While your homeschooled child may need to learn a foreign language to meet state guidelines or to get into his or her college of choice, these studies have many other benefits as well. They can open up a world of opportunities to your child well into adulthood in the way of travel and jobs.
Even if you do not know a second language yourself, this is no reason why your child cannot become fluent and confident in his or her new language. Use these seven tips to get started.
Try Language Immersion
With language immersion, your child will hear only the new language spoken for a period of time each day. This option is particularly easy for bilingual households in which one parent already speaks a second language.
Practice Everyday Conversations
While learning basic words and grammar is undoubtedly essential at the beginning of studying a new language, conversational speaking is the best way to pull together all that your child has learned. Your child will also find that the first 500 to 1,000 words she learns will be sufficient for numerous conversations.
Cover Your Home in Post-Its
One great way for your child to learn new vocabulary is to write down everyday words for items that can be found in the home. Attach sticky notes to furniture, kitchen items, and clothing to get these basic words down pat.
Use Online Resources
Today, there are hundreds of online language-learning resources. From paid services to free apps and YouTube language learning channels, you can probably find nearly everything you need without leaving your home.
Find Hands-On Tools
If you do want to expand the learning tools you have, consider foreign-language movies that you can stream at home and books that you can check out from the library. Most libraries have a range of publications in foreign languages, including children’s favorites that can teach basic vocabulary.
Travel Abroad
If your family has the finances to travel, you will find that the most immersive option is to head to a foreign country where the desired language is spoken. This will give your child plenty of opportunities to practice her conversational skills.
Hire a Tutor
One-on-one tutoring typically provides far better results than a recorded class does. As a homeschool family, you will find that your flexibility in scheduling will allow you to take advantage of open tutoring hours every week.
Instead of holding your child back while thinking that teaching a second language at home will be too difficult, let these tips give you confidence. Thanks to all of the resources that can be found online, at a neighborhood bookshop, or at your local library, you have plenty of helpful tools at your fingertips these days.
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