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Languishing in Languages? ~ Technology and Learning Languages
Posted 12:40 AM, Jan. 8, 2009
As a Spanish teacher, I often tell parents: "There's a reason the traditional method is the traditional method," when I'm asked to review a new whizzbang foreign language learning system of some sort. Memorizing flashcards (in a fun way) is always beneficial. A language is made up of individual words, and that seems to be the tried and true way for most of us to learn them.
However, don't despair - there are other options! Students today may seem reluctant to pick up a deck of flash cards, much less make them. But with their handheld gadgets and gaming devices, you can slip in some good Spanish practice! In this list, we'll start with older students and work to the younger ages.
- iPhones and iPod Touch: There are countless "apps" (applications) to download from iTunes (sometimes free!) to learn foreign languages in a gaming and engaging way. Electronic flashcards such as Spanish - FlipCards Spanish are a great bet - they cover EVERY learning style and are easy to use for ages 5 all the way to adults!
- Podcasts: For more advanced students, you can do a search for Podcasts that sometimes have conversational Spanish, and other times explain grammatical points, and are always free - so there's no risk! Be sure you listen to a few on your own first, as there is no censorship on podcasts.
- Software: In just about every store you can find bargain bin Spanish software that includes fun games all the way from programs like Jump Start Spanish to Pimsleur Spanish. The best rule of thumb is "you get what you pay for." But very rarely is anything BAD to try. If your student learns even a dozen words, and enjoys himself while doing so, then you have reached success! You just need to decide what you're willing to spend on it!
Enjoy learning, and use all the tools you have available to do so.
Be sure to let us all know if you've tried any of these technological tools and what your experience was by posting about it here!
"Señora" Suzanne Gose
Languishing in Languages? ~ Time and Weather! - Tiempo y Tiempo
Posted 11:05 PM, Nov. 4, 2008
In Spanish, el tiempo (ehl-tee-ehm-poh) has two meanings - time and weather. These two topics can carry you through more than a month or two of simple lessons in any language. We'll begin with the harder of the two: TIME.
For time, let us begin at the beginning. Be sure you know your numbers 1-60 in the target language. Do not simply count! Be sure you and your student can do things such as say your phone number in Spanish, or French, or German, or give the ages of your family members, or street address, and even call out prices as you see them at the store. Use your numbers when you play board games, cards, or exercising (15 reps of lunges in Spanish seems to go faster than 15 reps in English - but I have no hard evidence on that - it just FEELS faster!) Be sure you can call out a number, and your student can write it down correctly as well. The bottom line: Don't just count!
After that simple step of drill (I would give it at least a week before tackling the concept of time, if you're not sure you know all those numbers) you can add the complete phrases of "It is" and AM and PM, as well as "What time is it?" in the foreign language you are studying. Usually, this is enough to be able to give and receive the time in any language. For more practice, week three can include idiomatic phrases such as noon, midnight, "half-past" and "quarter 'til," or "on the dot."
Finally, finish up with scheduling! A homeschooler's dream - you give your schedule to your child, and have them memorize at least three activities during the day, and the time that they occur. In Spanish, your lesson at this point would look something like this:
At 10:30, I study English. A las diez y treinta yo estudio inglés. (ah-lahs-dee-ehs-ee-trehn-tah...)
At noon, I eat. A las doce, yo como. (ah-lahs-doh-seh...)
At 3:00, I leave for practice. A las tres, yo salgo para la práctica. (ah-lahs-trehs, yoh-sahl-goh...)
Suddenly, you are reviewing first person verbs, and probably learning new ones, in a simple, yet repetitive form. Be sure to ask "What time is it?" throughout the day, as well as repeat the activity sentence aloud as you are actually doing it. Saying "I'm eating," three times while you are eating is a sure fire way to commit phrases and vocabulary to memory.
If you'd like a few more phrases in Spanish, or have more time-telling ideas to share, be sure to post!
