Foreign Languages

[choirfarm]

Ok.. this is what gets ditched or the short end of the stick in our homeschool. My 8th grade son has started Latin Christina twice and gotten 3/4 of the way through the first book both times before it has disappeared. This year we started Latin Road with his 6th grade brother and we made it through the first two chapters before life got busy.. Part of it is that between co-op on Wednesday and piano lessons, other activities Thursday afternoons as well as misc. doctor appointments for us and taking care of my disabled father, etc it got dropped. Next year I have already said I'm not teaching children's choir and I think we have decied no co-op. But dh MUST do the science labs as I am unable.

We have also done Rosetta Stone. My oldest finished 4 units of level 1 2 years ago in preparation for our Mission Trip to Honduras. We didn't do it last year. This year we have done it again, but the cd keeps messing up and/or he keeps getting his computer privileges withdrawn. So I'm thinking maybe I need another Spanish program that you don't use the computer for but need minimal involvement from me since I don't speak Spanish.... Sigh.. He is on unit 3 at the moment, but once again is not allowed on this computer. ( He overrode parental controls.)

So as I plan his 9th grade year. I'm not sure what to do. His 7th grade brother could do the same thing, but my oldest moves about twice as fast as he does. Trying to do Latin Road together really didn't work.

So... next year he will be doing TOG Redesigned 3 Rhetoric, Apologia Chemistry, Chalkdust Geometry, IEW Essay writing intensive and TOG writing as well. So which and what foreign language would be good. I really need for it to be independent. I've got a lot to supervise with the 7th grader as well as my 2nd grader that year.

Christine

[Violet]

Ok.. this is what gets ditched or the short end of the stick in our homeschool. My 8th grade son has started Latin Christina twice and gotten 3/4 of the way through the first book both times before it has disappeared. This year we started Latin Road with his 6th grade brother and we made it through the first two chapters before life got busy.. Part of it is that between co-op on Wednesday and piano lessons, other activities Thursday afternoons as well as misc. doctor appointments for us and taking care of my disabled father, etc it got dropped. Next year I have already said I'm not teaching children's choir and I think we have decied no co-op. But dh MUST do the science labs as I am unable.

We have also done Rosetta Stone. My oldest finished 4 units of level 1 2 years ago in preparation for our Mission Trip to Honduras. We didn't do it last year. This year we have done it again, but the cd keeps messing up and/or he keeps getting his computer privileges withdrawn. So I'm thinking maybe I need another Spanish program that you don't use the computer for but need minimal involvement from me since I don't speak Spanish.... Sigh.. He is on unit 3 at the moment, but once again is not allowed on this computer. ( He overrode parental controls.)

So as I plan his 9th grade year. I'm not sure what to do. His 7th grade brother could do the same thing, but my oldest moves about twice as fast as he does. Trying to do Latin Road together really didn't work.

So... next year he will be doing TOG Redesigned 3 Rhetoric, Apologia Chemistry, Chalkdust Geometry, IEW Essay writing intensive and TOG writing as well. So which and what foreign language would be good. I really need for it to be independent. I've got a lot to supervise with the 7th grader as well as my 2nd grader that year.

Christine

Have you considered signing them up for an online foreign language course? I know Potter's School and Angus Dei have junior high level programs. I know it's pricey, but if you can afford it, it might be a good way to get committed about a language. You could start with your 8th grader and hold off on your younger child for now. Anyhow, this is what I would do, and what I am considering doing next year because I have a hard time keeping up with Latin and my child is ahead of me in the subject. ;) I am just not sure how easy it would be for a child to learn a language well independently other than through something like Rosetta Stone. I have heard that So You Really Want to Learn Spanish from Galore Park is great, but I don't know how independent it is. Finally, since he'll be in 9th grade, you could probably enroll him in an entry level foreign language class at the local community college.

Anita

[Myra]

I do know that Cambridge Latin has an independent learner component - I haven't used it but have "seen" it. Basically it tells what assignments to do daily in the student's text, the workbook, and other assignments. However, like any other program you must make the committment to do it daily and follow its guidelines - no one is there checking up on you. So if you need "person" to keep you/son on track, then an on-line course or co-op - or tutor might be a better choice for you.

Myra