Two languages in Middle School?

[Angela in NC]

I have been working through Henle 1 and Rosetta Stone Spanish with my 6th gr. dd. She is very intelligent in all areas of academics, but I am questioning why I am doing two languages with her. She has told me that she does not want to continue Latin after Henle 1, but does want to become fluent enough in Spanish that she could work as a translator at a MD's office during H.S. (In my area, she very well could). She herself plans to become a M.D. My question is: Do I keep her going at this pace or let her finish Henle 1 in 8th grade and concentate her H.S. years on Spanish? Please advise. Thank you.

[Beth in Central TX]

I think the answer to your question depends on the goals you have regarding Latin & Spanish. In our homeschool, we teach Latin & Koine Greek starting in 2nd grade, and we will continue these languages until they graduate. Our goal is to have our boys read original texts in Latin and the New Testament in Greek during their high school years. Therefore, it's important for us to continue these studies during middle school. In my opinion, your daughter's Latin work will greatly enhance her study of Spanish, so I would continue them both.

[Pensguys]

Beth, what are you using for Koine Greek?

I'll have a 6th grader.

[Beth in Central TX]

We started with the Greek Alphabetarion by Bluedorn and moved into the Elementary Greek series by Gatchell. We'll finish up Vol III this year, so I think we're moving into New Testament Greek for Beginners by Machen next year.

[Pensguys]

Do you think it is fine for a 6th grader to start with EG, or would you start with something else at this age?

[Pensguys]

Nevermind....:rolleyes: I did more searches and found my answers (where you replied to others before).

thanks!!!

[ballzy]

Hi Penny,

Would you mind sharing what you found out? I plan on starting my 7th grader with Koine Greek and was thinking of using Elementary Greek. I don't know what else is available.

Thanks.

Colleen

[Pensguys]

Well, I saw my "famous" :D voices on a thread (Karenciavo, Beth in Ctrl Tx, Mama Lynx and others I can't remember right now, no offense meant) that were talking about using following EG series from 6-8th, then Machen or Mounce or HSGI in 9th, some for 10th and then possibly readers like Mounce's "A Graded Reader of Biblical Greek".

I didn't read the whole thread but most of it and the names were running together, so I figured this (above) was a good approach and I'd worry about the rest later when those who go before me can report on how the Machen/Mounce/HSGI are working. ;)

[Sue G in PA]

Your dd has some specific goals in mind. Assuming these goals don't change, it seems that Spanish concentration would serve her very well. As a tranlator OR a doctor. Our country is becoming more and more a 2 language country w/ Spanish spoken in many states. Don't get me wrong (just so I won't be booed:D), Latin is important. BUT, consider your goals as Beth said. Yours seem much different than hers. Latin is a "dead language" as far as it's use in the US. That's not to say it isn't important to learn or be familiar with! However, unless your goal is as Beth described for her dc or something similar, you might just let her concentrate on Spanish. I'm already thinking a bunch about my dc and their skills/abilities/gifts and where it might take them and trying to tailor-make a curriculum to best enhance those skills, KWIM? Just to reiterate...I'm not knocking Latin! :D

[Beth in Central TX]

Here's a link to the recent Greek post if you want to see more of discussion: http://67.202.21.157/forums/showthread.php?t=7352

[Mama Lynx]

I think that Latin is a valuable study for a doctor - it will serve her well in the end. That said, finishing Henle I is a good bit of Latin.

If she truly does not wish to go further, and if you do not have specific Latin goals for her after Henle I, I would probably: Have her continue with Latin through 8th grade, and then allower her to do Spanish to her heart's content in high school.

[mcconnellboys]

That sounds like a good plan to me.

My son stopped doing Spanish during 7-8th grades so he could do more work in Latin. He finished up through Latin II in ninth grade and began high school level Spanish that year. He's decided he does not want to continue with Latin, but will continue with Spanish through at least next year.

Regena

[Friederike in Persia]

your dd sounds rather bright, why not have her do 2 languages? If she doesn't want to continue with Latin, she could choose another language. Many translators are required to speak 2 languages. The daughter of a friend needed 3 (including English) to translate at the UN.

[Laura Corin]

your dd sounds rather bright, why not have her do 2 languages? If she doesn't want to continue with Latin, she could choose another language. Many translators are required to speak 2 languages. The daughter of a friend needed 3 (including English) to translate at the UN.

My plan for my boys is for them to take three foreign languages (two living, one dead) until at least the age of sixteen, then at least two thereafter.

Laura

[ballzy]

Here's a link to the recent Greek post if you want to see more of discussion: http://67.202.21.157/forums/showthread.php?t=7352

Colleen