Next week, we'll tackle weather!
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of five children. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Triumph Homeschool Hall in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store.
Languishing in Languages ~ Encouraging Words
Posted 12:32 AM, Oct. 29, 2008
A character trait we always hope to see in our own children is that they be encouragers to their friends and family. A wonderful way to engrain these words in your children is to have them learn the positive phrases and words in their target language. You can find posters with the words listed in bright colors in many different languages. To get you started in Spanish, here are some you can post on the walls and doors of your home right away:
Brilliant! - brillante (bree-yahn-teh)
Good job, good work! - buen trabajo (bwehn-trah-bah-hoh)
Excellent - excelente (ehk-seh-lehn-teh)
Great, marvelous - maravilloso (mah-rah-bee-yoh-soh)
Very good - muy bien (moo-ee-bee-ehn)
Fantastic - fantástico - (fahn-tah-stee-koh)
How sweet, How nice - que lindo (keh-leen-doh)
There are stickers at this website: http://trendenterprises.com/ProdDetail.cfm - but making your own is almost always better!
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of five children. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store.
Languishing in Languages? ~ Specific Field Trip Helps with Spanish
Posted 1:10 AM, Oct. 22, 2008
My sweet hubby pointed out that because I'm a language teacher, it's very simple for me to create a few sentences and list of vocabulary for field trips, but others may not find that task so simple. So, since Spanish is my area of expertise, here is a list of a few field trips and words you might use to learn the week you are getting ready to go. Be sure you practice each word as you see it on your journey!
The Zoo or the Farm: The _____ says _____. (El _____ dice (dee-seh) ____
the lion - el león (leh-ohn)
the animal - el animal (ah-nee-mahl)
the giraffe - la girafa (hee-rah-fah)
the horse - el caballo (kah-bah-yoh)
the cat - el gato (gah-toh)
the monkey - el mono (moh-noh)
Of course, at a factory, or grocery store, different words and sentences would be useful. Please reply, and I'll post lists here for any field trip coming up! Integrate Spanish into every subject, one sentence at a time, and maybe a dozen words.
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of five children. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store.
Languishing in Languages? ~ Foreign Language and Field Trips!
Posted 12:33 AM, Oct. 15, 2008
I'm sorry for the short hiatus from the article the past few weeks. We're back now in full swing to help you continue on your quest to learn a foreign language.
This past week, we went to a barnyard on a field trip. As an extra, the children and I reviewed Spanish and German words for each animal, and learned a short sentence: The _____________ says ___________. (The cow says moo, the dog says ruff, etc)
If you know a field trip is coming up, take a few moments to think of the items you will see. Make a list of ten words or fewer in your target language. Then create a short sentence with replaceable words that will help to give hints as to the meanings of the new words.
This way, you are able to incorporate your foreign language in a real-life way, make it immediately useable, and create motivation for memorization, all at the same time!
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of five children. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store.
Languishing in Languages? ~ One Step at a Time
Posted 12:05 AM, Sep. 3, 2008
One word at a time...
At the beginning of the year, a great way to begin practicing a foreign language is to simply describe the day. Make flash cards of the days of the week in the target language. Lay them out in order, and have say together "Today is Wednesday."
One sentence at a time...
After repeating it three times, you can add to it with the weather. Again, make flash cards (just three this time, not seven) and choose "It's hot," "It's cold," and "It's raining," in the target language. Lay the cards on the table, draw pictures or doodle while you're saying your words, and then put the sentence together with the day. You suddenly almost have a paragraph!
One thought at a time...
Suddenly, you have ten words to conquer by next week! Can you play speed? How many can you get right in 20 seconds? Can you say the Spanish word if someone points at the calendar day? What about the forecast? Give the forecast on each day.
After a week of practice, begin to add in the season and month (Just September, and just Fall... if we do ALL the seasons, or ALL the months, it gets confusing quickly.)
