✩JOIN THE MAGIC MEMO✩
...TO UNLOCK YOUR TRUE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION JOURNEY. FINALLY.
"If you're looking to learn a new language, these books are a must. I am now attempting to learn a new language for the fourth time and these are by far the best/easiest texts I've used."
—Bri'anna M.
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Amazon Review, Verified Purchase
"Comprehensible input is the crucial and necessary ingredient for the acquisition of language."
—Stephen Krashen, PhD.
American linguist, educational researcher and activist.
Quijote y Yo is a historical (fan) fiction language acquisition series. Learners grow in age with the characters as they grow in linguistic ability. After the Novice Low Septology, there are subsequent trilogies at more complex linguistic levels. Nevertheless—learners can and should start their journey at the level appropriate for them. For example, it is NOT necessary to read the Novice Mid Trilogy to understand the Novice High Trilogy—they are separate stories written with the same core characters. The premise is both research-based and simple—once learners can get through one of my trilogies without looking at the Glossary, they should move on to the next level. This will do more for their acquisition of the Target Language than anything else they've tried, hands down, guaranteed.
—Constanza Ontaneda
Founder
WANNA LEARN OR TEACH SPANISH?
¡Calma! Whether you are an educator, a learner or the parent of a child whom you wish will one day be multilingual, welcome to Input Wand.
"I knew it would be tough for me to start from scratch as an adult. This Septology has been so joyful to read and introduced me to such a lovely way to learn a new language!"
—Shravanthi K.
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Amazon Review, Verified Purchase
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Communication Guide: Quijote y Yo: A Nosotras No Nos Gusta Nada, Book One in the Novice Low "Aventuras" Septology
Regular price $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Communication Guide: Quijote y Yo: Estamos Tristes, Book Two in the Novice Low "Aventuras" Septology
Regular price $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Communication Guide: Quijote y Yo: Hay Todo Menos Eso, Book Three in the Novice Low "Aventuras" Septology
Regular price $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Communication Guide: Quijote y Yo: Somos Amigas, Book Four in the Novice Low "Aventuras" Septology
Regular price $19.99 USDRegular priceUnit price per
WANNA LEARN OR TEACH FRENCH?
We can help. Mais...vraiment.
"An AMAZING Resource!!! My daughter is getting tutored with these materials and we have been so happy with the results!
She has taken Spanish in school for 2 years and was still struggling with the basics. Now that she is working from these books she is making steady and impressive progress! She is understanding and retaining what she is learning in her lessons, feeling positive about her experience and excited about speaking Spanish! I bought the Quijote y Yo Complete Novice Low Septology and we couldn’t be happier - I would highly recommend it."
—India Adams
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Amazon Review, Verified Purchase
WHY STORIES?
Learning your first language is a life or death matter. Turns out learning your second, third, fourth (you get the drift), is not. The materials you choose must be compelling. Turns out humans (that's you...hopefully) find nothing more compelling than stories.
"My daughter is finally learning! She said she’s learned more in a few weeks with these books than she did in the entire first semester of the school year. Spanish is no longer as stressful as it was before, and she is enjoying the story format of the book and the instruction. Thank you for providing such a great resource for her!"
—Jen L.
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Amazon Review, Verified Purchase
THE RESEARCH IS CLEAR
Explicit grammar instruction, memorization and drills are hindrances to language acquisition. This is why textbooks are more often than not an obstacle to authentic communication.
“It’s not easy to learn new words from word lists, where there is no meaningful context. But new words are learned with remarkable facility, especially in stories, when you are reading something that makes sense to you.”
—Frank Smith, Phd. (2007). Reading FAQ, p. 40
Canadian Psycholinguist
YOU DIDN'T NOTICE LEARNING YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE
Neither should you notice learning your second, third, fourth (you get the drift). Language acquisition is a by-product of receiving communicative and comprehensible input in the target language.
"I really do believe that the publishing works that Constanza has created will allow for the transformative—the healing power of education to be unlocked, especially in World Language classrooms."
—Angel Gonzalez, PhD.
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Head of School, De La Salle Academy
EDUCATORS
Get ready to have all your classroom needs met. Imagine:
- no prep (for reals)
- engaged students (pretty much all the time)
- authentic communication (yup)
- and much, much more.
With over a decade of experience as a world language educator, Constanza Ontaneda has designed the most comprehensive resource on the market for educators who wish to nurture a research-based, proficiency-oriented, and input-focused practice.
Join the Magic Memo to get all the support you need and deserve.
“The usual definition of “authentic” is “a text written by native speakers for native speakers”. Perhaps a better definition is this one; “A text that is interesting and comprehensible” … In other words, there is nothing wrong with reading texts that are specially prepared for second language students, as long as they are interesting and comprehensible. They can be a helpful first step, leading to the reading of texts that are authentic in the traditional sense."
—Stephen Krashen, PhD.
American linguist, educational researcher and activist.
(1997). Foreign Language Education the Easy Way, p. 34
LEARNERS
Ready to start communicating? But actually? With a couple of decades as a (disappointed) world language learner under her belt, Constanza Ontaneda designed Input Wand so you don't have to keep adding disappointing educational experiences to the list you already have (don't we all?). Input Wand is designed for humans aged 9-OLD, so, whoever you are, get ready for the magic.
Join the Magic Memo to get
- research-based
- clear
- true
...and also short, digestible and actionable information on how humans acquire languages, so you never spend one more dollar, brain cell or minute of your life on classes, apps or tutors that will leave you right back where you started (except poorer, more tired and older). Yay! And, like Constanza's students say—Slay!
"You sparked my love of Spanish and of history, and I will forever be grateful."
—Nephele Sarrinikolaou
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Constanza's former student, currently at Cornell University majoring in Art History and Philosophy and continuing her study of Spanish at the advanced level.
PARENTS
Guide your child (and, inadvertently, yourself!) on a journey to multilingualism. Whether your child is in middle school, high school, or beyond, Input Wand is designed for them. Whether you:
- are the sole input provider in your home
- do not speak any of the target language yourself
- are homeschooling your child
- are purchasing these materials so your child uses them independently
- (insert your custom parent situation here)
Input Wand is designed to make your experience pleasurable, easy and fun.
Join the Magic Memo to get sound advice from a seasoned educator (Constanza Ontaneda has taught them all!) on how best to guide your child on their journey to multilingualism.
“The only significant predictor of the ability to use the subjunctive was the amount of free voluntary reading done in Spanish; the amount of formal study of Spanish, the amount of formal study specifically aimed at the subjunctive, and how long subjects had lived in a Spanish-speaking country were not significant predictors of subjunctive competence.”
—Stephen Krashen, PhD.
American linguist, educational researcher and activist.
(2001). Free Voluntary Reading, p. 27
