I received a sweet note from a client, and she gave a wonderful review of a free homeschool resource for foreign language. I thought it might encourage others, so I’m passing it along.
Hi Lee,
Thank you so much for focusing on high school, homeschool students! Your web site has been very valuable to me. I am homeschooling a son who is profoundly gifted. We are “refugees homeschoolers” – We always believed our son would be schooled in public education. However, we had to flee the public school system when his needs weren’t being met. I just wanted you to know first hand your site is helping my son and many people in our homeschool group – Denver CO Common Ground Homeschoolers.I can give you a 100% thumbs up for the LiveMocha program. This is a free program to learn foreign language. Koa loves, loves, loves this program. The site is designed for adults but people of any age can utilize it. The system is ingenious. Koa is learning Spanish so he does Spanish curriculum which includes practicing his Spanish writing and speaking skills. Native Spanish speakers grade his work and give feedback. In turn, Koa reviews and grades people’s work who are trying to learn English. Students receive LiveMocha points (arbitrary points of progress) for the language lessons and they receive teacher points for helping others. Isn’t that a great concept? And all of this is free IF you help enough people – just a reasonable amount of teacher points nothing crazy. You could talk with Koa directly if you’d like more information but he loves it!!
Link: http://www.livemocha.com/
Best and Blessings with your work.
Thanks again,
Marilyn in Denver, CO
My son’s nonprofit is www.fastfoodfree.org
For those of you with gifted homeschoolers, I do have an audio course available on CD called “Gifted Education at Home.” It’s designed to help parents with children of ALL ages, not just high school. I do talk about what it is like in public school, to encourage parents that the grass is NOT greener on the other side! My children were in public school until 2nd and 4th grades, when we determined that the gifted education program was not going to help. I share my stories about that, to eliminate the temptation of thinking that public school might be the only option for gifted or profoundly gifted children. Here is the link to that course: Gifted Education at Home.
Do you like getting this sort of help for homeschooling high school? Gold Care Club members get extended answers to their most challenging high school issues.
This just in! You can watch foreign language channels on your iPad or iPod and practice your foreign language skills!
Find the iPod Touch app called “TVU.” You can’t get your local channels, but you can get channels from across the country and the globe! The app costs $4.99, so it’s much cheaper than cable, and you can get channels that broadcast in the language you want your children to learn. There are dozens of foreign language channels, including some in French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, and some lesser-known African and East Asian languages.
Success with foreign language often boils down to frequency of practice. Many experts recommend a minimum of 15 minutes per day practicing foreign language skills through listening, speaking, reading, or writing. How fun would it be to practice on Mom’s iPad each day! I wonder what it might say on your assignments sheet: iPad French 15 minutes? TV Show in German Today? Arabic Disney Movie? I remember how much my children giggled when I wrote “Finding Nemo in French” for their foreign language assignments!
Play TVU on the iPod Touch
Any suggestions on how to incorporate cartooning into completing math assignments? So far, my son has come up with 1001 ways to destroy a math book. You can do anything in cartoons, but in reality, you can learn algebraic concepts.
I have no ideas for actually incorporating cartooning into algebra (LOL!)
I have seen cartooning as an art, as occupational education (when you make it a business) and as a technology credit (when you do it though computer programming rather than drawing.)
Foreign language requirements vary from college to college. Check with the college website and see what their policy is. Go to a college fair and ask questions of each college, to get their opinion. You’ll be surprised at the variety of answers, I’m sure!
I have a slightly off-topic question regarding whether Rosetta Stone and/or Power Glide are accepted as Foreign Language high school credits in preparation for most state colleges. Anyone have any information on that? We started Rosetta Stone Spanish, but were derailed with rumors that it was not acceptable as credit.
Thanks ~ Barb
I have not heard that rumor about Rosetta Stone. I do know that all colleges make up their own policy about every subject and what will transfer.