Require that each person say one sentence as you sit down at a meal. Here are some examples in Spanish:
Hoy es miércoles. Today is Wednesday
Hace calor. It's hot.
Es otoño. It's autumn.
Es septiembre. It's September.
Your student need only choose ONE of the sentences to say. If this method works for you and your family, begin adding nouns of interest. Learning a language does not have to be expensive or time consuming. Keep it fun, for the most retention. Buena suerte!
Senora Gose Languishing in Languages? ~ Mixing Languages?
Posted 1:51 AM, Aug. 28, 2008
Many parents ask if it's a good idea to have their children study more than one language at a time, or even to mix the language study within the household.
Big Brother is learning German, Little Sister wants to study Spanish. Beginning a new study of languages concurrently is not a good idea. The brain treats all second languages as a whole. Meaning, whatever is not a native language gets lumped together. So the frustration of keeping vocabulary words memorzed and in the correct categories actually becomes doubled!
I remember when...
As anecdotal evidence, I performed for an oral exam in college completely in French. I had beautiful pronunciation, my professor was QUITE impressed. However, she was conducting the exam in Spanish! I had studied French for three years in high school and when the pressure was on, I understood the questions and my brain translated to the second language most readily available. Happily, my professor was a kind soul, and also trilingual, and allowed me to come the next day to try to converse in Spanish. (I passed!)
Younger students are almost immune
Even today, my three year old mixed German and Spanish as she expressed a desire to use the restroom. At her age, she will figure it out, and I need to do little to change her path. With older students, though, be sure they have at LEAST two years of a foundation in one foreign language before throwing a second one in the mix. This includes Latin!
Two at once?
In your house, you do not necessarily need to separate the students studying separate languages, as long as one of them began study at an earlier time. Any amount of time lapse is good. If you have to make a decision - both want to study this year, and both are choosing separate languages, choose ONE as a family (the older one's choice, most likely.) After a year, allow the younger one to switch, or perhaps the choice will remain!
It's food for thought, and I welcome any specific questions regarding this issue. As always, feel free to post your own anecdotes and comments on language systems or ideas you have come across.
Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
Senora Gose Languishing in Languages? ~ Family Mimicry and Foreign Languages
Posted 1:32 AM, Aug. 14, 2008
Just a quick tip this week. When you pick up a language program, and you look at it, and your reaction is (in your head and probably on your face): "Ugh, well, we need to learn a foreign language, so here we go...." Please put it back down.
I've been getting lots of questions as the new fall semester is about to begin, and they are mostly about which curriculum to choose. I can't help you too much on that, through cyberspace (every family is SO different!), but I CAN tell you what NOT to choose.
How...
Our children mimic what we do, say, and yes, even what we feel. This can be applied to just about situation, person, and subject. When a certain language system or book feels like punishment to you, or makes you roll your eyes, my advice is to not even try it. Do not take the chance of creating a barrier for your child to overcome where foreign languages is concerned. You may feel negative just toward that certain book or CD, but your child may begrudge the language in general, and it's not worth the risk.
What to watch for
The goal is to look, and be aware of the feeling of "Oh wow! This is NEAT!" when you see a program. Another good reaction would be, "This looks simple!" Or, "Hey, even WE can do this!" When you get that rise of hope in your chest because the language software doesn't scare you like you thought it would, or because the book isn't overwhelming, or it just seems like you want to go home and start right away... if budget allows, stop thinking about it and GET IT!
Get going! Buena suerte!
Remember, if you have specific questions about certain curriculum systems for foreign languages (especially Spanish) I've probably reviewed it, or tried it at some point. Feel free to post! I'd be happy to give you my opinion or experience on it.
Languishing in Languages ~ Settling Down...
