Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: Foreign Language

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 12 years ago by MamaSnow.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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April 8, 2013 at 7:35 am
3fallingleaves
Participant
I would love some input on how you handle foreign language–and when you begin. My children are 7, 5, 3, and baby in June. I haven’t begun any foreign language instruction yet. I am initially struggling with which one. Spanish seems to be the most popular choice and looking at our demographics of the U.S. seems much more likely to be used…BUT I studied French for 7 years in high school & college & I would be a much better French teacher–not to mention that I would enjoy it way more. That being said I haven’t found much in the way of how to gently begin introducing it to them. I feel that some fun DVDs would be good as we don’t do anything involving the TV & they would think it was way fun and I am not sure how I am going to go from current (1st grade & preschool) to next year: 2nd grade, K, a 3 y-o that wants to do school constantly & an infant…so I am hesitant to add things that require more of me…anyway I’d love any advice…
April 8, 2013 at 10:37 am
nerakr
Participant
A couple of suggestions. Take them for what they’re worth.
If you choose Spanish, there’s a very cute online program called Salsa http://www.gpb.org/salsa aimed at the age group you’re looking for. The programs are done completely in Spanish. There is a Spanish-English pdf transcript for each lesson. When we started using the program, ds would watch it, then we would go over the transcript. I would also try to incorporate as many of the target words into our daily routine. We’re on our second go around now, and ds is still wanting me to answer him in Spanish sometimes.
I have no experience with this program beyond the samples I’ve viewed: Adventure French and Adventure Spanish. http://www.adventurefrench.com. Ds is wanting to use this next year, but I’m wondering how much actual vocabulary you get for $75. But, like Salsa, it used puppets and music, unlike the next one I’m going to suggest.
Instant Replay (www.knowitall.org/instantreplay) has three levels each of Spanish, French, and German. The website says it’s aimed at primary students, but I think it’s for slightly higher grades. No music, no puppets. Just child actors who appear to be around 9 or 10 and an adult who is teaching them the target language.
I began Salsa with ds at the end of second grade b/c he asked for it. Dd5.5 has even picked up some Spanish, although she doesn’t always sit with us while we watch it on the computer. She can count to five (maybe higher) and says, “Gracias, Mama.” I’m trying to point out the colors and more numbers to her, as well.
HTH,
Karen
Oh, and I used these printables briefly:
http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/spanish-printables
http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2010/04/preschool-corner-spanish-printables/
But again, they’re for Spanish. I’m still researching French, since ds wants to do French next year but doesn’t want to use Instant Replay.
April 8, 2013 at 11:30 am
Wings2fly
Participant
We chose American Sign Language and started with the alphabet. Then I used Signing Time dvds, which we are still using. When they are older like age 10+ I plan to teach some basic latin before having them choose a latin-based language of Spanish or French. They did learn the Spanish alphabet and numbers 1-10 with educational toys on their own.
April 8, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Scoathy
Participant
Originally, when I thought we were going to be in TX, I was going to teach Spanish. But since we are now going to be in Central NY (near French speaking Canada), I have changed my mind and will be starting with French. My plans are to add Spanish in about 2-3 years. I took both Spanish and French in school, so I feel comfortable teaching both (even though I have much to relearn myself).
The short answer is: I chose our starter foreign language based off our geographical location, but will branch out to more lessons in the coming years.
I plan to add an additional language every 3 years.
April 14, 2013 at 2:10 am
mtnmama
Participant
My kids are the same age as yours and we have enjoyed La Clase Divertida levels 1 and 2. We will probably do 3 next year. They are relatively inexpensive and have lessons taught on DVD, CD for practice, craft materials included and recipes for culture lessons.
My 2nd grader also wanted to do Greek so I purchased Song School Greek.
April 14, 2013 at 3:31 pm
TailorMade
Participant
We use Mission ABC, followed by Mission Monde to study French and love it!
Becca<><
(just popped in for a minute and caught up on Rails, great links to book lists and had to answer your post. ;0) )
April 14, 2013 at 11:58 pm
3fallingleaves
Participant
Thank you all for the advice. I will be looking into all the suggestions. There is so much available out there it helps so much to tap into the knowledge of those ahead on the path! I appreciate everyone’s time and input. Now to pray I manage to juggle the four different needs next school year!!!
