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Teaching Languages: Some Suggestions

Foreign languages were important in Charlotte Mason’s curriculum. Of course, she lived in Europe with many languages in close proximity. The first step is to choose a language. If one of the parents, grandparents, or close friends has another language then that might be a good choice for your family to start with. If you or your spouse are fluent in a language, you teach it in the same way that you taught your child English.

If there is no second language in your circle of close acquaintances, then choose one. Many people choose to start with Spanish. French was Charlotte’s choice for a first foreign language.

The steps in learning a language are: Spanish lullabies

  1. Listen to the language. Even if there is no other language in the home, you can purchase or borrow from the public library cassettes.By listening to songs, stories, and movies in the target language, you are training the ear to understand the language. This may start at birth or toddlerhood. There is no excuse for not going this far with a language. If you do nothing else in your home in this area, listen to music in another language! My very favorite is Un regalo de arrullo para ninos for Spanish. Or Vieilles Chanson de France is a lovely CD if you want French.
     
  2. Speak the language. Now the rest of the steps are more difficult for those of kidspeakus without a second language. Learn to speak phrases and sing songs in the language. For young children, try KidSpeak. For older children and yourself, try Pimsleur Language ProgramsPimsleur which is available in your choice of many languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Japanese, etc. One of my older sons is very motivated to learn Chinese so we purchased Pimsleur’s Mandarin course.
     
  3. You may label objects around the house and in nature so the child starts learning how to read the language.
     
  4. Learn to read and write in the target language. Do copy work, and later dictation, in the target language. Translate books from English to the other language and vice versa. In the recent Disney movie, The Other Side of Heaven,  (based on a true story) the main character isolated himself with an English Bible and one in the target language. He would read a Bible verse in English and then in the other language until he had a command of the language. Books on tape in the target language will help the child in steps. Have him or her follow along in the book while listening. Start with simple books.
     
  5. Read books and narrate in target language. Charlotte suggests starting over with another language once you are well into step 4. You continue with the first foreign language at the harder levels but start with step one on a second foreign language. If this is all too overwhelming, then just do the very easy first step and let your child’s ear become accustomed to a target language. It will prepare him/her for acquiring the language later.

Many times, coops will have someone with another language who will share her talents with the group by teaching a weekly class during the coop. Some home educators will get together with others and hire a tutor to teach a language to a group. There is much we can do if we see the value in learning a language.

Pimsleur comprehensive language courses
Spanish lullabies

Resources: (Your library may have some of these.)
Pimsleur Comprehensive Language Programs
Un regalo de arrullo para ninos (beautiful lullubies)
Hispanic Christmas
Vieilles Chanson de France; Ma Verite
A French Christmas ; En la fete de Noel; Chansons pour Noel
The Singing Nun (French)
Teach me...Spanish, French, etc.
Spanish Language Pack (Berlitz Kids)
French Language Pack
Linguafun! Language Learning Cards & Cassette French or Spanish
Hablo Espanol!: Activities to Teach Spanish
Spanish for Children; French for Children
Drive-In Spanish for Kids or French, etc.
First Thousand Words in French, or Spanish, etc.
Songs in French for Children, or Spanish
Let’s Learn French Coloring Book
Musical Spanish: Lessons for the Road
Viva La Musica!
Musical Spanish: Learn through Pop Music
Behind the Wheel Spanish or French
Oh La La, Sing Your Way to French (for older students includes a variety of music styles including rock and rap)
Latin for Dummies
Latin Primer
Collins Gem Latin Dictionary
American Heritage Spanish Dictionary
Larousse French Dictionary
Ultimate Review and Practice:
Spanish or French Grammar
Chinese Cursive Script
Learn to Write Chinese Characters
Children’s Books with Cassette Tape:
The Missing Cat; The Five Crayons; A Visit to Grandma
Corduroy
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
El Pato Paco
Once Upon a Time
Literature in Spanish, French, Italian, or Latin, etc., (some are dual language books so you can read the English version)
Good Night Moon
Grandmother’s Nursery Rhymes
Story of Noah
La Biblia para ninos
The Pinata Maker
My Mexico
The Emerald Lizard: 15 Latin American Tales
First Spanish Reader: Beginner’s Dual-Language Book
Corazon
Listen, a Story Comes
Cuentos de la Selva
My First Book of Proverbs (sayings, expressions)
The Phantom Tollbooth
Madeleine
Le Petit Nicolas; Le Petit Nicolas et les Copains
Les Vacances du Petit Nicolas
Tintin Au Tibet; Les Sept Boules de Cristal; Le Temple Du Soleil
Le Petit Prince
Compte de Monte Cristo
Adventures of Pinocchio
Italian Stories
Introduction to Italian Poetry
Peter Rabbit (in German); Liegt Im Trend
Cattus Petasatus (Cat in the Hat, Latin)
Minimus Pupil: Starting Out in Latin
Winnie Ille Pu
Fairy Tales in Latin
38 Latin Stories
Regulus (Little Prince in Latin)

Pimsleur
Grandmother's nursery rhymes