Moving to Italy -- Oh My!

[LisaKinVA]

I think DH and I have all but decided to enroll the three oldest children in the Italian State School for one year -- mainly to learn the language. We'll be there for probably 5 years, so learning the language is pretty important to us.

 

Correct my thinking on this...

 

I figured I could continue our K12 program, but focus mainly on Math, the History & Science, Art & Music we've been doing is more for "fun" I'll skip the LA, but have oldest DS continue with an Abeka Grammar Course as review work... and not officially start is "real" K12 LA program until they're finished with Italian school.

 

Do you think this is expecting too much out of my rising 4th grader ds?

 

I don't want to overwhelm him with work -- and all of this may just fly out the window when we get to Italy in July.

 

While exciting, it's pretty daunting.

[Nan in Mass]

But if it were my family, I wouldn't try to do anything once they were in the Italian school. I think culture shock and learning a new language will be plenty and they will need to relax at home and have you be just a parent, not a parent and teacher, while they adjust. I'm going by my own experience with a summer in Switzerland as a college student. My German friend told me not to be surprised if I were very tired just from living in another language, that she, who spoke German at home with German parents, had found it exhausting to visit cousins in Germany. She was right. It was very tiring. And I know that when I decided to switch to speaking only French to my son, who was about that age, we only had the energy for the bare minimum of school until he got used to it. I'd just try to have lots of books in English for them to read, and leave it at that. Aquiring a second language is well worth getting a bit behind, or even a lot behind, in academics, in my opinion.

 

You might want to check out the bilingual families email list. You are trying to bring up bilingual children, just like the rest of the families there. They have lots of good advice for how to balance two languages. I'll get you the address if you are intersted.

 

What a fantastic opportunity!!! I'm jealous!

-Nan

[lovemyboys]

I think DH and I have all but decided to enroll the three oldest children in the Italian State School for one year -- mainly to learn the language. We'll be there for probably 5 years, so learning the language is pretty important to us.

 

Do you think this is expecting too much out of my rising 4th grader ds?

 

I don't want to overwhelm him with work -- and all of this may just fly out the window when we get to Italy in July.

 

While exciting, it's pretty daunting.

 

If I were you (I wish!), I would plan on taking 6 months off of your formal schooling. Since ds and others will be in a school setting, they'll be getting various subjects already.

 

Giving yourselves 6 months to get acclimated, learn the language and adjust to a new culture should be plenty, especially since you'll be there for 5 years. This will also allow for extra time for exploring and getting used to things, without the added pressure of feeling like you've got to get xyz lessons done every afternoon.

 

There will be days when dc will be exhausted just trying to think in a foreign language, just having everything new and different, or simply missing home.

 

Then you can start the new year off with some of your "American" lessons added in to your days, after you've had the time to see what you really want or need to add to what they're getting at the state school. You may be amazed at how much they'll grasp of English grammar after awhile just from learning a language that uses grammar, kwim? And history, oh don't get me started!

 

I would give yourself the gift of time without pressure if I were you!

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

I have friends who were in Italy for about 5 years too. They did NOT put their kids in school at all. The kids did learn Italian through various other activities. What they did instead was visit all over the place. There's so much culture and history to see in Italy! The kids even decided they wanted latin so they could decipher the writings on the buildings! She based all of their 'schoolings' on outings, and basic language arts and math at home. Nothing else.

[LisaKinVA]

I've heard great things about the elementary level Italian Schools -- it would change our living habits considerably for awhile -- but think it might be worth it.

 

Knowing my dh and I, if we don't put the children in Italian School, they will spend nearly all of their free time with Americans stationed abroad, and get a lot less exposure to the language. (Cub scouts, Girl Scouts, and other HS trips, and activities around the base).

 

But, I haven't BTDT, so much of what I'm basing this on is how we live in the states. IYKWIM. All of our plans could go out the window once we get there.

 

You are probably right, learning the language will in all liklihood be more than enough for a year.

 

My husbands job will also require some travel, so it will probably take me a bit more time to acclimate to everything (the thought driving around Naples already has me terrified).

 

I appreciate all of your advice.

 

Thank you.