I'm planning to start a foreign language next year with my dd. She wants to learn both spanish and french but I don't know if it would be easier to start with one or the other. :roll: What do you suggest?
I say Spanish....with all the imigrants and such it would probably be more useful, IMO. But I always thought it would be really fun to speak French!
I agree with Leslie, Spanish first. When I took French in school, the teacher told the class it is easier for people who speak Spanish to learn French. I have no clue why, but that is what we were told. Spanish is so useful in America too. Something else is, you don't want to confuse the accents because they are very different. With Spanish, you speak through the throat. In French, you speak through your nose a lot. Patty
Hey I took French in school and my teacher said the same thing. My dd wants to learn Spanish, German and Latin. She is going to begin Spanish in the fall at a co-op but I haven't found any place that teaches German - well except for my parents. She may just have to learn it from family. I am going to give her a while with Spanish before we start Latin in a couple years.
I would think that in Michigan you might come across more French speaking than Spanish. I'd flip a coin and pick that way if you can't decide. For us her in the South and Southwest...Spanish is the #1 choice because of all the people that speak it.
I am in Indiana and we are increasingly having more spanish speaking people all the time. It is surprising actually how far north imigrants have moved....no offense, of course, by use of the word "immigrant".
Okay you know what - I didn't see where the op was from. Maybe French would be the better choice depending on your area. For me that would be a deciding factor on what to teach first.
However, if you ever move somewhere else, you'd probably run across more Spanish speakers than French speakers. Just a thought to go with what the other ladies were saying.
FRENCH FIRST!!!! Why? Because I studied French, and love it, lol! Seriously, I've also heard that Spanish is easier, so it probably would be best to do that first.
We do have some french in Michigan but mostly finnish and swedish. Dh and I are slowly learning finnish and hoping to just pass it on to the dc. We have been in Los Angeles the past 3 winters and theirs ALOT of spanish. So as far as what were around most it is probably equal. If you all think spanish is easier that may be the best way to go. I really appreciate everyones input. Thanks!!!
Es muy buen hablar espanol primera. No habla espanol. I would think that it is better to learn Spanish first. There are more materials and more chances for a young student to use the lanquage online, cable, books, drivers licence books, etc. etc. The pronunciation is not as hard with Spanish as it is with french, however the spanish grammer and verb conjugation will help with French later.
My brother worked with illegal Hispanic immigrants in Columbus, Ohio. They aren't just down here in the south! That was an interesting job... The company fixed foundations. They would get word through their networks that the INS was coming and most of the workforce would magically disappear for a week or so. They would have the inspection and then ~poof!~ the workers were back. Eric didn't work there for very long! A company that is underhanded in one way is underhanded every chance that they can get, and it was an awful place to work.
Well I took 3 years of french in highschool. I barely remember any of it lol. But I'm working with dd on spanish- I bought a workbook "the complete spanish workbook" or something like that. I'm going to order Latin for next fall though.
I had four years of French, and two years of college French. No, I am NOT fluent by any stretch of the imagination, but I speak excellent "survival French". Realistically, though, Spanish is much more practical in our country right now. As Marylyn pointed out, even central Ohio is full of illegal immigrants! You wouldn't believe how many times I've walked into somewhere like McDonalds, and find workers that speak little English! HOWEVER....If anyone wants a Kid's Powerglide French, let me know!!!
Whichever one you choose, it will only be an advantage for the dc! There are more opportunities available for bilingual, including sign language! Now THAT is a good one, because there is a need, and so few that really "speak" it!
ok, so I thought I'd share our plan my ds (3) and dd (2) are learning French to begin with. Then, when they are in 4t - 6th grade, I hope to have them begin to learn Spanish, as well as continue to improve in French. In High School, I want them to pick their own language. My hubby is hoping that one of them will pick an Arabic or Asain Language. I know that it seems like a lot, but I truly believe that we only use up a small part of our brain when we learn. Anyway, that's my dream. I'll let ya know how it goes. Btw, my dd is really picking up the french! I have to go back and listen to the video that we have for her to know what she says sometimes!
