Foreign Languages

  • Making World Languages Fun in Your Homeschool!

    21 March 2013 / Curricula, Foreign Languages, High School, Homeschool Information, homeschooling middle school, News, Teaching / 4 Comments

     

    Kym and her second homeschool graduate

    Are you teaching Spanish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Latin...or any other World Language to your homeschooler?  Want to know how to make it fun?  Good for you!

    Making language learning fun is a big part of success for both teacher(s) and student(s).  Think back to when you were learning any subject.  Didn't you want to spend more time practicing the things that were fun to you?

    Whether you're teaching an elementary, middle or high school student, read on for a few of my favorite tips on teaching world languages in a one on one situation:

    -Incorporate vocabulary that is meaningful to the student. 

    If I learn all the words for the people, places and things around me, I will think of them each time I see them.  Are the words for computers and other technology-related items more relevant to you and your student or the words for farm animals?  One of my favorite ways to do this with high schoolers is to have them pull words from their texts and Facebook messages.

    -Use your target language in other fun activities that your student enjoys. 

    One of our favorite movies to watch with subtitles

    Sing songs in Spanish.  Make and serve a homemade Japanese meal together.  Connect with someone like my French friends that I met in the Grand Canyon, Christine and Alan, and become Facebook friends. Go to a Chinese church service.  One of my students' favorites is to watch a TV show of movie, with which they are very familiar, using the target language with English subtitles or vice versa.

    -Play games! 

    Some of my favorites are Veo, Veo, Algo... (like I spy something...) hangman, crosswords and word searches.  You can be the "leader" then reverse roles and have your student be the "leader".

    -Write

    One of my favorite applications of this one is having the kids write and present their own "material".  Anything goes! Younger and earlier level homeschoolerss may start with a short conversation, poem or skit.

    -Use your target language in other fun activities that your student enjoys. 

    What do your students do together in English?   As they gain more vocabulary and confidence, they can write or do their translations of some of their favorite songs or learn dances.  I even had a class write, perform and film  a "school" newscast.  They still remember those lines!

    -Play games! 

    We love to play games (you'll be able to get most of them in my upcoming release from 7Sisters).  While scrabble and hangman are obvious favorites for the youngers/newbies, we had a blast playing Pictionary, Smash Mouth and Manzanas con Manzanas in my advanced class.

    Whether you use Rosetta Stone, Learnables, Flip Flop Learning with my amiga Senora Gose, the high school curriculum I'm developing or something you've created yourself, remember to laugh together.  Fun is one of the keys to successfully mastering any world language!

    What are some interesting methods you have used in teaching World Languages to your kids?

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    Don't forget our freebies such as Carry Each Others' Burdens (how to truly help a friend in difficult times), How to Start a Homeschool Co-op, Career Exploration Questionnaire, and MORE.

     

     


  • How to Homeschool World Languages in High School

    20 March 2013 / Curricula, Foreign Languages, High School, World Languages / 0 Comment

     

    We live in a world where it is not uncommon to meet people who count English as their second language. It is good for those of us who spoke English first to also speak another language.

    Many states and homeschool programs require at least 2 credits of a foreign (world) language. A number of colleges want 3 or 4 credits in the same language.

    The allowed languages vary from place to place, so check HSLDA’s website for information (and join, too) on state requirements.

    Grown-up homeschoolers: Nathan teaches in Korea, Justin is a Russian translator

    In our area, these languages count:

    -Any non-English language currently being spoken

    -Latin, Biblical Hebrew and Greek

    -Sign Language

    There are various ways to earn the credit:

    -Take classes at the local homeschool umbrella

    -Do a language co-op

    -Work with a tutor

    -On your own: try immersion courses (where the entire course is taught in the language) such as Rosetta Stone (homeschool version)

    1 level= 1 credit in the homeschool version

    -On your own: try grammar-based curricula such as Switched-on Schoolhouse                                            

    Kym teaches Spanish and Russian to local homeschool group classes



    -On your own: a couple of our local homeschool families have begun to use Speed Spanish

    Do Carnegie Units: 135 logged hours

    -On your own: Several of our local families have been using Tell Me More

    It has 4 years with online curriculum with 10 Levels with CD curriculum (students at our umbrella school complete 2.5 CDs/year for credit)

    -On your own: American Sign Language University
    Log 135 hour for Carnegie credit

    For struggling learners, there are ways to make the World Languages credit happen. However, you might need to work with your local homeschool advisor to see what is permissible in your area.

    How have your homeschoolers been learning world languages?

  • How We Homeschool High School Foreign Language and Fine Arts

    09 September 2011 / Fine Arts, Foreign Languages, News / 2 Comments

    Among us we have taught 27 kids of our own plus the many kids we have homeschooled in community in learning co-ops and homeschool day school programs.  When you homeschool for that many years, you find some favorite curriculum options and strategies.

    This post shares each sister’s favorite resources for homeschooling high school Foreign Language and Fine Arts.  (If you’d like to learn more about each sister individually, just click on her name.)

     

    BTW, this is not a sponsored post – none of the curriculum we mention here has asked us to review or advertise their materials.  We just like to share with other homeschoolers what has worked for us over the years.

     

     Kym:

    Foreign Lanuage: Like the McDougal-Littel (now owned by Holt McDougal), Destinos and Standard Deviants DVDs.

    Oldest learned French in high school in classes taught by another than me. Other three have taken my Spanish classes.  Youngest two started out with Latin in classes taught by a dear friend.  The Latin has helped them with the Spanish.

