Foreign language advice

[Alison in KY]

I have 3 kids, all soon to be 9, 7, and 5. I have a bad attitude about teaching a foreign language (unfortunately). For some reason, okay, I'm lazy, I just dread it. I feel like I can barely keep up with things as they are...but I always vow to improve. Anyway, I feel like I should be doing something, but I just dont' know when. I know I am supposed to start with Latin, but I just saw the Hey andrew website and I liked the looks of it better - but I have no idea what the benefits of Greek are over Latin...or when I should do one or the other. The only thing I do know is that sometime before my kids graduate I would like them to study spanish...because we have alot of Mexicans in the area so it just seems to make common sense there.

So, I guess I need help planning out a future. I take the path of least resistence usually, because again, I still struggle with organization. So, what and when should I/could I start with? And do I teach all 3 at once, or one at a time? Can I do Greek for awhile and switch to Latin...or is that not a good idea because....? I just don't know where to begin on this and I can't comprehend the bigger picture to well at the moment.

Thank you,
Alison in KY

[Brindee]

You can do both the Latin AND the Greek from the Hey Andrew website at the same time! My boys did the first 3 levels of the Latin, and I asked Karen Mohs (the author, who homeschooled her children) questions over time, and she's always very polite and quick to answer any questions. She's the one who told me that since they are different enough, the Latin and Greek can be studied together without confusion. My boys were 6 & 8 when they were doing the Latin.

But if doing one, people usually start with Latin for a couple of years before starting Greek, at least that's what I've observed.

If you have any questions, they have a place on their website to write them. Karen will answer them shortly!

www.greeknstuff.com (http://www.greeknstuff.com)

[Reya]

I have 3 kids, all soon to be 9, 7, and 5. I have a bad attitude about teaching a foreign language (unfortunately). For some reason, okay, I'm lazy, I just dread it. I feel like I can barely keep up with things as they are...but I always vow to improve. Anyway, I feel like I should be doing something, but I just dont' know when. I know I am supposed to start with Latin, but I just saw the Hey andrew website and I liked the looks of it better - but I have no idea what the benefits of Greek are over Latin...or when I should do one or the other. The only thing I do know is that sometime before my kids graduate I would like them to study spanish...because we have alot of Mexicans in the area so it just seems to make common sense there.

So, I guess I need help planning out a future. I take the path of least resistence usually, because again, I still struggle with organization. So, what and when should I/could I start with? And do I teach all 3 at once, or one at a time? Can I do Greek for awhile and switch to Latin...or is that not a good idea because....? I just don't know where to begin on this and I can't comprehend the bigger picture to well at the moment.

Thank you,
Alison in KY

The very easiest thing to do would be to do Latin now through Rosetta Stone and then Artes Latinae (both computer-based, with no teacher requires) and then have them take Spanish at the community college. Or you can do The Learnables or one of a bazillion other teacher-free Spanish programs and, again, have them take Spanish at the community college high school to make sure their education is up to snuff.

If you don't like foreign language, I really wouldn't do Greek.

WHATEVER you choose, I'd do only one language for an entire year and would add no more than one language a year.

[In The Great White North]

If you really want an easy way to do foreign languages, check out all your DVDs. Children's half hour shows are best because they're short enough to remember phrases. Most of them have Spanish also, simply select Spanish in the initial menu and pop it in. Do not play English subtitles. Pick ones your dc are happy to watch over and over, then let them. After watching it 10 - 100 times, they'll learn a lot of Spanish. (Just remember, when they are singing the Barney song in Spanish for the 1000th time, that they're learning a foreign language!:))

When they want to know what it means (ie. learn more), get them Powerglide, Rosetta Stone or whatever and let them play with it.

Spanish is the absolutely easiest language for an English-speaker to learn because it has common Latin roots with English and is not highly inflected like Latin or Greek. It is also the easiest to practice (radio, TV, DVDs, books, etc) in the US.

[Alison in KY]

bumped

[pmegan]

I think it can be very hard to teach a language, particularly if you're not good at them (I am awful!). Language and piano are the two things I intend on outsourcing to private tutors. Is that an option for you?

[Alison in KY]

at this point i can't afford to pay for it...maybe when high school comes around, but that is a while away. thanks for the answers.

alison

[pmegan]

I read about this in the NYT a few weeks ago and bookmarked it... I don't really know what it's all about, but it might be worth looking into?

http://www.livemocha.com/

[Rosie_0801]

Why not start with Spanish, since that sounds the most important to you, and there is a use for it in your local area? Programs like Rosetta Stone are a good way to outsource so you don't have to be more involved than your mood dictates ;)
What are your children's opinions? If you aren't that fussed about languages, why not let them decide? If they aren't fussed either, you don't need to worry and can focus on other things. If they create a major burst of enthusiasm, well that's inspiration for you!
:)
Rosie

[Donna]

We also live in a very hispanic populated area so I thought it would be most useful plus it gives the kids an opportunity to speak the language with real people....at the Spanish market, with neighbors, with other people we know.

I intend for them to start Latin in another year or two.

BTW I am using Rosetta Stone and they really like it. Started a few other programs (Muzzy and another CD one they listened to in the car) but they didn't really get much out of those.