What second language will be teaching your child?

[psychgal]

Which language(s) will you be teaching your child other than English? And what age will you start them at for each?

[babysparkler]

My kids start Spanish in 2nd grade (Rosetta stone - starting when they can read independently enough to do it alone) because we are in Texas :)

[Guest Alte Veste Academy]

Which language(s) will you be teaching your child other than English? And what age will you start them at for each?

 

We're Texans so Spanish is the best choice for us. The kids actually get an opportunity to use the language and it will be extraordinarily useful to them as they get older...which means they're more likely to retain it.

 

We start with Spanish picture books in the early years and we'll be doing Elementary Spanish and Rosetta Stone starting in DS6's 1st grade year in August. We might add Latin in 3rd. We'll see...

Edited July 28, 2009 by Alte Veste Academy

[nukeswife]

We recently decided to teach German as our foreign language.

 

Why? because dh took it in HS and remembers a lot. I've always wanted to learn. We hope the OKU German online is still available when the kids get to HS it looks great.

 

When will we start? Not sure we may pick up Rosetta Stone for a little exposure this year or next. It will be mostly dabbling until the kids are cemented more in the basics.

[lionfamily1999]

We started Latin midway through 2nd grade.

[shinyhappypeople]

Spanish! We started last spring when DDs were 4 and 5 (so, pre-k and k).

[ElizabethB]

Spanish started in first grade, we will add Latin this year for second grade. Eventually I would like to learn Greek with them, and I am looking forward to Latin.

[patchfire]

We technically started Latin in 2nd grade. We've done it pretty informally though, and I feel like we're only getting a good handle on it with a better fit curriculum for us this year. I have a certain standard of spelling, handwriting, and reading ability that I'll use as a benchmark for when to start my remaining kiddos, but I anticipate it will be midway through 2nd through midway through 3rd.

[Aurelia]

We started Spanish last year and will introduce Latin when Ariel gets to 2nd grade or is reading well, whichever comes first.

[Bayt ul-Hikmah]

We've been working on Arabic since the beginning as part of our religious studies, and we will start Spanish this fall. So many of our neighbors speak Spanish, I've come to realize this is very important.

[LadyAberlin]

I put other because we are doing 2 languages. Hebrew for religious reasons. We are using Sarah and David Hebrew. We are also doing Spanish using Springboard to Spanish, Play and Learn Spanish and Hooked on Spanish. This is for k.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Spanish. Dh's family speaks Spanish, so it makes the most sense.

[tjo]

DD started spanish in 3rd grade. She is starting 9th and continuing her studies. DS began in 5th grade and is continuing as he begins 6th.

[Ester Maria]

Well, technically speaking, English is their second language (Italian being their first one), but we don't consider it a "foreign language" and they have been rather balanced bilinguals since they were little.

 

Their first "second" language, i.e. first foreign language, was Hebrew - and even that was not very "foreign" as they grew up somewhat exposed to the language as well (trips to Israel every year at least once, Israeli music and TV, family friends and even some DH's relatives and business partners are Israelis, DH and I sometimes speak Hebrew to each other and we always have family Hebrew time for shabbat when we all speak it together, etc...), so it was more of a "background" language than a truly foreign one. I can't even say when we "introduced" it, it's more like it's always been somewhere in the air. They learned to read it at about 5 years old, but even when they learned to read they understood fairly well what they were reading, and we somehow stressed more learning Hebrew "by osmosis", through using it, than academically (I started teaching them formal grammar, binyanim and such, when they were 4th-5th grade, before that it was simply reading, various stories, speaking, acquiring vocabulary, and lots of passive exposure to the language).

 

We have been playing with Latin and Greek since kindergarten age, but started studying them more seriously in 3rd-4th grade. I wanted them to have a firm grasp of English and especially Italian before delving into the complex analytical study of Latin (and Greek too), but till that point they basically knew, both in Latin and Greek, indicatives of all the basic tenses, declensions, and were able to read simple adapted texts, and get a gist of simpler original texts, so in 3rd-4th grade when we "started" grammar (first Latin, then we added Greek) it wasn't really starting either, it was more of a continuation.

