runningirl71 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 (edited) Okay, we're not homeschooling in two languages, but I thought this would be a great place to post this. First off~my background~I'm fluent in Korean, meaning I can read/write/speak it on an intermediate to advanced level. I lived in S. Korea and the Korean minority region in China for 9 years. We functioned in Korean at that time. My kids grew up bilingual in English and Korean with their 3rd language being Chinese. I'm fluent in converstational Chinese only, cannot read or write except for a few basic things. Probably on a Kinder level on reading and writing. So. We've moved back to America. My kids have Korean and Chinese only in their brains now as we don't speak it anymore. They are not attending Korean school anymore. I know it is there in the back of their mind, stored away, but it isn't functional. Same with Chinese. I want to pick up a foreign language again (we're already doing Latin and may start Greek next year) but I'm torn in introducing a western language (Spanish or French) or delving again into Korean or Chinese. On one hand, Chinese and Korean in America is not practical. But, then I think, where we are living right now and where we're at in life (aren't going to be doing much traveling, even to Mexico or Quebec!) I'm thinking French and Spanish aren't practical either, when it comes to being exposed to it. Here's the thing~my husband's job is working with International students. So, we do have access to native speakers for Korean, Chinese, French and Spanish amongst others. Dh is the only one who relates to the students daily though. The rest of us only see them once in awhile. But, if I got my rear in gear I could try to arrange some tutoring. We just need to be careful b/c technically we can't pay them and none of them are in need of doing an exchange with English. So, what would you do? Try studying a language you feel comfortable with, although not practical (Korean or Chinese) or introduce a western language and hope there will be opportunities to use it? When we first moved back, I had my kids journal in Korean and read Korean books, but I was so overwhelmed with adjusting to life, that I let this drop to the way side as we're not planning on moving our family back overseas. I'd appreciate and thoughts/perspectives/things to think about! Edited February 21, 2009 by runningirl71 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Asian....wow...I'd get them back into these. I'd look up adoption groups and see if there are any kids meeting together around you. Maybe this would help them get to speak with other children..... Of course, Latin's great...and I'd want it, too. But Latin, Korean and Chinese would be the way I'd go...Lucky you! Carrie:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LND1218 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Personally, I do think the Asian languages will carry them farther later. Since they have a strong background there, I would focus on those as much as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Steph and Carrie, Thanks for your input! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I would definitely go with Korean or Chinese, whichever you are more comfortable with. Either language will come in handy in today's world economy, and it might even give them an edge in college admissions because it's not Spanish. It sounds like you have both the ability to teach these languages well, and resources for using the language outside of the home--it's better to learn something with excellence, even if untraditional, than to struggle along in another language, IMHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joan in GE Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 in American primary schools which have Mandarin Chinese as the second language. We had started learning it when the children were younger but then had to focus on French for the authorities. If you think that there are 1 billion Mandarin Chinese speakers (presuming they are all learning Mandarin in school at least), then you have a 1/6 of the world covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'd carry on with the Asian languages. We have recently added in French, but Mandarin is a continuing central course of study for us - the boys go to Chinese community school every Saturday. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C_l_e_0..Q_c Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'd stay with the Asian languages too. Even if I like French :) They will have an edge over other adults if they can be fluent in Korean and Chinese, instead of tourist-level in Spanish or French. Give them Latin if you can, at least they'll have most concepts already if life demands they should learn French or SPanish (or Italian...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'd stay with the Asian languages too. Even if I like French :) They will have an edge over other adults if they can be fluent in Korean and Chinese, instead of tourist-level in Spanish or French. Give them Latin if you can, at least they'll have most concepts already if life demands they should learn French or SPanish (or Italian...) Thanks for the input! We are in our third year with Latin studies. I'm supposed to be adding Greek! :tongue_smilie: Incorporating Korean and Chinese into our schedule will be a whole lot easier b/c 1. I'm familiar with it and 2. I know what I'm doing. I have this feeling if I go with Spanish or French, we'll abandon it. :) I was wondering if I was crazy, that is why I posted! Thanks again for your thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I would definitely go with Korean or Chinese, whichever you are more comfortable with. Either language will come in handy in today's world economy, and it might even give them an edge in college admissions because it's not Spanish. It sounds like you have both the ability to teach these languages well, and resources for using the language outside of the home--it's better to learn something with excellence, even if untraditional, than to struggle along in another language, IMHO. Thank you for this, Strider. I didn't see it that way. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 in American primary schools which have Mandarin Chinese as the second language. We had started learning it when the children were younger but then had to focus on French for the authorities. If you think that there are 1 billion Mandarin Chinese speakers (presuming they are all learning Mandarin in school at least), then you have a 1/6 of the world covered. :lol: Yes! That is true! If you look at the world as a whole, there are a whole lot of mandarin speakers! Thanks for the encouragement! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I'd carry on with the Asian languages. We have recently added in French, but Mandarin is a continuing central course of study for us - the boys go to Chinese community school every Saturday. Laura Laura! I'm so glad that you are continuing on with Mandarin. Just last week I was thinking of you and wondering about that. It is neat your boys can go to a community school. When we moved away from the Korean community and into a full Han community, we sent our kids to Korean Saturday school. There were enough South Koreans in this Han city to have one class of kids per grade! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof165 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I definitely would use BOTH of the languages you are fluent in. How cool to have a mom who knows Korean and Chinese. :D Since you are fluent in these language, teaching will be much, much easier and the likelihood of dropping any of them is way less. My ds studies German 'cause I am fluent in German. We are studying Latin as well (our 1st year). I have noticed that it is much easier to keep a foreign language going, to have the kids interested in it when Mom or/and Dad knows the language. It is just so cool you know these languages. In the long run, I think Asian languages are more beneficial than others. Just my 2 cents. Sonja ________________________________ Homeschooling JUST ONE - ds 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooooom Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 trade for home cooked meals, laundry, or anything that you are good at. Even a student who doesn't need English lessons might need someone to read over and edit papers. If they stayed for meals you could speak whatever language at the dinner table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 22, 2009 Author Share Posted February 22, 2009 trade for home cooked meals, laundry, or anything that you are good at. Even a student who doesn't need English lessons might need someone to read over and edit papers. If they stayed for meals you could speak whatever language at the dinner table. Good idea! I had thought about offering dinner or cooking lessons, but helping with papers is good too! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Or you could drive them to do errands. Or take them to museums. If you called yourself a "host family", and provided family services like transportation, meals, and laundry, and they spoke their home language with you during these things, that should be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friederike in Persia Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Isn't it quite likely that they'll be very excited about American kids learning their languages?! And I don't know what it's like in the States, but most places foreign students are having a hard time getting to know local families and love the opportunity, when it's offered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningirl71 Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Thanks so much for the input. Because my dh is the International Student Advisor at the college here, we just have to make sure that whatever we do isn't a conflict of interest for him. I appreciate all the ideas and we already have a student in mind that we're going to approach! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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