Most colleges will either accept homeschool foreign language or they will not. The choice of Rosetta Stone or Power Glide or Tell Me More, or Bob Jones may not ultimately matter. If a college accepts one, they usually accept all.
On the other hand, if the college does not accept a homeschool credit in foreign language, there are alternatives. Those colleges will often accept TESTS in foreign language, even though they don’t value the homeschooling nature of the class. So they may accept your high school credits if they are accompanied by a SAT Subject Test, AP exam, or CLEP Test in that foreign language.
Some colleges do not accept homeschool credits or testing for proof of a foreign language, and yet they will have a policy of “reviewing the whole student.” In those colleges, you may be able to find a way around their policies by explaining in concrete, whole-student ways. Letters of recommendation, proof of translation skills, etc., may convince them that your child has the necessary skills.
Some colleges are real sticklers. A non-homeschool-friendly college will have additional hurdles for homeschool students. They may insist on studying a foreign language with a certified teacher. In that instance, you may decide not to pursue that college. You might also decide that the college is SO desireable that you are willing to have foreign language classes in the public high school or community college, to meet the admission requirements.
It’s better to teach foreign language than avoid it. Even if you find out that your child must take the foreign language again in the community college, it will only end up improving their community college GPA. Don’t let the fear of one college or one rumor change your homeschool or the way you educate your child.
Click here to read more about why teaching your homeschooling high schooler is highly overrated.
Hi Lee,
I was wondering if you have any thoughts on Rosetta Stone software for learning a foreign language?
Thanks,
~ Diane R.
Dear Diane,
I’ve heard that it’s a good curriculum WHEN it is a good fit for the child. It’s just not always a good fit. I would try it to see.
We used PowerGlide, and that was very effective for us. Others love Tell Me More.
It’s more about being consistent everyday, really. The problem with foreign language is the same problem I have with Weight Watchers. It only works when you actually DO the program, LOL!
If you are curious about providing a great homeschool education for your gifted child, check out my audio training, “Gifted Education at Home.“
Foreign language is difficult. Trouble. Hard. From my perspective as a math/science gal, I can also say it’s yucky. Not my cup of tea. It’s also possible. Doable. Not insurmountable, even for homeschool parents who
don’t know a second language.
In Europe, many countries teach a variety of languages to school children. I have heard that in Germany, kids learn one language in early elementary, another in middle school, and another in high school. I guess that means German kids know four languages by the time they graduate from high school. I’m pretty sure that demonstrates foreign language is possible for everyone.
There are some great reasons to study a foreign language. Like math and science, the study of foreign language has value. Even though it isn’t MY preference, and I would rather work on math, I can still see benefits.
Learning a foreign language can help you learn English, learn vocabulary, learn critical thinking. It can teach kids to be less ethnocentric. It’s critical as a Christian, to help fulfill the great commission. It’s also not easy, so it can teach hard work and study skills.
Some kids just love cows. Some kids work hard with 4-H and love other farm animals. What does a college prep cow education look like?
I have found that sometimes it can be helpful to show kids what a degree might look like in the area they are interested in. Sometimes that will really encourage them to focus on being college ready, in case they decide to go to college.
A degree in animal husbandry (raising livestock) is a science degree that will require biology and chemistry. That means moving along in math, rather than focusing on business or consumer math. It also requires nutrition. It requires a knowledge of genetics, so an AP Biology course would be a bonus.
As an example, check out the Cornell catalog for course titles. Here is their Animal Sciences department and their course list for Animal Sciences students.
I read a book about the Colfax family, who used animal husbandry and other homesteading skills in their homeschool, and how their children went on to go to prestigious colleges. It might be VERY encouraging for parents!
Another book that utilizes life learning is Barb Shelton’s book, “Senior High: A Home Designed Form+U+La“. I thought it was a good book, but a little complicated to read sometimes. It may help you to feel like homeschooling with a farm is a good idea, and the stories are great. However, I found her record keeping completely overwhelming.
