Spanish or Latin? Or Both?

[kentuckymom]

I've got just about everything decided for my first year of homeschooling my 11 year old next year, but now I'm vacillating on languages. I'd really like him to learn some Latin, both for the benefits of Latin and because the school we would otherwise have sent him to has all sixth graders take Latin and, on the tiny chance we sent him there for 7th grade, it would be nice for him to have the option to continue with Latin if he so chose.

 

That said, long term I feel like it makes a lot more sense to teach him Spanish. I am a former Spanish teacher. I have an MA in Spanish Literature and I'm still proficient. His 5 year old sister will be attending a Spanish Immersion elementary school. Making learning Spanish a family thing would be fun, I think. Also, though I had Latin in high school and really enjoyed it, I know I'd need a lot less handholding  to teach Spanish than I would to teach Latin.

 

So, what should I do? Just do one year of Latin and then move into Spanish? Do one year of Latin and then let him choose? Ditch the Latin plan and do Spanish right away? Or could we do both? Would I be setting myself up for failure as a first year homeschooler by trying to cover two languages?

 

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[desertflower]

I had both latin and spanish in high school. Then a little more spanish in college. I love both.

 

At this point in time I'm teaching both with all 3 children. They love both. Are there going to be any repercussions? I don't know.

 

It's not rigorous around here. I'm not making my 7 yo write in spanish or latin yet. Just having fun. Gettting used to the languages.

 

If you have the time and have the right curriculum, I don't see why not. It may not be as much work as you think it'll be especially since your youngest is going to a spanish immersion school. It would benefit both to learn spanish together. This way they could practice on each other.

 

Good luck and enjoy the journey!

[tmstranger]

My kids are doing both. 

 

We started homeschooling last year and my then 11yo started Latin.  We waited until this year to start Spanish.  We hosted a Spanish student last summer, so that really got them excited to learn. 

 

This year, my little one started both Spanish and Latin, but he's going much slower than older ds.

 

So, my vote is both!

[maize]

In your case, I'm throwing in another vote for both. If I had to pick one, though, it would be Spanish.

[kalusignan]

What does your ds want to do? Since he's 11, I would definitely take that into consideration. Otherwise, since it's your first year homeschooling, I would stick with Spanish and have fun.

 

I've wrestled with this issue myself. My dd3 goes to Spanish immersion preschool, and my dd8 will be starting Latin next year, although I've considered doing Spanish with her because it would be nice for it to be a family thing. But, I don't speak/know any Spanish, and she's more interested in Latin at this point. So each of my girls will be doing her own thing next year.

[3 ladybugs]

My son is 7 and learning German and Latin. I would do both too. Don't limit yourself. You already sound like you have WAY more experience then I do (never had German or Latin, I took ASL) so might as well use it. 😉

[MinivanMom]

Another vote for both. My middle school kids are studying both French and Latin, but they enjoy both languages. What does your son want to do?

[Sahamamama]

Both is possible, but how much you progress in a language depends, to some extent, on how much time you invest in learning it. What are your goals? How much time do you want to invest in each language, and what else do you have in your line-up for the upcoming year? How quickly do you want to master one language? What motivates you to study this language? Will it all realistically fit into an actual week or month or year?

 

FWIW, at your son's age (before high school), I would venture into both, because that is part of the joy of homeschooling -- we get to explore our interests in ways that might not be available to those in traditional schools (or later on). So "get your feet wet" in Latin, just to know what Latin is all about. And certainly leverage your teaching ability in Spanish, since that is something you value enough to have studied it yourself!

 

We have been studying both Latin and French here for a few years, and we enjoy each language for different reasons. We like learning Latin because it comes up again and again, everywhere! :) The grammar of Latin is connected to the grammar of English and French, so each strengthens our understanding of the other. The vocabulary of Latin is connected, as well, and this has sparked interest in how these languages are related and how they developed. I think that gradually studying Latin and/or another Romance language and/or German over a number of years would give a student so many tools for understanding English (and language in general) at a deep, meaningful level.

[kentuckymom]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I'll talk to him about it, but we might go ahead and try both. I'm glad to hear that others have done similar things successfully.