feeling overwhelmed. The English portion of the app is engaging (kids love bubbles and will enjoy collecting the toys they free from the bubbles), and kids will get some practice matching beginning letters and sounds to words, but the progression through the three levels is more or less irrelevant since the level of difficulty doesn't change. A more in-depth look at rhyming words (differences among cat, hat, and bat), for example, would help make the learning content more meaningful.

The app also lacks cohesiveness. The Spanish section has nothing to do with the English section. Relating the two, by using the same words, for example, would create a much stronger learning experience.

Rating Details

Overall Rating

Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

The Lingos are charming, especially when they dance and giggle, and will certainly appeal to kids. Design is simple, clean, and appealing.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

In one game, kids match toys to their beginning letters in English. In another, they learn to speak some Spanish words. Learning is integrated into the design of the game; however, content is limited, as is the potential for deeper learning.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Games are clearly explained. Adults who provide an email address can see a basic progress report, although kids have no idea which level they're working on. Learning extensions would provide deeper learning potential.

Common Sense Reviewer

Mieke VanderBorght Researcher

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Teacher Reviews

(See all 3 reviews) (3 reviews)

Featured review by
Stephanie S. , Classroom teacher

Classroom teacher

Washburn School
Auburn, United States

This game based learning app is great for early learners.

Students are quickly drawn to this app, they love the design and simplicity. The app is a basic start to game based learning for young students. In one section the app allows students to match beginning sounds with pictures and in another the students are learning simple spanish words. This app could have a greater potential if it had an extension to it's learning content. The app needs to develop a deeper content area to keep students engaged and moving forward in their learning. It would be a ...

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