Foreign Language for the Apathetic....

[Susann]

OK, let me start by saying I've purchased (and sold) Rosetta Stone (twice:glare:), Power Glide, Pimsleur and who knows how many other programs. My DDs need a foreign language and we're completely apathetic about it. We've agreed for this year (8th/10th) we just need to have a structured program laid out in daily lessons with the quizzes/tests etc. and easy to follow. We're going with Spanish since we'll be able to find a tutor. I was thinking Abeka, BJU, etc. but it doesn't have to be Christian. Any suggestions?

[ConnieinCO]

Have you tried Destinos?

 

Connie

[Kareni]

No first hand experience .... Your subject line did cause me to chuckle though.

 

A few more options to consider are Breaking the Barrier, So You Really Want to Learn Spanish, and Madrigal's Spanish. All of these have been discussed on the board so a search should turn up some discussion.

 

Regards,

Kareni

[Michelle in MO]

SOS Spanish (I believe this was from Jean in Wisconsin) and BJU's Spanish. I would agree that the program would not necessarily have to be Christian.

 

Sometimes it helps to understand more of the purpose behind studying foreign languages; I've found personally that once I understood the purpose or reason behind studying a particular field, that endeavor automatically became more interesting.

 

Here's a thread from a few months ago, posted on the General Boards, that you might find interesting and helpful.

[Christine]

My DDs need a foreign language and we're completely apathetic about it. We've agreed for this year (8th/10th) we just need to have a structured program laid out in daily lessons with the quizzes/tests etc. and easy to follow. We're going with Spanish since we'll be able to find a tutor. I was thinking Abeka, BJU, etc. but it doesn't have to be Christian. Any suggestions?

 

Sometimes it helps to understand more of the purpose behind studying foreign languages; Here's a thread from a few months ago, posted on the General Boards, that you might find interesting and helpful.

 

My oldest is absolutely apathetic too.

 

That's not entirely true. . .he's taught himself a bit of Japanese, German and French, but only enough to deal with some of his friends online.

 

However, when it comes to learning a language for school. . .he could care less.

 

I actually *knew* all the reasons why learning a foreign language is good. I mean, I read the aforementioned thread and there was nothing new to me there.

 

Yet. . .I took foreign languages (Spanish and Arabic) and can honestly say I've gained no benefit from it (though in a pinch, I could get directions to a bathroom in arabic, and a cup of milk in Spanish). Learning them didn't help my understanding of grammar at all. Didn't really "broaden my horizons"(Umm, I learned a bit of German too, seeing as we were moving there and weren't going to live on post, but all the Germans only wanted to speak to me in English, so I don't recall much of that at all.)

 

So, for my apathetic son, I had him pick a language (he picked French) and he's using power-glide -- which I wouldn't recommend if you really wanted to learn the language, but it has quizzes and tests. He *enjoys* it, if only for the fact that almost every other lesson so far he's found a glaring mistake in the text. Honestly, he's not learning anything other than what he'd previously taught himself. Even worse? I don't care. (*gasp*) It's going on the transcript as 2 credits (which is what it will qualify for), and I know it'll be simply for "time served" rather than "material learned". . . (Our local colleges all require 2 years of FL credit.)

 

Now, my two youngest are enthralled with the idea of language, and they will be starting Spanish (their request) shortly.

 

All of this to say, if you are dealing with apathetic children I'd seriously consider the import of this to you. Define your goals. Are you doing this simply for the transcript credit? Or do you expect to walk away with a fair understanding? If you are able to answer these questions for yourself, it may be easier to decide which program to use.

[Cindy in WA]

It's painless for mom. My daughter did it completely on her own. She's a trustworthy young lady so gave her full access to the student and teacher's side of the program. She actually ended up enjoying the course and found that she liked competing with the computer, a little extra motivation.

Cindy

[Rosie_0801]

If you aren't wedded to Spanish, you could try your local sign language. It's so funky you can't help but learn! Plus, pronounciation is easier, the grammar is more flexible and you don't have to learn to read and write.

:)

Rosie

[sabrina]

I second sign language. I believe it counts as a FL credit just about everywhere and children seem to like it and want to learn it. It is the language that has lead to the least amount of apathy at our house and is useful to us. We use it to say things across the room without having to holler and I can say things without embarassing my dc. We even use it now when learning another language b/c we can sign the new word as we say it. Just a thought....

