Foreign language instruction

[purpleowl]

What paths have you taken, or do you plan to take, with your child(ren) regarding foreign language instruction? I have some questions below to provide some possible direction for discussion, but don't feel like you have to answer all of them, and feel free to add things I didn't think of as well.

• Which language(s), and how did/will you decide?
• When did/will you begin instruction--at what age (or other marker for readiness), and if more than one foreign language, when in relation to the first language did you start the second?
• When did/will you cease instruction, and what factors went/will go into your decision to stop?
• If you have more than one child, did/will your children follow the same path?

 

DD#1 loves Latin, and I love trying to figure out options and develop plans for the future (plans that are very much subject to change). So I'm just curious about how others approach language study in general. :)

 

[MinivanMom]

We started with French in 1st grade, because our oldest was excited about the language. Also, I bought into the idea that you should start with the language your child is most passionate about and the idea that you should start with a spoken language first. We studied on our own using Galore Park French programs, and then we switched to an online class with a fluent French teacher in 7th grade. 

 

We added Latin in 6th grade, because our oldest was excited about the language after prepping for spelling bees and studying word roots. I never imagined we would be a Latin family, but my oldest two have really benefited from the language. 

 

Our oldest continues to study both languages, because she enjoys both. She is our strong language girl so two languages have been doable for her, but I think she's a bit more passionate about French. Our second has followed the same path as our first, but is more interested in Latin than French. He is talking about dropping French in high school to focus only on Latin. Our third has no interest in Latin whatsoever, so she will probably keep studying just French. 

[lllll]

nm

Edited December 12, 2016 by ..Kathy..

[shadah]

 

• Which language(s), and how did/will you decide?

  We decided based on opportunities for that language.

• When did/will you begin instruction--at what age (or other marker for readiness), and if more than one foreign language, when in relation to the first language did you start the second?

  German-from birth. We lived there then.

  Spanish-4yo We moved and had Spanish-speaking neighbors.

  Russian-7yo again neighbors. We choose to live in the city in a multilingual neighborhood even though we could live cheaper and in a larger house somewhere else.

  Latin and Greek-8yo local intro class and then interest-led at home. She hated the class but loved the languages. Basically, she told me she could do better by herself and I said prove it. She's doing great. Kid's are funny, aren't they?

• When did/will you cease instruction, and what factors went/will go into your decision to stop?

  We haven't dropped any. Russian is for fun and could be dropped any time she wanted. Latin and Greek I made the rule that if I buy the course she finishes the course. German and Spanish she may drop when she goes to college.

• If you have more than one child, did/will your children follow the same path?

  My 5yo has heard German from birth, chants Latin, and loves Spanish. He is not as language oriented and will probably do two maybe three and maybe on a slower progression. I realize my kids are still young and some of this is conjecture. So far, he has folded in on most of what she does. He listens, repeats, chants, watches cartoons, plays memory and headventureland. So, who knows?

DD#1 loves Latin, and I love trying to figure out options and develop plans for the future (plans that are very much subject to change). So I'm just curious about how others approach language study in general. :)</p></p></p></p>

We obviously love languages having lived overseas. I would first run through courses your library has. They are fun and no commitment. We did adult audio courses in the car and kids courses, videos, cds, etc. for school. That gave me a good idea what we liked and what we could do. I did not purchase a German course we committed to until last year. We did a little bit of everything and loved it that way. Dd is 8 and wants more organized goal-oriented learning so we have curriculum for everything except Russian. I can't fit it in as an "official" study so we just play with it - alphabet, songs, phrases.

You know the only way to fail at a foreign language is to not do it.

[Monica_in_Switzerland]

We are a bilingual family, so have a pretty heavy LA load already to keep both English and French on level.  

 

We added in a foreign language (German) when oldest was in 3rd and next kid was in 1st.  We started in 3rd because we were legally required to (live in Switzerland) and started dd in 1st because it seemed silly not to have her tag along.  Given freedom to choose, I would have started in 5th probably.  I felt 3rd was too early since our primary language(s)'s grammar wasn't yet solid.  

 

Kids here begin English as a foreign language in 5th grade, though very slowly, as a second foreign language.  I think I will probably hold off on a second foreign language until 6th or so, and then do Latin.  

 

We use a tutor 2x 45 minutes a week and standard textbook/workbook, as well as daily duolingo and a review book.  I have zero German and didn't want to tackle learning alongside.  

 

For Latin, I will either tackle learning alongside or try an online class.  