Posted 2:09 AM, Aug. 7, 2008
We all have great expectations at different times in our lives, years, seasons, and schooling. Sometimes, however, it is nice to have a fall-back plan. Nothing strenuous or monumental, just a hum-drum, bare necessities plan to get us through those times when everything else is falling apart - (ie, new baby, moving, changing jobs, the Church picnic, graduation, holidays, dentist appointments for all the kids - you get what I mean!)
The Low Down
So, this week, instead of a brand new, innovative, whiz bang, great idea, you'll find a list of some very simple ways to keep foreign language in your day to day living, without too much effort:
Cinco Ideas
The list will start with ideas for the very young, and move to the high school ages, great for those family that have one in each category! (I'm using Spanish as the target language in these examples.)
1) Choose one room of your house to use your foreign language in. Declare it (even a hallway) the "Spanish Room!" As you walk through the room, you call out a foreign word - ANY word! The rest of the family, anyone in earshot, translates it back to you in English.
2) Tell how you're feeling in the target language - perhaps after each time you eat. "estoy bien - I'm fine" "Estoy mal - I'm bad" "Estoy triste - I'm sad" "estoy cansado/a - I'm tired"
3) Post seven words in a list on your fridge on Sunday. Each time you open the fridge, you repeat them and study them. How many can you remember on Saturday?
4) Count your toothbrush strokes in a foreign language. Or call out the timer numbers from the microwave or egg timer in Spanish. (Popcorn - 3:00 minutes, so you say "tres, cero, cero" as you tap that in.)
5) Call out driving directions in the car in your target language - when you turn left: "izquierda," when you turn right "derecha," when you stop "para," when you go straight, "derecho."
Please leave a comment and let us all know which one of these ideas worked for you and your family, or add to the list!
Buena suerte! (Good Luck!)
Señora Gose
Flip n Flop Learning LLC
Find Great language learning resources here!
Languishing in Languages? ~ Keep Going!
Posted 1:23 AM, Jul. 24, 2008
The summer is quickly coming to an end...How hot it is outside, and how run-down we start feeling. Where did the summer go? We were going to do SO much this season! Not to worry - a languishing reprieve is here for you!
Keep it Short
This week, we'll focus on a few SHORT ways to include your foreign language study without bogging down the family with too many high expectations. Think of little five minute explorations using word you already know.
Today we played CandyLand. As the kids called out their colors for their next turn, I called them out in German. Within a few turns, they were using German only, and any visitors could begin picking it up as well!
Keep it Real
As we were setting the table, we named plates, cups, and napkins in German. Each child got a chance to say their words, and before I knew it, they were counting them out in German, linking two or more words together.
Keep it Fun
Maybe most importantly, be sure your children are smiling while they practice. If you see frowns or hear sighs, something is wrong. Remember: this is not the time to pile on lots of lessons or practice. Lessons in persistance and endurance can wait until the temperature drops! Just remind them that yes, they DO know Spanish, or German, or French, no matter how little. At one point they knew less, and in another month or few weeks, they will begin to know more.
How can you get them to smile? Surprise them! My children wanted to color on their legs with markers. I really despise that. But I DO have washable markers, and a back yard with a sprinkler... so why not? I can take advantage by saying YES, and let them be a little silly, and draw animals on their legs... all while practicing German!
Enjoy these few fleeting months, and keep it short and upbeat before more serious study starts in just a couple of weeks.
Buena Suerte - Good Luck!
Señora Gose
Flip n Flop Learning LLC
Find Great language learning resources here!
Languishing in Languages? ~ Get Back in the Swing with Languages
Posted 12:15 AM, Jul. 16, 2008
Baby Liesel Elizabeth was born July 8 and we're all doing great! She's baby #5, and the other four (age 6, 4, 3, 19 months) adore her. Especially big sister, the three year old. The boys are thrilled as well.
So we took about two weeks off from... everything, and we're getting back into a schedule with a new addition. When you have a change in your household, as big as a new member, or as small as a garage sale, life seems to take on a new challenge level. So this week, we'll discuss ways to get back in the swing with foreign languages, if you've not been consistent in recent history.
