Learning a foreign language may be one of the best opportunities available to high school students. Not only will it increase their confidence, but it also sharpens cognitive and communication skills, improves employment potential, and makes travel more enjoyable. Two years of studying the same language is often required at traditional four-year colleges and even though your child may be considering an alternative option for higher education, it always helps to be “college ready!”
If you’re fluent in another language, teaching your teen is a feasible and enjoyable way to go. But what if you don’t know a foreign language or your child wants to learn a different language than the one you do know? No matter where you fall on the foreign language spectrum, you can still help your home school student learn a new language this semester. Here are some great ways to make it happen.
Hire a private tutor — This is a great option for homeschoolers. Ask your friends, community college, or homeschool group for leads. Depending on the language your teen is interested in, you may be able to find a native speaker who is passionate about his or her language and culture. If there is enough interest, your teen can organize a small group of friends that can learn together, making learning more affordable and enjoyable for everyone.
Take classes at your local college — Community college classes are another affordable way to learn a language in a group setting. Small towns may just offer French and Spanish, but colleges in large cities will have an array of options.
Use online software — Rosetta Stone is probably the most well-known language software, with a huge offering of language choices. The program can be purchased as an online subscription, a CD-ROM, or an instant download. Many homeschool families love this program. See what they have to say about Rosetta Stone on HomeSchoolReviews.com.
No matter how you decide to integrate a foreign language into your home school, keep in mind that your teen’s knowledge of another language can be used for college credit in many situations. Most classes taken at local colleges and universities will earn your student dual credit — which means you can count credits toward a high school diploma and a college degree.
College-level exams are another way to earn dual credit. No matter how your child learns a language, they can use what they know to pass the CLEP or AP exam. CLEP exams are offered in French, Spanish, and German, and the AP test is available in French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Latin.
Be sure to check with whatever college your teen is applying to so you know the exam credits will transfer. Charter Oak State College, which we recommend with our Dual Credit at Home program, accepts all CLEP and AP foreign language exams.
This makes learning a foreign language not only a great idea for the reasons listed at the top of this article, but also because these language exams earn more credits than any other CLEP and AP exams. The 90 minute CLEP Level II foreign language exams are worth 9 credits each!