 

They're 11 and 12 now and, in my eyes, three modern languages and two classical ones (or even three classical ones, if you keep in mind that they work with the Biblical text too, though we never specifically taught them Biblical Hebrew) are a pretty decent background so I won't insist on anything more - I'd prefer the quality to the quantity, so now we are focusing on making them trilingual (they're only bilingual so far, with a decent knowledge of Hebrew, but they can't be told trilingual yet as they lack the age-appropriate academic competence in Hebrew) and learning classics really well. :)

 

They both have an interest in languages, though, especially the older one (who wants to learn French, that's her newest fit :D), so I guess they'll learn an additional language or two during or after their schooling.

[Paula in PA]

We are currently doing both Latin and French. We started Latin in 2nd grade and French (lightly) half way through 3rd grade. Eventually she wants to do Spanish, as well.

[Haiku]

I would have picked both Spanish and Latin but I could only choose one on the poll. We started Spanish at the end of first grade and will start Latin in 4th. My kids can also study any other languages they are interested in. My son, who was adopted from another country, has forgotten his first language and wants to study it some day.

 

Tara

[Jen in PA]

We did Spanish very informally in K and 1st, and are adding in Latin this year for 2nd. I would have preferred French, but DH is Hispanic and I know it means a lot to him for the children to learn Spanish.

[Beth in Central TX]

Our second language is Greek.

[herbalgirl]

I voted Latin because we have Prima Latina sitting on our shelf and I am still trying to find a Spanish program that fits our kids. :)

[Lisa in the UP of MI]

I have exposed my kids informally to Spanish since birth. We have a few Spanish videos, some cd's, and books that I read to them. I also try to speak to them in Spanish sometimes, but my Spanish is pretty rusty. I answer questions when they ask what a word is in Spanish and look it up if I don't know. I took Spanish for 4 years in high school and one semester in college, so that is why I've chosen to start here. I'll probably start teaching Spanish more formally in dd's K or first grade year. I'm looking at La Clase Divertida and El Espanol Facil, the junior level.

 

The other language that I plan to teach my kids is Latin, for pretty much all of the reasons outlined in the WTM and because we are Catholic and there are many songs, prayers, and documents in Latin. We do sing Latin hymns and mass parts in our church sometimes.

 

I'd love to do more languages, but the reality is that unless one of the kids really, really wants to do another one we won't.

[matrips]

Spanish and they started last January at 4yo.

[ariasmommy]

I'll be starting French with my dd7 and my ds4 this year using The Easy French Jr. I learned some French as a child - I'm a Canadian and some French was required or at least greatly encouraged. :) I'm looking forward to reveiwing it and learning more with my kids. I was going to start with Spanish, as we are now living in the US, but was intrigued by this article:

http://www.theeasyfrench.com/cm9.htm and decided to try French first, and then add Spanish later (God-willing:001_smile:).

[lilbean05]

We are trying to decide between Japanese and Arabic. Japanese because it is what I learned when I grew up (military living overseas) and because it is quite useful in technical fields as an adult. Arabic because it is a VERY highly sought out skill in the Department of Defense, which is something we value highly in our home.

[Matryoshka]

I voted German because it was the second language, started when they were still toddlers - but our third is Spanish (started around K) and we're dabbling in Chinese as a fourth. :D

[Laura W.]

We live in West Africa, and French is the trade language where we are, so my dc are learning it. The two oldest (6th and 3rd) are using Learnables plus informal learning experiences, the younger ones are picking it up informally (mainly greetings, but a few other things) but will do the Learnables program when they get older.

 

They're also learning one of the African languages spoken here.

 

I want them to learn Latin, but that will have to wait until later.

 

For modern languages, I personally pick one that meets one or more of the following criteria:

1) Lots of people in the area speak it.

2) A parent speaks it.

3) Close relatives speak it.

4) The child has a deep interest in that specific language.

 

Blessings,

 

Laura

[BillieBoy]

Which language(s) will you be teaching your child other than English? And what age will you start them at for each?

 

I voted Latin, however I don't feel it will be our 2nd spoken language. Our third language in essence will be Spanish.

[Rosie_0801]

They're also learning one of the African languages spoken here.

Blessings,

Laura

 

Which one?

 

I voted "other" because Auslan is my children's second language, but they are learning simultaneously along with English, though their English is much stronger. I could have voted for Latin, since I intend to start with School Song Latin in K. Auslan isn't a foreign language, to me anyway ;)

 

Rosie

[LanaTron]

I voted Latin, but we are doing French, also (it was the third one added in). After the equivalent of 2 yrs of high school Latin, I am hoping to do 2 yrs of hs Spanish. French will be all the way through (I think).