Step 1: Where were we?
Review! Find out what you all remember? Pull out the last book or set of flash cards you remember using, and flip through the last few pages. Speak the words aloud, "Quizzing" yourself and your family on what they can pull from the dregs of their memory with no prep whatsoever. If you've only just started and can say please, thank you, hello and goodbye, then SAY them! Act out the words, and write them down, or hand out index cards with the words written on them. Do something tangible as you make a note of how much you remember... or not!
Step 2: Ease into it!
Try hard NOT to dive back into the text or DVD program, or CD's with a new renewed gusto. That's right, DON'T be a fanatic. Instead, set a timer for 20 minutes, and see what you can accomplish. Foreign language is not unlike dieting - it's better to set a standard that is easily attainable and then slowly improve rather than do a crash of epic proportions, only to fail again in a few days. Set yourself up for success!
Step 3: Change it up!
Why did you stop learning? Was it unavoidable like a hospital stay, or something unforeseen? Or did you just get bored? (When I say you, I mean your whole family.) Whatever the reason, try the old method for a small amount of time: a few minutes or days, but then make a change of some sort, big or small.
Do you use CDs all the time? Pull out a picture dictionary form the library instead. Do you always watch a DVD? Keep the TV off and see if you can pull food out of the fridge and name it in the target language instead, or play a game of charades using the nouns you know. Are you mostly a book learner so far? Sing a song, play a game, get out flash cards, or listen to a fun CD.
Step 4: Put it into action!
Begin preparing NOW for a meal this week you will only speak in the target language. Dessert is m&m's - or something else that comes in small pieces. Before dinner begins, place dessert in the bowls for each member. If English is spoken by brother, sister, mom or dad, remove one candy piece or dessert piece from his or her bowl. It will prove to be a quiet meal, but if you've prepared, and learned the words for "May I have?" "More?" and all the food items, it will be a good time, and you'll be thinking in the target language for at least 20 minutes or more!
I'd love to read how the experiment turns out!
Señora Gose
Flip n Flop Learning LLC
Find Great language learning resources here!
Languishing in Languages? ~ Languages On the Go!
Posted 2:25 AM, Jun. 19, 2008
You can find tons of "Learn in your Car" language CDs as well as simple CD's to listen in the car. For audial learners, these are great! For visual learners, it's a bit frustrating, and perhaps even a little dangerous, if the learner is also the driver!
We'll be taking a little family trip this weekend, so we're preparing for our down time in the car with several lists of words, Car Bingo, and a few German CD's. Here's a great way to use your summer vacation to increase your language absorption.
Making your Choices
Stay away from full curriculum set ups for your trip. Keep it light and fun, and grab a couple of traditional songs on a cheaper kid CD or folk song collection in the target language instead. You can take a few moments and choose three words per song to listen for. Clap your hands, or make some sort of signal each time you hear one of the words. This increases your and your children's critical listening skills.
Car Bingo
Choose some things you will see on your way - trees, bridge, traffic light, building, cows (they're abundant here in Texas) restroom signs, restaurant, gas station, etc. Look those words up and print them neatly underneath a grid of those pictures. You can have your children cut out the pictures and paste them in a bingo card (we use 4x4, no free space), or even find some car bingo games that are already put together for you, and just label them in the target language. As you drive and mark the cards, the players call out the items in German, or Spanish, or French! For more advanced students, they must make a complete sentence - "The tree is big," etc...
Travel Phrases
We all tire of hearing several phrases while driving: How much longer? Are we there yet? I have to go! I'm bored. We're hungry. Don't lose your cool - be the best mom ever and ...
HARNESS these repetitive phrases by requiring them to be in the target language. Most online dictionaries can give you a pretty good idea on how to say these. Here they are in Spanish:
I'm hungry: .......... ... ..Tengo hambre.
I'm bored: ............ ... Estoy aburrido (aburrida for girls)
How much longer?.. ¿Cuánto tiempo más?