Hey, if my children can get passionate about chess, why not get enthusiastic about cows, right?
How important is a foreign language for homeschoolers?
Not every adult knows a foreign language, and not every child admitted to college has a foreign language. In fact, in Washington State if a child earns an AA degree from a community college, and transfers into a state university, they may be able to bypass the entire foreign language requirement. Some colleges don’t have a foreign language requirement at all, while others will insist on foreign language study before they will grant a degree. Essentially, if you don’t have it going IN to the college, some want you to have it before you leave.
Foreign language study can serve a few purposes. First, it’s a wonderful way to learn about English. When you study a foreign language and learn about verb tenses and grammar, it can increase knowledge of the English language. It can also help you understand the differences between languages – for example, some have articles (the) and other’s don’t.
Second, a foreign language is great critical thinking. It’s often a way for colleges to see how well your child studies and learns, and if they have the study skills necessary for a foreign language. It does take effort and thought. Much like math, a language is easier to learn when you do it daily, even if small amounts if necessary.
Third, not all countries speak English. In fact, one of the biggest complaints about American’s is that they think everyone DOES speak English. One reason for the “rude American” stereotype is when people insist on speaking English-only in a non-English speaking country. In order to successfully interact with people in other countries, whether as a guest or as a missionary, speaking their language is considered the polite thing to do. Even if it is just an attempt at their language, it can make all the difference.
If you can’t fit foreign language into your normal homeschool week, there are options. You can search for a college that doesn’t require a foreign language. You can strive for an AA degree from a community college, so that a foreign language requirement may be waived. You can incorporate natural language learning, rather than textbook learning. For example, you might learn Spanish during a mission trip to Costa Rica, interacting with native speakers, rather than sit in front of a computer doing Rosetta Stone.
There are a huge variety of foreign languages to choose from; languages that are spoken around the world, languages that form the basis of scripture. American Sign Language is accepted at most universities, and it’s a great language for kinesthetic learners. Latin is accepted almost everywhere as well, and it can be a great fit for a logical or non-linguistic child.
To increase your success in teaching ANY subject, using a curriculum intended for homeschoolers can help. Curriculum written for a school situation will assume that the teacher knows the subject already. But when you use a curriculum meant for homeschoolers, it usually assumes that both student and teacher don’t know the subject when they start. In this letter a mother was asking me about Latin, but the concept holds true for other subjects as well; use curriculum meant for homeschoolers when possible.
I was looking over the e-book on transcripts that I got from you, and I notice you taught Latin. I have tried to teach Latin, but didn’t get very far, because I didn’t understand it. I would like to try again. Which curriculum did you use?
Thanks, Diane
Hi Diane,
My children did three years of high school Latin, and one boy is still taking it in college – but I don’t understand Latin any more than you do, so I know you aren’t at a disadvantage just because you don’t understand it!
If you want to try Latin again, then using a curriculum made for homeschoolers will help. I used Latin Road to English Grammar, and it’s made just for homeschoolers. I worked about a chapter ahead of my boys the first year, and that helped. It’s pretty intensive, so it did take us about 30-40 minutes a day the first year. Here is a link to a blog post.
You don’t need to have Latin, though. In high school, you can use any foreign language. Sometimes homeschool moms give themselves pressure to teach Latin, but the truth is that another language may be easier for you. Don’t feel like Latin is a “must” – it’s just a trend right now in homeschooling, not a necessity. If you want the vocabulary development of Latin, then you can choose Rummy Roots. It teaches the vocabulary aspect without doing it in the context of learning a foreign language.
Another feature of the Gold Care Club is where I answer your biggest questions about homeschooling high school. You will love your free month of Gold Care when you get my e-book!
Shelli is using her son’s Boy Scouts leadership position as a practicum, but any leadership position in an organization would also work well.
Your best strategy for creating a dynamic high school plan is preparation. The HomeScholar Gold Care Club will give you the comprehensive help you need tohomeschool high school.
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