HELP!! Teaching French at co-op this year--BJU or Breaking the Barrier?

[SwimmyKids]

The class will meet once a week for about 45 mins. I would love to be able to cover French 1 and 2 in three years.

 

I know BJUP has a new French 1 book, but I couldn't look at it at the curriculum fair. I have been looking at BTB online. (I know Potter's uses BJUP.) Does BTB stand alone well?

 

Has anyone taught HS French once a week and had the kids do a lot of self study during the week? Is French 1&2 doable in 3 years when we meet only once a week?

 

I have been putting off choosing between the two programs for too long and now I'm desperate for help to decide.

 

TIA

[SwimmyKids]

Hopeful bump.

[8filltheheart]

I haven't taught in a co-op but my older kids have all taken foreign language 1 hr 2x a week with a homeschool class. They have completed 1 yr of language per yr in 32 weeks/yr.

 

I own BTB French, and yes, I think it is a stand alone course. With the CDs and workbooks, etc, I think it would work well for a co-op situation.

[SwimmyKids]

THANK YOU FOR INITIATING CONVERSATION! Did your kids use BTB in their twice-a-week class or was their class more for conversational proficiency and their independent studies based on BTB?

[SwimmyKids]

Bouncy bump.

[sunnyca]

I see you are not getting much feedback and I don't have an answer to your specific question so I might be of no help.

 

I teach High School Spanish to homeschooled kids once a week. I own BJU materials but chose not to use that for the class. I looked at BTB and considered it until I found a text by Houghton Mifflin that I like much better. They have French as well. My kids and the parents love the curricululum because it has audio and video components they can use at home along with the text.

 

Before I go off on a wild tangent here...I'll stop. Send me a PM if you want to know more about my teaching experience or the curriculum I use.

 

Blessings

[SwimmyKids]

What made you choose HM over BTB? I found the HM site and the choices for French materials certainly are overwhelming. CDs DVDs activities and much more. What do you use and what do ask your students to buy and use?

 

Are lessons well-laid-out or do you have to do a lot of planning?

 

I always have shied away from teaching French at the co-op bcs I have been unsure whether it can be done effectively when we meet only 1x/week. But as much as I want to give a good course, I want preparing not to be burdensome on me since I also have my own kids to teach and keep in line.

[sunnyca]

What made you choose HM over BTB? I found the HM site and the choices for French materials certainly are overwhelming. CDs DVDs activities and much more. What do you use and what do ask your students to buy and use?

 

Are lessons well-laid-out or do you have to do a lot of planning?

 

I always have shied away from teaching French at the co-op bcs I have been unsure whether it can be done effectively when we meet only 1x/week. But as much as I want to give a good course, I want preparing not to be burdensome on me since I also have my own kids to teach and keep in line.

 

Hmmm... OK, let's see if I can answer these without wandering way off topic. :001_smile: I'm prone to that.

 

I am a native Spanish speaker but my college degree and experience is in Developmental Psych --specifically as it pertains to learning. While I don't doubt the merit of the popular " teach to the child's learning style" philosophy, by experience I believe that it is a mistake to approach learning in such a narrow manner. The brain is a muscle and works best when all facets are well exercised. In my opinion, neither BJU nor BTB does a good job of providing a whole brain learning approach.

 

Is HM's product easy to teach? That's a loaded question, perhaps. In my opinion BJU and BTB would have to be so heavily supplemented (in a classroom atmosphere) that it would be much more work for me as a teacher. In any of the 3 choices, you will need to plan some type of weekly assignment syllabus and also do a class lesson plan. I don't think any of them are pick up and go.

 

I usually spend 2 hours in addition to class time in planning and grading. Since I don't have a co-op arrangement, I charge for my class. The income helps me pay for housekeeping help which eases up my load at home. In addition, I teach the classes that my children attend. I figure I would be planning some for them anyway. Are you receiving any benefit from the co-op arrangement? That might mitigate the expense of your time a little bit.

 

The HM website is overwhelming, but the materials are not. I purchase the student textbook only. The sales rep this year was great and gave me one free teacher manual, all the workbooks and online text access (that's where you get all the audio and video) for free. I purchased the Easy Planner which has the answer key to the workbook, plus a bunch of extra stuff, for less than $10 on the used market. All in all, the parents will pay much less than they would have to for the other programs and, in my opinion, receive much more.

 

I agree with you about the limits of once a week foreign language classes and for many years put off trying it myself. I have seen others try and fail and it makes me sad to see kids turn away in discouragement. Learning should be a delight and I think the right curricululm and the right atmosphere can generate great enthusiasm for a new language.

 

This is my third year; my kids are learning, they love the class, and their friends are eager to join (I don't have room for everyone.) To my great surprise, foreign language can be taught successfully once a week. BTW, this is not a boast of my own efforts ---I could be a much better teacher. :) I just think the curriculum is good, and because of that, the kids stay excited about plugging along through a subject that could otherwise be drudgery.

 

I am sorry for jumping in and de-railing your thinking...I don't think I've solved any problems for you. :tongue_smilie: So, after all of that jabbering, if I must limit myself to your choices, I'd say go with BTB. BJU, while effective, is IMHO, the more boring of the two.

 

Blessings! Whatever curriculum you choose, I pray you have much success in your teaching efforts.

 

Sunny

 

 

"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God...whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever."

1 Peter 4:10-12

[TraceyS/FL]

Sunny brings up a great point - the kids are going to have to really LIKE the book and do it at home, and from what she says, the HW sounds like what i'd want as one of your parents.

 

I think HM is what was used in my High School - it was interesting. LOL, i also know that i would have FAILED big time with 1 day a week - because i got a D in HS with it 5 days a week! :D

 

But the extra helps with videos & audio sounds great to me as a HS parent that might not have a clue how to go about teaching a foreign language. Can you say - i'm recording Span 1-3 & French 1-2 with Homesat this year? Well, DD needs to pick.... i'd rather her do French because oddly, on the sample lesson we watched i passed the quiz!

 

Anyway, good luck! (and be sure to fairly charge for any extra tutoring parents might want - DO NOT shortchange yourself!)