 

 

[Loesje22000]

What paths have you taken, or do you plan to take, with your child(ren) regarding foreign language instruction? I have some questions below to provide some possible direction for discussion, but don't feel like you have to answer all of them, and feel free to add things I didn't think of as well.

• Which language(s), and how did/will you decide?
• When did/will you begin instruction--at what age (or other marker for readiness), and if more than one foreign language, when in relation to the first language did you start the second?
• When did/will you cease instruction, and what factors went/will go into your decision to stop?
• If you have more than one child, did/will your children follow the same path?

DD#1 loves Latin, and I love trying to figure out options and develop plans for the future (plans that are very much subject to change). So I'm just curious about how others approach language study in general. :)

We add about each 2 years another language so far.

Some languages gave more results then others.

How much time we spend on it, and dds motivation for a language seem more important then what we used.

 

In a stem track dd would have had less languages, but she preferred German an Latin above more hours of math and physics...

English and French are required here, anyway.

 

We started Latin at age 9, but starting at 11 would have had the same end results.

So I'm not convinced of starting classical languages early has its benefits

[OnMyOwn]

We started Spanish at home with the La Clase elementary series in 5th grade for my dd and 7th for my son. We went with Spanish mostly because it was the only language I could find decent, engaging materials for that were targeted to that age. My ds then moved on to Sr. Gamache's class in 9th grade and is doing Spanish 3 with him right now. He may take one more semester at the community college next fall because the college he is interested in requires a 200-level course or higher in a foreign language and he'd like to take it now while it's fresh for him. For my son, it has all been with the goal of meeting academic requirements.

 

My dd went through Spanish 1 with Homeschool Spanish Academy in 6th grade with their middle school program, which was great. When we tried to move on to their high school Spanish 2, we were very unhappy with the program. So we switched to OSU's self-paced Spanish 1 (since there was a big difference between the programs) and also did Spanish 2 with them. Then, OSU shut down their program. So, we switched to Ray Leven's Spanish 2 when my dd was in 7th grade. Even though she had high A's in Spanish 1 and 2, Ray felt she was too young for his Spanish 3 class. At the time, I found that frustrating, but now I completely understand why. So, my dd is now in Ray's Spanish 4 class and will likely take his AP class next year. In addition, she does a weekly session through Spanish121 to practice conversational skills and she will attend a summer immersion camp for the first time this summer.

 

My dd also started Latin in 5th grade. We went with a local coop that uses Lingua Latina and breaks the first year of Latin up over 3 years. In 8th grade, she did Latin 2 with Lone Pine because they also use Lingua Latina. This year, she is currently taking Latin 3 at Lukeion and she plans to take AP Latin with them next year in 10th grade.

 

My dd is quite strong in both languages and I attribute some of this to all the repetition she had in the early years. She could have learned the grammar in a year or two, but stretching it out over a longer period of time really reinforced it and helped her internalize it.

 

The whole reason we originally started the languages was for enrichment for my dd. She was getting all her schoolwork done in a couple of hours a day and I thought she could use something else to challenge and engage her. She has really enjoyed it and her language classes are still her favorite classes. After we started, I thought it would be also be great for her because I thought she could take the AP level in both languages by 9th grade at the latest and knock out her foreign language requirements early. As you can see, there were some bumps in the road that made that goal out if reach, but it was for the best. One thing I didn't understand earlier on was that you not only need to know the language well, but you need to be able to write a strong argumentative essay for the Latin exam and you need to be able to write a persuasive essay in Spanish for the AP Spanish exam. Next year, will be the perfect time for my dd to do that. This year or any earlier would have been pushing it because of the writing skills that are needed.

Edited February 5, 2017 by OnMyOwn

[purduemeche]

We chose Latin because of the regularity of conjugation and declensions, connection to classic cultures, preparation for other romance languages in the future, improved English reading, and (eventually) the desire for our children to read the canon of early church theology in the original language.

 

We start in 3rd grade with Prima Latina, then move through the Memoria Press progression.  We do not focus on one year per book, but rather take the time needed to master the material.  Our 7th grader is taking a break from new lessons and only doing translation worksheets since we noticed he is struggling with the perfect tense.

 

We used Rosetta Stone for a year, but found it severely lacks in the grammar of a language, which is where the real benefit comes in knowing a language.  I would recommend Rosetta Stone only for supplemental learning in high school to aid with conversation.

 

Our plan is to complete Latin through high school.  We have dreams of adding Greek and Amharic (native tongue of adopted children), but we will see.

 

One other piece of advice - if one of the parents knows the language (or at least can stay a lesson ahead of the most advanced student), then learning becomes so much more easy and enjoyable.