April 15, 2013 at 12:04 am
HollyS
Participant
Has anyone tried Getting Started With Spanish? http://apps.simplycharlottemason.com/resources/detail/82862
The Latin one is recommended in the free curriculum guide and it looks very do-able. I’ve also been struggling with a decent Spanish program at a decent price. We were using Salsa, which my younger 3 enjoyed, but my 10yo though it was too baby-ish.
April 15, 2013 at 12:29 am
Shannon
Participant
I have been looking pretty seriously at all the beginner Spanish options I can find and am not happy with any of them. I’ll keep looking…
I did buy Spanish Video Flashcards by Dragonfly Language.
http://www.amazon.com/Dragonfly-Language-Video-Flashcards-Spanish/dp/B0087KAEDI
It isn’t conversation, only naming items. But it is really well done and I feel will build up their vocabulary. It teaches more ~700 words and each lesson is ~10-20 minutes. A second volume will be out this year. They also have French 1 and will have German later this year. You can see a demo here:
http://www.dragonflylanguage.com
I bought it locally for $25 and it was there I found it was made by the brother of a local homeschooler here!
If anyone has a Spanish program they can highly recommend that isn’t too childish, that is audio or video (not just books) with native speakers and likely that hasn’t already been recommended on this forum (because I think I’ve looked at them all!), please let me know! I wish I were better qualified to make a Spanish program because there certainly seems to be a need for an excellent program for children out there!
shannon
April 15, 2013 at 12:51 am
3fallingleaves
Participant
The Mission ABC looks interesting, thanks TailorMade. Has anyone else used this? I plan to do French at this point–seems as if there are a lot less options for French unless I am still missing them!
April 15, 2013 at 1:26 am
ServingwithJoy
Participant
I am also a francophile (started at 5 and went through college with it) and understand and enjoy French, so that is what I have chosen to teach as a first foreign language. I know that in our American culture, Spanish may be more practical, but there is probably a reason that God has drawn you toward French. Maybe your children will minister in Canada, Belgium, France, or another French speaking region one day!! So I vote for teaching what you are knowledgable and comfortable teaching, for what it is worth :).
From what I understand of how Charlotte taught foreign language, this is what I do:
K-3: Vocabulary. We learn the names of things, and some basic French phrases on a daily basis. We drill, use flashcards and index card labels, and have a few minutes of conversational French – as in, “Qu’est que c’est? C’est un table, tres bien!”. We learn nouns, numbers, body parts, foods,colors…you get the idea. We also use the Little Pim videos for the youngest kids.
3-4: We use Fluenz French alongside “French in 10 minutes a Day”. And we continue learning conversational French. But we have found that Fluenz is a good transition for students who are not quite ready for….
5+: Rosetta Stone with “French in 10 Minutes a Day”, and conversational French.
This is their basic instruction material, but I also assign some French reading when I feel that some degree of facility in the language has been reached. We start with easy story books in French and continue in difficulty just as we would in learning English.
We also use Pimsleur French in the car, which has helped tremendously!
As with so many things CM, these methods feel very natural, but are incredible effective. My daughter (12yo) is reading a lot of Bronte right now and can translate most of the French on her own. She will end up being a lot better French speaker than her mother!
We also plan on taking some ‘immersion’ trips in the future, and seeking out some of the French speaking members of our community to come over and communicate with the kids. In the end, nothing in language lessons is more important than real life experience.
Obviously, we have made a significant investment in these materials over the years b/c it is important to us that the children learn a foreign language. But most of our software and materials can be used again and again, so we feel it is all right to make room in the budget for it.
We recently met a man from northern China who speaks Chinese, Russian, English, Arabic, and Urdu (sp?). He works as a translator for an export firm in China…amazing and very motivating for us as educators!!
April 15, 2013 at 8:00 am
MamaSnow
Participant
Serving with Joy: Can you tell me more about Fluenz French? How you use it, what you do/don’t like about it? We are using The Learnables for French right now, which we like well enough, but not sure that I want to stick with it or where we will go from there. I’ve heard about it before from an adult who used it and found it helpful, but would love to hear more about your experience using it with your kids.
And to the OP: If you are more comfortable with French, go for it. I grew up in the Los Angeles area where Spanish would have been a logical, “practical” choice, but ended up taking French in high school instead (simply because it interested me more). In my adult life, I have never once found myself in a situation where I really needed to know Spanish, but now the Lord has called our family to serve in Francophone Africa. Having that background knowledge of French has made picking it back up again SO MUCH easier than for my hubby who had to start from scratch. You never know how the Lord will work later on…even 15+ years later!
Jen