Frequently Asked Questions
Which materials should I purchase?
Homeschool: The Homeschool Package includes the Student Edition Textbook, Answer Key, Test Program, Online Access for 12 months (audio, video, flashcards, and more) and the Oasis.
Classroom Teacher: Teacher's Edition Textbook, Answer Key, and Test Program. Online Access is highly recommended. Each student will need a Student Edition textbook or Online Access Code.
What’s “Online Access” for Breaking the Barrier?
"Online Access" is the online version of the print textbook. It integrates audio, video, cultural articles, answers, beautiful pictures of sites of interest, and notable people from Spanish speaking countries. The exercises are interactive. A student can click on any single answer, see immediately if he/she is right or wrong, and view the correction. There are also responsive flashcards with audio, oral questions, and video instructional capsules. The content -- explanations, exercises, dialogues are exactly the same as the print book. Online Access provides students tools that may appeal to different learning styles, especially auditory and visual learners.
Why should I choose Breaking the Barrier? Series Author John Conner has taught language for over thirty years. His instruction has led thousands of Groton School students to feel comfortable speaking a new language. They have scored highly on AP examinations and embraced what they've learned about new cultures. Leading elementary, high-schools, homeschool communities, and colleges in all 50 states choose Breaking the Barrier due to our innovative approach to learning language. We have received numerous awards and recognition from organizations including Fast Company, This Old Schoolhouse, the Revere Awards, the state of Virginia, and many others for our pedagogy and language-learning tools. Simply put, Breaking the Barrier's approach is the fastest way to achieve true language fluency.
Do you offer additional resources? Yes! Please visit the "Other Resources" tab on the homepage. We offer cultural articles, hundreds of free classroom warm-up activities, a pacing guide, and a suggested calendar for self-learners and homeschoolers.
I have multiple children. What products should I purchase?
We recommend purchasing one Homeschool Package. For each additional child, purchase an additional print book + Online Access.
Where's my Online Access Code?
The code is delivered immediately, to your email, upon purchase. Please check your spam folder/promotions tab for emails from @tobreak.com.
I don't speak any Spanish/French. Can I use this program? Yes! We recommend purchasing the Homeschool Package - the pacing guide and suggested calendar will be very helpful!
Which level should I purchase?
From the tobreak.com homepage, simply click 'Spanish' or 'French' and scroll down to the table of contents and a description of the concepts taught in each level.
For Spanish, we offer two potential pathways:
The Level 1/Beginner book is designed for students with little or no experience in the target language. We recommend that students begin with our Level 1 text so that they build strong foundations with the grammar and vocabulary found throughout our series.
The Level 2/Intermediate and Level 3/Advanced books build on the topics covered in previous titles and are designed to be year-long curriculums. That said, all books are divided into 12 chapters, making it easy to divide up a book across multiple years.
How do I calculate credits?
Each level of Breaking the Barrier is equivalent to a full credit of language study.
What’s the difference between the student and teacher editions?
The teacher and student editions are print textbooks. The teacher edition has the answers printed into all of the exercise sections, while the student book has blank spaces.
Is the audio recorded by native speakers?
Yes! The audio provides great practice for students by accompanying the core textbook/workbook with native male and female speakers from around the Hispanic/Latino and Francophone worlds. Each level models the new vocabulary, contains segments for conversation practice, and offers the audio tracks for the adventure series and cultural articles. Icons in the print book tell you the corresponding track number for each exercise.
What’s the difference between the Teacher Edition and the Answer Key Booklet?
The Teacher Edition is a Student Edition book with the answers. The Answer Key Booklet, on the other hand, is a loose-leaf packet containing printouts of the exercises with answers.
How often do you update your books, and what changes do you make?
Our books are kept up-to-date with the latest cultural information. We have new printings roughly every other year. Page numbers do not change. These updates keep our books current and allow us, for example, to list current heads of state and populations on our country maps.
Questions about ordering:
How do I order your materials?
You can purchase online! If you are ordering for your school, you may submit the order form or internally generated purchase order to 978-448-1237 (fax) or orders@tobreak.com (email).
You may also give us a call at 978-448-0594.
Can I purchase through third-party resellers like eBay and Amazon?
While many book resellers offer our books, they often sell used, old, or very out-of-date versions. They are almost always more expensive than the prices on our site! To ensure that you receive the most recent books for the best price, please order directly through us. It helps us stay in business!
I need ISBN numbers to order through my school. Where can I find this information?
A full list of our products with ISBN numbers is available here.
How do you ship your books?
Orders typically ship out the following business day. Most of our books ship via USPS. Free Standard Shipping will ship out USPS Media Mail and typically delivers between 2-10 business days. Priority Shipping will typically deliver within 2-3 business days after shipment. We are not responsible for USPS shipment delays.
What are your shipping and handling charges?
Individual orders ship free via the "Standard Shipping" method up to $500.
We charge a flat 10% on all Purchase Orders with a minimum of $10.00.
What is your Return Policy? (effective January 1, 2020)
Breaking the Barrier will only accept returns within 30 days of the original invoice date for a refund/credit.
A 10% restocking fee applies to all returns.
All returned items much have been purchased directly from Breaking the Barrier.
A copy of the original invoice, or documentation with the original invoice, ISBN, and quantity returned must accompany all books being returned.
Returns must be received in their original, new, undamaged, unopened/sealed and saleable condition. Breaking the Barrier reserves the right to determine saleable condition. Products returned in non-saleable condition will be rejected and cannot be returned to the customer.
Return freight charges are the customer's responsibility and original shipping charges will not be refunded.
Breaking the Barrier is not responsible for shipments lost in transit.
All Digital/Online items are non-returnable.
For partial online items (Homeschool Package, for example), the full price of the online product is non-refundable.
Please send returns to:
Breaking the Barrier
ATTN: Returns Department
63 Shirley Road
Groton, MA, 01450
What is the difference between the online version of the textbook and the print textbook?
They contain most of the same material! The exercises are the same. However, the online books incorporate interactive exercises, videos, audio, vocabulary flashcards, cultural articles.
Where can I find Isaac Tenoch?
Visit isaacbooks.com
Does Online Access require an internet connection?
Yes. You can access the online books from any device.
Feel free to contact us with additional questions!