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Foreign language at the high school level
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We have Rosetta Stone Version 2 Spanish, but not Version 3. When my ds was in jr high he used the entire first year’s worth of lessons, and then went back through the same material a second time, and then used the 2nd year’s worth of material … and is still not very conversational. He has learned to read it decently though.
Now he is needing to work on foreign language at the high school level. Should I have him do the Version 2 that I already own again, but add the workbook component? Or should I buy Version 3? Or get another program altogether?
I really want him to actually be able to *speak* the language by the time he graduates. I spent almost 4 years between high school and college learning Spanish and still can’t speak it … hoping for something more effective in our home school. Honest opinions?
~ Jenn
Honestly, I don’t think Rosetta Stone (or any other curriculum program) alone is going to teach anyone how to really speak a foreign language. The only way you can learn to speak it is by speaking it. Do you know someone who speaks Spanish that would be willing to have regular conversational practice with him?
I took 4 years of HS French, let it lay dormant for 15 years, refreshed it a little bit with Levels 1-2 of Rosetta Stone, but it wasn’t until we moved to France and I had to speak it on a regular basis that I really learned how to speak it.
HTH some,
Jen
I also need to start my boys with a language, particularly the one starting high school this year. I’m watching this thread to see whether folks have found some other program more effective than Rosetta Stone.
Hi Jenn,
This may not be much help, but my son did the Homeschool Rosetta Stone German Levels 1 & 2 in high school (9th and 10th grade) and still was not able to speak it conversationally. Have you seen Tell Me More? I’ve heard great things about it.
Blessings, Heather
Jen, you said *exactly* what my husband just said when I asked him his opinion not 10 minutes ago. Sigh. I know you guys are probably right. And Heather, it does help to hear that actually … it at least helps to confirm what I’ve suspected (that Rosetta Stone is not capable of producing the results I was looking for.)
I might be able to find someone who would be willing to converse with him. I’ll check into that. I wonder what that would cost? I would love to move overseas but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.
So… if I find out anything that might be helpful, I’ll let you guys know. Jenn, if it’s Spanish you want, then there was something Sonya mentioned some months ago–homeschool mom Shirley Solis has some sort of online conversation class. I can’t remember the details except it was called LALI, I think. I have a very cryptic note saying “Shirley Solis LALI” LOL So. Another thing would be to look in your community. My church has a large number of Spanish speaking people, and so does my wider community. Local colleges are another place to look–a student might not charge much for some conversation.
Bookworm, that bit about the cryptic note is pretty funny. I have so many of those stuck to various surfaces around my house. Glad I’m not the only one. 🙂
The online conversation sounds interesting… I’ll google it and see what turns up. I know Potter’s School offers something like that too but only for students enrolled in their regular online class and I just can’t swing the $500.
There are a lot of native Spanish speakers here … that’s a good place to start. Thanks. 🙂
Well that was easy… is this it?
I also worry that my kids will spend 2 plus years trying to learn a language and not actually speak it and I think what’s the point then other than the credit? Can someone who has done this, started in HS explain what you used or how you managed to do this (if you don’t have someone who is fluent in a langauge avialable to talk with, as I live in the country)? We are doing sign langague and I think we’ll be able to speak to some degree better in that then in a language!
I would say it is still worthwhile to study a foreign language in HS, even if the spoken componenent isn’t availalable to you. It will lay a foundation that will make it much easier to pick that language up again if necessary later on, or to learn another one. As I said before…I couldn’t really speak much French even after 4 years in high school (traditional public school setting), but now – 15+ years later – I am in a situation to need to actually be able to speak it it has been SOO much easier for me to pick it back up again than for my hubby who didn’t have that foundation. I’m not starting completely from scratch and already have a good idea of the general structure/grammar of the language, can understand a lot, etc. Obviously regular conversation practice would be the ideal, but I wouldn’t give it up entirely (or feel like it is a waste that you are only doing for credits) if that’s not an option for you.
FWIW,
Jen
I fiddled around with various Foreign Language courses when my dc were in elementary school. For high school I sent them to public school just to take Spanish class. They were still homeschooled for the rest. It was a great decision for us. I have a homeschool friend who is a licensed Spanish teacher and she did the same. I asked her why and she said it works better to learn a language in a group setting.
Hi! I like the CM approach for education, but I also gain a lot of insight from Memoria Press’s newsletter/catalog “Classical Teacher.” The most recent issue had an article addressing learning a foreign language. In the article, Cheryl Lowe stated pretty much what Jen said. You cannot truly learn to speak a language unless you are immersed in it. However, you can study the vocabulary, the grammar structure, etc. so that if you have the opportunity to be immersed in it, you have the background and can learn it easily.
I know this to be true with Spanish. I took 2 years of basic Spanish in college. My first paid teaching position involved many Hispanic students. I could look up words I needed to know and pronounce them properly because I had that background. My students and I could communicate quite well, but we could not carry on a lengthy, regularly paced conversation. My students, on the other hand, learned English quickly – they were immersed in it. My husband took 3 years of Spanish in high school and some in college I think. He DOES speak Spanish fluently, but he also has had Spanish speaking employees for the past 14 years, so he HAS to be able to communicate to a degree. I think speaking a foreirn language is just like anything else….You have to practice!
If you are interested in reading the above mentioned article, here is the link:
http://www.memoriapress.com/articles/natural-method-not-natural.html
Currclick Live has recently had live classes in languages. There is a Spanish high school level class–I don’t have personal experience with that one, but it might be worth looking into. The Currclick classes are much more reasonably priced than most online classes. My middle son is taking German at Currclick and LOVES it–I can recommend that teacher highly (he teaches German and French). My son had previously been trying to self-study using a computer program and books, but this class has helped him immensely. He recently was able to have a pretty good conversation with a friend who had been a missionary in Germany. I was very impressed for the results for my money!
So… if I find out anything that might be helpful, I’ll let you guys know. 
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