[Susann]

We had thought of sign language and I actually took a 5 credit ASL 1 course last year. We're blessed to have a very strong Deaf community in our area and the only college that offers an ASL program taught by Deaf instructors on a Deaf campus in the US (what an immersion experience!!!) . Before taking the class, I didn't realize that it really is a full foreign language with the culture, grammar, and literature. What an amazing class!!! However, that being said, outside of that particular program I've been disappointed in the ASL classes offered at other places. They tend to be hearing instructors teaching signs and not sign language (don't know how to explain it any better) and not people that are connected to the Deaf community. They're not able to take the class I took because of time/money issues at this time. So, we're back to Spanish.

 

We talked about SOS but they decided they didn't like the computer based programs (hence, selling Rosetta Stone for the second time after finally figuring that out)-they would rather use books. They've decided that if they're going to invest the time they want it to be a solid program. Sooooo, they like the looks of the BJU Spanish. Has any one that doesn't have a foreign language background used this? Any suggestions on making it work. This is the one area I feel we're really lacking in. Thanks for all your suggestions and time!!!!!!!

[Miss Marple]

We're right there with you. Computer courses aren't a big hit around here. So...I just purchased Galore Park's Spanish program. I haven't received it yet, but I liked the looks of the samples. Hopefully it'll get good use here :-)

[Jan P.]

I used Spanish Is Fun by Amsco with my apathetic ds. I never felt that my ds did all that great in Spanish since I didn't have any audio tapes for him to use (AMSCO's are expensive). I did the dialogues with my ds using what little Spanish I had in high school many years ago. Of all things, my ds did well enough on his Spanish placement exam that he can skip the first semester of Spanish! I'm sitting on pins and needles as to how he will do next year when he starts his college Spanish class. Well see!!

 

I did feel like The Spanish is Fun book was very straight forward. IT might not be the most exciting thing on the planet, but it gets the job done. I've also seen Alpha Omega's Life Pac Spanish course. It's similar to Spanish is Fun, but their audio is much cheaper. I have SOS Spanish 2, but my ds did not do SOS Spanish 1 so I had to ditch it to the Spanish is Fun curriculum.

 

HTH,

[coopers5]

We've completed level 1 and I say it fits the bill for what you sound like you're looking for.

I think it's thorough, too.

http://www.tobreak.com/

 

Just a note about sign language - something I read somewhere recently, and I'm sorry I can't think of where it was, but it really won't be looked at as a foreign language by most colleges. So, if you're trying to meet the foreign language requirement for the whole college app. process, I'd say watch out on that one. As an elective - great - I'd say it's wonderful and I have friends who studied it and it can be so useful, etc. But that's just the info I have on it.

 

HTH

Jo

[Christine]

Just a note about sign language - something I read somewhere recently, and I'm sorry I can't think of where it was, but it really won't be looked at as a foreign language by most colleges.

 

Me too! I read this somewhere too, which is why we decided against sign language. However, like you I can't recall where I read it!

 

I did check with my local colleges, as I thought surely they would accept it (there's a huge deaf school *just* south of us), but they didn't.

[Rosie_0801]

We had thought of sign language and I actually took a 5 credit ASL 1 course last year. We're blessed to have a very strong Deaf community in our area and the only college that offers an ASL program taught by Deaf instructors on a Deaf campus in the US (what an immersion experience!!!) . Before taking the class, I didn't realize that it really is a full foreign language with the culture, grammar, and literature. What an amazing class!!! However, that being said, outside of that particular program I've been disappointed in the ASL classes offered at other places. They tend to be hearing instructors teaching signs and not sign language (don't know how to explain it any better) and not people that are connected to the Deaf community. They're not able to take the class I took because of time/money issues at this time.

 

There are some reasonable looking ASL resources, from what I can tell. Obviously I've never seen them for real, but if you go looking, don't buy anything that doesn't have "grammar" in the blurb, and preferably "classifiers" as well. Once you have a bit, you can get in and socialise in the Deaf community, or find a tutor. You'll come along reasonably quickly if learning as a family.To be honest, I'd start off with a hearing tutor. One who can sign, not someone who knows some signs! Very few deaf people can be bothered tutoring beginners, for obvious reasons. Great if you can find someone though! If you're near Galleudet (never can spell that properly) you should be able to find someone. Don't completely discount the local sign classes just because the tutors are hearing. They may be a good place to start, though not an end in themselves, of course! No one, not even a deaf person, can teach a full sign language in a 6 week short course.

:)

Rosie

[sandellie4]

Christine -- If the colleges require two years of FL, they really don't expect that the kids have learned it? I'm worried that my kids would start college FL, which is also required, and be TOAST pretty much right out of the box. I don't like teaching FL because, even though some of my children are less apathetic than others, we can't really learn it without knowing someone who can speak it with us, for some immersion. We can't really afford hiring someone to do that, so it's just not a big priority for us. But it does make me worry, that they don't learn much of the language, whatever they choose. Sandy