Hey y'all, I know this is a little soon to be thinking about it, but I can't get it off my mind. I'm hsing my dd (4) using the K4 A Beka curriculum. My ds will be 2 in January. My question is about foreign language. I know the younger you introduce a foreign language, the easier it is for the young'uns to retain the info. I have really found no information about teaching FL in elementary grades, though. I'd love to teach French and Spanish (and in the process learn some myself). Do y'all have any advice? TIA
I have been looking into starting my kids on a forign language as well...I know of quite a few folks who have used the "Muzzy" videos to teach their little ones and they love them...I also know that at my local Borders they have sing-a-tapes and a work book and things in Clifford and Arthur...I am thinking of picking them up for the little ones. It seems that they pick up the language more through conversation and then of course interaction at young ages instead of being "taught"...IDK, these may not be the answer but if nothing else I would think that they would be great companions to some sort of cirriculum.
Jen, I teach Spanish to my preschoolers and I just look up information on the internet. I don't formally teach it however, they know many words in Spanish, and I DON'T speak a single sentence of it. I know people who do, but I'm learning right along with them. I think even learning basic words at that age can be useful (thank you, please, goodbye, etc.).
I got a CD that it Spanish-English Rock and play it for Sami alot.. the songs say every in both spanish and English.. I d on't know spanish but already catch myself singing it cause the tune is catchy.. Hola! HEllo! Me llama Maria, My name is Maria etc... It has seperate songs for numbers and colors etc. I got a spanish program on cassete tapes but haven't even looked at it yet..
I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but, there is a book called Flipflop Spanish and the author is Suzanne Gose. She is our *local* Spanish teacher. Worth a look. I haven't settled on a Spanish program yet. I like the look of Rosetta Stone and the approach but...it's about $200 so.....
Sheila: My kids are 8 and 9 and just started using Rosetta Stone this fall. We like it because of its "immersion in the language" philosophy instead of memorization. It is pricey, but we figure the lessons in level one will take about two years for them to cover, so the per year cost is not that bad. I don't know how helpful it would be for pre- or early-readers, though. There are parts of the lesson where you have to be able to read and write the Spanish. That's why we waited until our kids were fairly good readers. Hope this helps. Carol
Carol, Thank you for the feedback on Rosetta Stone. My oldest is an avid reader so...not a problem there. We just have the dorky Jumpstart Spanish which is great for early on but....it's not cutting it anymore for my 6.5 year old. I remember some Spanish but...have definately forgotten more than I remember. That whole thing of two years in high school....what a joke. I remember all the words I learned as a kid.
We bought software that my dd uses now. She is in 3rd grade so I'm not sure how appropriate it would be for a non-reader or early reader. However, I think it's an excellent program and so easy to learn. The website is www.unforgettablelanguages.com
Last year, I bought Power Glide French for my kids; I felt it was a real waste of my money. I HATED it!!! It was suppose to be "immersion", but it drove me crazy!!! The kids enjoyed a Usborne book I got for about $4 at Half-Price Books much better! This year, I found out that our public library had Rosetta Stone on-line...FREE! Both my girls are doing it. They do the lesson on-line, and take the test when they feel they're "ready". They're doing very well. I speak excellent "survival French"...I had four years in High School, and three semesters in college. It's rather rusty, but good enough to help them through a good bit.
Aaaargh Jackie, I wish my library did that! I did find a great deal though. I got Rosetta Stone Spanish for my dd and German for my oldest for about a third of the regular price! I just happened to find the good deal on line! Both my ds and dd love it! None of my three liked the Power-Glide either, so much so that they didn't even want to do French anymore! Wish I wouldn't have wasted time and money on that! Some people love it though, so I guess it works for them! My other ds is doing Greek, though it's not Rosetta Stone. He really likes it also! So we're much happier with our language programs this year!
Hey Jen, Did you check into it yet? My two that are using it are really enjoying it, though we need to get the English/Spanish (for dd) and the English/German (for ds) to figure out some of the words and how they are connected. Jackie, What are you doing on-line? How do you do that?
Deena, our local library has it. You got to have a library card. I don't know how it works, but we're doing it anyway.
Jackie, So you go to the library and the girls do their language study there, on-line? Or is it something you check out and bring home to do? Is it Rosetta Stone or some other language thing? You have piqued my interest---sorry for all the questions!
Deena, I haven't had the opportunity yet. I've got it down on my list of things to do, though. Darn if that list isn't two feet long yet!
Deena, no to both. I log in FROM HOME to the library website. They've got a long list of difference stuff you can access from there, one of which deals with the Rosetta Stone. But even so, I don't think we ever "leave" the library's site.
Jen, I meant to say We needed those language DICTIONARIES, I didn't explain that well, since I forgot the main word I meant to say! DUH!!! I totally understand the "To Do" list being so long! Yikes, I have a hard time keeping up with half of what's on my list! Jackie, Ooooohhh, I get it now! Thanks for your patience with all my questions! I may try to check our library site and see if it offers that also!
