Traditional Foreign Language programs

[Shelly in the Country]

I'm doing some advance research for high school and was wondering if anyone could recommend some traditional foreign language programs. I'm not looking for something like Rosetta Stone. I've read in some places that Rosetta Stone is incomplete since it does not teach all verb conjugations? I would prefer a textbook based program anyway. I'm also looking for something that could be used for 4 years of high school. I've noticed a lot of programs only have two levels available. My dd thinks she would like to take Spanish one day, but French and German recommendations would be welcome too in case she changes her mind. TIA

[Brindee]

Are you waiting to start a foreign language until highschool? I'd dabble in languages NOW and see what she might be interested in. It's easier for them to learn when younger, and you could include the littles in it too. They won't neccessarily learn huge amounts, but they'll learn some things and be very proud of it! :D

 

We did different things, then last year my dd started using Visual Link Spanish http://www.learnspanishtoday.com/ She loved it! She was doing it on-line and they ended up offering a special that was 1/3 of the cost, so we couldn't resist buying it! She used it a lot, and learned a lot. She didn't do much with languages this year, but next year we're doing more with Logic, languages, and writing, since those are the main areas we're lacking in.

 

We're going to still work with the Visual Link Spanish, but also 2 other programs as a variety. She may settle in to doing well with one particular program, so we'll go with that one at that point.

 

Anyway, I'm just saying, you may not want to put it totally off until highschool. If she has a base to draw from, she'll do better in highschool languages!

 

I don't know of any 4 year language courses, but, as there are many different ones, you could sort of cut and paste your own program over a 4-year time span from 2-yr programs you see and like.... Just an idea.

[Chris in VA]

Ds also used Visual Link--it is a pretty interesting way of learning basic Spanish.

We also used Allez, Viens! for French; we bought the cd roms to use, also, but they are pretty pricey. It is a good intro, tho. We also used French in Action. Annenberg has some free videos, and we bought the tapes (cassettes) and some of the workbooks, used. It was a good program, because you really hear a lot of the language. I liked Allez, Viens better, tho, because it was more of a traditional course, like I took in school.

 

I can also heartily recommend you get a tutor or join some sort of language club, where your child can get conversational practice. There's just nothing like it.

[mcconnellboys]

My older son used BJU's Spanish when he was a freshman, but I don't now recall if they have four levels of Spanish available. It was a thorough program with a CD component, tests and quizzes, etc.

 

I've been hearing that Rosetta Stone is adding to its programming to include writing and grammar components, so you might check with them to see how far they've progressed.

[MKW]

I am planning to use Discovering French Nouveau by McDougal Littell. I bought the student text DVD-rom ebay and the teacher texts on Amazon. It was very inexpensive. The DVD-rom has the entire student textbook, audio features and videos. I believe this program has three levels, not four. We haven't actually used it yet, so I can't give you a BTDT perspective. But it looks like it will work for us, and I like the features of the DVD-rom.

[Shelly in the Country]

Thank you for the recommendations, I will look into those :001_smile:. German recommendations anyone? The reason I am looking for 4 year programs is in case my children want to take either AP tests, or back in the day I took an SAT subject test for French....I don't know if those are still done or not. I don't want to start a two year program, have my children decide they want to go on to do an AP test for a foreign language and have to scramble to finish up two more years of a foreign language. I'm a big believer in not changing horses mid-stream.

 

Oh and as for starting a foreign language early. I've thought of offering it up to her in 7th or 8th grade, but I'd like her to get more Latin under her belt first.

[Annie G]

Oklahoma State University's German Online is great. Our older two girls took German at local high schools but our youngest dd opted for the OSU route and after just one year has learned so much more than her sisters did in their first year course. She's so excited about it that she's starting the next course and working over the summer. The support has been awesome and the topics interesting.

[Gwen in VA]

I have heard great things about OSu's German. A close friend IRL was HIGHLY sceptical of an online language program, and she is now such a fan of OSU's program!