Are we there yet?..... ¿Ya llegamos?
I have to go! ...............¡Tengo que ir!
If you need pronunciation help, check the Flip Flop Learning Website under teaching tips. Remember to have a stake - if you DO say the phrases in English, then you have to... stay quiet for two minutes, or count to ten in Spanish, or.... come up with something that isn't too fun (our funny dance last time actually became desirable, so my kids were speaking English rather than German on PURPOSE, just so they could do a silly dance whenever they desired. Whoops. Live and learn! Please give us all ideas on a good stake that worked for your family!
Enjoy the summer!
I'd love to hear if anyone is able to use these tips, where you went, and any vacation anecdotes. I'll post on our own progress in two weeks' time - I'll miss posting next week, and then again the week of July 14 (baby #5 is coming via C-seciton July 14!)
Thanks for visiting and buena suerte! (Good luck!)
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of almost five children - baby number five is due this July. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store. Languishing in Languages? ~ Celebrate the Summer!
Posted 1:01 AM, Jun. 11, 2008
Esta semana....
This week.... is a big week in the Gose household - my birthday was Tuesday, and Brad's (Daddy's) is Thursday, so it's like another holiday in June at our house. We have cakes and gifts, and all kinds of celebration. So, in light of our learning German, we've been labeling all the party and birthday items in German.
MAKE IT FUN! Use Post-it notes or index cards to look up and label "cake, present, balloon, even napkin, and tablecloth" - anything that looks party-like. The rule is, if you touch, you say it. (Or if you pass it, you say it!) After the post-it notes lose their stickiness, you can use the same words and labels to play charades or pictionary.
Celebrate language! Any "event" in your household can be turned into a language learning FUN time! Be sure to spend a little preparation time yourself, getting the pronunciation right, and quiz yourself before you begin introducing the words to your family. If you don't have as many children, you can call out words and have your child draw the item, or let him call it out, and you draw or act it out- it doesn't have to be competitive. Remember, motivation (yours and you children's), or lack of it, is the KEY to successful acquisition of a second language. If you want it to stick, you have to WANT to know it, and then use it. Since we don't have a dire need (we don't need German on a regular basis in day-to-day life) my job is to create a need, or a motivation. Kids (and adults!) love to have FUN. Keep this in mind any time you address the subject of foreign language, and you'll set yourself up for success for the fall.
Buena suerte (Good Luck; bweh-nah-swehr-teh)
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of almost five children - baby number five is due this July. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store.
Languishing in Languages? ~ Keep Going Through the Summer
Posted 1:35 AM, Jun. 4, 2008
Languishing in Languages usually fills you in on some practical theory of learning a second language. The next few weeks, though, I'll focus on anecdotes and tidbits to keep you going through the summer.
UPDATE: Second Language "Word a day" Attempt:
Well, our first week of choosing one word per day to practice German went fairly well! I've been trying very hard to follow my own advice, so each day we did learn the new word (we started with Please) and each child enjoyed saying it in German, and doing the silly dance, the punishment, when we slipped and said it in English.... so perhaps I needed a better stake. So at this point, the kids (all ages 6 and under) know 5 words (we took the weekend off) in German fairly well. They can interweave them in their conversation, and the words have true meaning for them, and they laugh if someone uses one of the words incorrectly. The words are solidly in their minds.
My drawback is that it moved WAY too slowly for me, but the exercise caused the kids to ask, "How do you say... in German?" frequently, so this could have been a big success had I been treating it more like a subject, rather than an experiment. I often did not have a dictionary handy, and didn't get to answer their questions. It made me more sympathetic toward all those moms teaching Spanish and not knowing it themselves - usually I'm able to just blurt out the translation. So, I've felt your frustration now!
