Based on Faith Academy Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I ask that because my ds was going to learn German this year but I couldn't find any decent programs that didn't cost more than my budget could spare. When I did give it an effort with library materials and online materials, I felt as if I wasn't doing my ds or the language justice. I don't know German. My parents do and the idea was to get them to help with it but it seems almost impossible to get together when we aren't in a group setting or at church. My work schedule just ruins it. So how do you do it? Do you feel like your kids are benefitting? I would like to teach my daughter Spanish as she has such a desire to learn it. I decided to go with sign language for my son since I do know a bit about it and there are many women at my church that I can ask questions of if I am faltering. Sign language does count as a language credit, right? :huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 For high school, your real question is whether a college he applies to will count the sign language as a foreign language. It's hard to believe in this day and age, but there are colleges that don't. That would be the thing to sort through. Otherwise, you're good to go there. As far as german, the online program through OSU is supposed to be good. Given how young she is, I'd do latin. You'll have your choice of many affordable options, and it will create a foundation that will make the concepts of other languages easier. Then for your modern language go to the library and get Muzzy or whatever you want for free. My dd was a quirky one to teach language, very good with the grammar, ok at memorizing the conjugations and declensions, but she got bogged down with all the conjugation (wore her out, steam came out her ears) and the vocab never seemed to stick. (Btw, she's very bright. It turns out she had a processing speed issue.) After a few years of that we finally dropped latin, and I figured it was the BIGGEST WASTE EVER. Well then she started this online spanish class (La Clase Divertide) and it turns out all that work with latin at a young age got her *used to* the idea of conjugations, declensions, that things need to match, that word order could be different from english... So even though stuff didn't stick for her of the latin, what DID stick was the most important stuff! So that's why I say if you can't accomplish your other goal, pick a goal you *can* accomplish that won't cost a ton and that will have some measurable benefit when she goes to study another language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I have struggled with this for several years. DD wanted to learn French; I took a class and learned ahead, and then I learned alongside her with textbook, grammar workbooks and audio CDs. We made it to the level of about 1 year of high school French, then I added in a private tutor once a week. This was still insufficient for adequate progress, and I ended up outsourcing French to college classes. With DS, I am on round 2 of the same game since he wants to study Italian. So far, I am keeping up, learning alongside him with textbook. workbook, CDs, and duolingo. But I already anticipate that we will eventually not progress further and will have to look for outside sources. In my experience, unless a student is extraordinarily gifted with languages, it is not possible to develop fluency in a foreign language without a fluent teacher/conversation partner. I find this to be the hardest subject to homeschool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jar7709 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I am attempting this right now too, so I am following. DH is a native German speaker, but he's never wanted to only speak German to the kids, so after doing a lot of research it appears that it is probably my inability to speak the language as well that might be the bigger barrier to getting the kids speaking. Despite my 2 years of German in school and off-and-on immersion with DH'S family, I am really still at the halting "the cheese is on the table" stage of speaking the language. So now I am upping my efforts in trying to learn it myself...in addition to Duolingo, I am trying to increase my exposure with German media, labeling items in the house to get up my vocab, and being intentional about conversing in German with DH over the dinner table to the extent that I can. DH also has a few of his old school primers so I am trying to work though a page or 3 of a second grade reading book every day. :D Inadvertently, just by being exposed to all this, seems like the kids might just pick it up faster than I do. I'm still at the beginning of it now, though, my words here might all be for naught. If nothing else, hopefully through this experiment I will be better equipped to help them with a formal language program a few years down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 I ask that because my ds was going to learn German this year but I couldn't find any decent programs that didn't cost more than my budget could spare. When I did give it an effort with library materials and online materials, I felt as if I wasn't doing my ds or the language justice. I don't know German. My parents do and the idea was to get them to help with it but it seems almost impossible to get together when we aren't in a group setting or at church. My work schedule just ruins it. So how do you do it? Do you feel like your kids are benefitting? I would like to teach my daughter Spanish as she has such a desire to learn it. I decided to go with sign language for my son since I do know a bit about it and there are many women at my church that I can ask questions of if I am faltering. Sign language does count as a language credit, right? :huh: If this is for your high school student, I agree with OhElizabeth. At that stage, you really want to make sure whatever you are doing includes vocabulary, the grammar/structure, and conversation (hearing and speaking). And as other previous posters have mentioned, it is extremely hard to accomplish this at a high school level at home, esp. if there is no familiarity or only a little familiarity with the language from the parent/teacher. American Sign Language *could* be a possibility; just be aware that not all colleges accept it as a foreign language. (Same with Latin). What is your goal for foreign language? Is it because your area requires 2 years of foreign language for high school graduation, and/or colleges require it for admission? Would you be having DS take the AP test for potential college credit and to look good for selective college entrance? Would your DS be taking the college's foreign language placement test for entering at a higher level? Your answers to these questions might help you determine how rigorous the foreign language needs to be. You might want to consider looking at university degree programs now and see if the university your DS might attend requires foreign language as part of the general ed. for the degree. If so, then I *highly* recommend figuring out a way to budget for it and knock out the foreign language NOW as dual enrollment. The benefits are: - community college dual enrollment usually cheaper than college tuition for the same course - you are outsourcing, so you don't have to struggle to oversee it/fit it into YOUR work/home schedule - quality foreign language instruction by someone who knows how to teach the language - conversation practice (hearing/speaking the language) in the class - DS gets several college credits out of the way now - your state/area may offer FREE or low-cost dual enrollment tuition to high school students Alas, no way around it: to do a legitimate job of foreign language in high school just IS expensive. That's why we figured if we have to pay that big price, we wanted to make our $$ do double-duty and get college credit out of it, too. ;) ETA: just noticed you are in NY. Ug. Dual enrollment regs in NY make that not an option for you. You would have to go with an online/distance course option. If dual enrollment just doesn't work for your family, and, since you are working, you still may want to find a way of outsourcing to ease your schedule and cover whatever language you go with well. Some options: Oklahoma State University German Online ($250/semester; $350/AP course) -- here's a thread on OSU's program Indiana University for High School: distance German classes (also meets NCAA regs) ($241/semester + books) Homeschool Works -- online 1-year ASL course ($400/year = $11/class) CurrClick -- free ASL lessons Start ASL -- free online program Another idea: work through a standard textbook, and pay to have DS meet with a tutor once a week. German supplements -- perhaps these might help, along with a tutor?? ActiLingua Academy -- some free lessons and resources Digital Dialects: German -- free vocabulary games free German resource list ASLU -- list of linked free ASL resources I do offer the free suggestions with the thought that "you get what you pay for". Free means you have no instructor to correct mistakes, answer questions, and give guidance as to grammar, structure, common usage, and other language quirks. You can actually learn a lot of bad habits and mistakes in trying to self-teach a foreign language without weekly contact with a knowledgeable instructor. Just my 2 cents worth! BEST of luck in finding what works best for your family! Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Based on Faith Academy Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 Alas, no way around it: to do a legitimate job of foreign language in high school just IS expensive. That's why we figured if we have to pay that big price, we wanted to make our $$ do double-duty and get college credit out of it, too. ;) ETA: just noticed you are in NY. Ug. Dual enrollment regs in NY make that not an option for you. You would have to go with an online/distance course option. This seems to be my biggest obstacle as my son gets older. Things would be so much easier if I could send my son to college for these classes that I think he could advance further in. You did give me a lot of options and things to think about. I will be looking into all options. I am still unsure if a foreign language is required or how many credits I will need. I didn't realize though that Latin isn't accepted as a language credit in some colleges. Unfortunately home school is a shared expense with my ex and not always one we agree on. Thank you all for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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