[The Governess]

Mandarin Chinese at 4. We are starting Latin now at 5, very informally.

[MusicMouseTN]

We're going to do Spanish and Latin ... although I'm not sure yet which one we'll start first.

[EthiopianFood]

Spanish, because it is the most practical in the U.S. I view language learning as a way to build connections with other people, so this made the most sense for us. We will start at age three. :)

[Lovedtodeath]

2nd-- Spanish

 

3rd-- ASL

[Kate in Arabia]

I voted "other". We've been teaching Arabic since birth. Partly because of religious reasons, also it's the only language other than English that both dh and I have any degree of fluency in. It is also grammar intensive, so I think it's a good language to learn to reinforce grammar concepts in general.

[JoyfulMama_Karen]

We're in Canada, so my children will learn French.

 

I am also hoping to teach Latin a little later on.

[vettechmomof2]

We actually teach Latin and German with some ASL but I could only vote for one at a time.

My daughter started German around 5 but my son younger, mainly just vocab, short sentences and songs.

Latin was started last year.

ASL was started young.

[Guest]

Which language(s) will you be teaching your child other than English? And what age will you start them at for each?

 

We are starting Latin this year for my ds's second grade. We live in Kansas so Spanish would be extremely helpful too. But learning Latin can make it easier to learn other foreign languages...and they can use Rosetta Stone later if they want to learn it. My husband is fluent in Spanish and I know a lot too...so when the time comes we can work with them on it. But for now, I feel learning Latin is much more important to us.

[WistfulRidge]

I'm planning on starting Latin in 1st/2nd grade pending on how the dc are doing around then, with French (DH is Canadian so it is possible that we'll end up in Canada at some point...) and Spanish (because it is the unacknowledged second language of the US) soon thereafter.

[radiobrain]

Italiano!!!:D

[dragons in the flower bed]

Latin at age six

Greek at age eight

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to fit Spanish in there. They get some of it casually since most of my mom's family speaks it at home. If they weren't picking up a good accent from Grammy I'd probably be putting on Muzzy videos or something else completely informal. What I'm hoping is that when they're in junior high we'll do some formal Spanish, and when they're in high school I'll send them to Colombia to visit my stepfather's farm. I really just want them to be able to talk to all the Spanish speaking people in the U.S., or, rather, understand them. I consider it a practical, life skill, like learning to cook or do their taxes.

[....]

Korean.

[Ester Maria]

Italiano!!!:D

Nice to see! :)

Do you speak it?

[freeindeed]

I plan to start Latin after Christmas, and in a few years we'll add in Spanish and then Mandarin Chinese.:001_smile:

[mom2denj]

My entire family speaks French, but my mom never taught my brother and I. I have always been upset with her for not teaching us. She was a single mother and worked 2 jobs all of our lives so she really did not have time. So now I plan on learning along with them.:)

[Angel in FL]

My sons did Latin. My daughter will do Mandarin Chinese starting at 4.

[MsAlimar]

I chose Latin. Foreign language is the great debate in our house. I want French and DH wants Spanish. Our compromise is to work on Latin until the girls are old enough to choose which one they want.

[Jennefer@SSA]

Each of my ds will start Spanish in K. We will add Latin in 5th and they will choose their third language to add in 9th. I will be pushing for French but will allow them the final say so.

[Guest realqueen]

learning Chinese is a must for our kids.

[ubermomto5]

californians, we start with spanish (powerglide) and this year the olders are starting german. very excited!

[silvermine]

My son is already learning some japanese with his dad. I can teach them russian, and either one of us could do german. Or, he can go talk to his aunts and uncles, who know french, spanish, arabic, moroccan, indonesian, and I have no idea what else. :D

 

Though last year he said he wanted to learn Lakota, and I so tried to do that, but it's really hard since I don't know it, and you can't really find an instructor so easily! But we have a few books on it now. hehe

[HSMom2One]

Dd wants to learn Spanish too, but I'm having her take another year of Latin first. I have no idea which curriculum we'll choose for Spanish, but now we are going with LFC.

 

Blessings,

Lucinda