NEXT Summer tip:
The next activity we'll be attempting in a second language (still German for us, since I'm already bilingual in Spanish and English) is charades. We'll learn ten words (nouns) over the next three days - of the children's choosing, and on Friday or Saturday, we will have a family charade game. My husband is extremely interested in learning (or re-learning) German, but not at all in Spanish. So this has caused the kids to be so much more enthusiastic!
If you can get your husband involved, I believe the motivation will go through the roof! I'll be posting our words on a board in the kitchen, and having the kids review them as we work through the summer, so as to see our progress (very important for my eldest son, a concrete visual learner.) After a few weeks of nouns only, I'll look into making sentences, and hopefully absorb some of the grammar rules without yet delving into the grammar rules.
For the summer in general... I'm definitely taking it slowly. This fall, I hope to have found a good German curriculum (or have Flip Flop German ready!!) to follow so we can move more quickly. It's been an interesting twist I hadn't realized. Moving too quickly is likely to be overwhelming, but moving too slowly also seems to suffocate and frustrate even the most motivated language learner. Keep that in mind as you peruse your curriculum choices.
Be sure to post your own stories of success (or not- I'd be happy to help you out with pointers if I can) as we traverse this language acquisition journey together. All in all, our lives are richer, for the attempt, and the children are more aware of the outside world - the fact that there are entire LANGUAGES that they don't know has humbled them, and also inspired them to learn as much as possible! What a great thing homeschooling is!
Suzanne Gose (known by her students as Señora Gose) is a homeschooling mother of almost five children - baby number five is due this July. A former public school teacher, she currently teaches over 80 homeschooling students in weekly Spanish classes at Key Curriculum in Bryan, Texas. She is also the author of the Flip Flop Spanish Workbooks and other language teaching tools. You can see them at www.flipfloplearning.com and in the Schoolhouse Store. Languishing in Languages? ~ Fun for the Summer!
Posted 1:47 AM, May. 30, 2008
This week, at the close of the article series on learning styles, I'll
keep it short with a few tidbits and tips to "keep it real." Immersion is the big idea in the Language Learning community, and I agree to a point - however, if we overwhelm our students, they tune the second language out. So... keep it simple: think about how we learned our first language. When a baby begins speaking, he usually says names of people first - Momma, Daddy. Next is the ever-exciting "bye-bye" and "Hi!" Afterwards, our precious darlings begin adding.... NOUNS! Simple nouns of things he wants. Like cracker, cookie, milk, drink. Finally we get to hear a few words that can be added to everything like PLEASE, MORE, and THANK YOU. So, when learning a second language, HARNESS this method. Your brain (and your child's brain) has already done this once - you're reading this article, right, and it is written in the complex language of English. So the proof is there YOU CAN LEARN A LANGUAGE! Congratulations! Your second language has a few different rules, but is still made up of parts like manners, greetings, nouns, adjectives, and verbs and lots of little articles and such. Focus on the main parts first. As you are looking to progress this summer, think of the words you hear most often come from your mouth or your children's mouths. Translate those words, and try to not say them in English for the day! The next day, choose a new word. For all my friends that like steps like me: STEP 1: Make a list of ten words that you and your family say frequently. STEP 2: On the same page, translate those words to the target language. Post the page on the fridge. STEP 3: Ask your family to choose one of the ten to NOT say in English that day. STEP 4: Agree on a "stake" - what happens if you slip? What happens if you use the word a lot? Do you want to keep score? Or put a penny in a jar for each time you slip? Or do a funny dance as "punishment" for using the word in English? So - HAVE fun! Let us know what word you used, and any anecdotes that you have to share. I'll be using this with my own family this week - in German! (I'm bilingual English and Spanish, so I have to choose something out of my comfort zone!) Stay tuned next week to read about how our 6 yr boy, 4 yr boy, 3 yr girl, and almost 18 month old boy (he's only saying, "More please," these days!) as well as my husband and I do on this fun challenge! Gotta go make my list! Keep it fun! Suzanne Gose 
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