    Since I began language learning in 7th grade, it has been a real passion of mine and something that seems to come fairly easily to most of my kids.  Although this is the easiest for us to have done at home, we have always done them in classes.  It’s imperative to have people to speak with!

    Fine Arts: Choirs, voice, piano & guitar lessons, photography (major hours logging), competitions, drama camps with Sabrina, school plays, etc.This has been like breathing for us.

     

    Allison:

    Foreign Language:  I could not do this myself!!! We benefited greatly from day-school classes for all kids.  We had tried The Learnables on our own, but we needed the classroom experience.

    Fine Arts:  My children were all involved in the homeschool choir and madrigal group in our area.  This was led by a very talented musician/director and they learned a great deal about music, working together with others in a choir, and vocal skills.  Art was never our strength, so we really did not do any.  Drama Camps with Sabrina have been an annual piece of the fine arts puzzle.

    Vicki:

    Foreign Language: I taught my oldest 4 French in co-op settings. My youngest loves Spanish homeschool classes with Senora Kym.

    Fine Arts: We LOVE arts!!! Each kids has had different interests and skills to develop over high school.
    *     Kid 1: Orchestra, Christian rock band
    *     Kid 2: Choir, Indie band, art
    *     Kid 3: Choir, Indie band, photography (earned BA in Photography), drama
    *     Kid 4: Choir, Indie band, art, video production (earned AA in Visual Communication), drama (Sabrina’s drama camps)
    *     Kid 5: Choir, guitar, worship team at church, homeschool praise band, art and photography homeschool classes, drama (Sabrina’s camps and drama productions), violin.

     

    Sabrina:

    Foreign Language:  I started with Latin since that was the language I studied, and when they all had the equivalent of a year or two of Latin (I like Macmillan’s Latin for Americans), I enrolled them in day-school classes for Spanish...Senora Smythe rocks!  One kid is now studying American Sign Language as a Deaf Studies/Elementary Ed double-major in college, and she is bugging me to bring ASL opportunities to homeschoolers in the future.

    Fine Arts:  Fine Arts is a passion for me, and all of my kids have passions for their own brands of creativity as well.  Cinematography, vocal music, piano, guitar, drums, musical theatre, acting, directing, drawing, photography, painting....all of these and more have been explored.  We mainly find that cooperative endeavors are the most rewarding.  Homeschool Support Group and Community groups are a great, low-cost option.  The Drama Camps I offer each year have been a big part of all of my kids’ high school fine arts experience, too.

    Sara:

     

    Foreign Language: Latin (Henle and Latina Christiana) at home; Spanish and French in day-school classes.

    Fine Arts: Choir; Cinematography; Acting and Directing classes at our day-school.

    Marilyn:

    Foreign Language: We have always done foreign language with classes. My children have all studied Spanish, but have also studied French, Cherokee, and Norwegian as “extras”.

    Fine Arts: All have been involved in our support group’s choirs, as well as music lessons. Other forms of fine arts have been drama, cinematography, and photography.

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    While reading an overview of what resources we've enjoyed in our homeschools is helpful, a coaching session with one-on-one interaction is the next step if you're still feeling unsure or overwhelmed in your homeschool, or if you need a breath of fresh air and ideas.

    Affordably priced and available via email, Skype or in person (if you are in our area, that is!), coaching is a great tool for homeschool moms!  Click to visit our coaching resources page.

  • How to Homeschool High School - A Quick Reference

    30 August 2011 / Curricula, Foreign Languages, Geography, High School, Homeschool Information, Language Arts, Literature, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Teaching, Transcripts, World Languages / 0 Comment

    Homeschooling the High School years can be intimidating!  It doesn't have to scare you away, though!

    I love having a quick reference available at my fingertips whenever I'm tackling a project.  As you tackle your new school year (tackle the year, not the student!), here's a quick reference list of some of our most popular posts explaining how to homeschool high school.  In case you don't know, 7 Sisters Innovative Homeschool Helps is Allison, Kym, Marilyn, Sabrina, Sara, and Vicki, and we have homeschooled our own 27 kids as well as hundreds of others in co-ops, homeschooling day-schools, and other cooperative homeschooling ventures.

    On Earning Credits and Transcript Creation:

    26 Credits Your Homeschool High School Needs

    6 Components of a Powerful Homeschool Transcript

    5 Cool Ways to Earn Homeschool High School Credits

    4 Reasons Why Your Homeschool High Schooler Needs Non-Commonplace Courses

     

    On English - Literature and Writing:

    How to Choose Books for Homeschooling High School Literature

    Understanding Why Students Hate to Edit Their Writing

    Steps 1 & 2 in the Writing Process

    5 Ways to Improve Vocabulary for Your Homeschooler

     

    On Foreign Language:

    How to Homeschool World Languages in High School

    Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese - Making World Languages Fun!

    Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese - Making World Languages Fun in a Group!

     

    On Math:

    How to Homeschool Math in High School

    What I Look for in a Great Homeschool Algebra Curriculum

     

    On Science:

    How to Homeschool High School Science

    3 Good Reasons to Study Earth Science

     

    On Social Sciences:

    New Text Reveals:  Boys Become Human!

    Why Human Development from a Christian Worldview is a Required Subject in Our Homeschool

    6 Reasons Your Christian High Schooler Need Human Development

    How to Homeschool High School Science

     

    On Social Studies:

    3 Ways to Teach Big Ideas That Change the World

    5 Ways to Teach Independence

    Curriculum Review - Ultimate Geography Guide by Hogan and Wiggers

    Curriculum Review - Critical Thinking in United States History

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    Have you tried one of our literature study guides yet?  

    These affordable  ebooks (only $3.99 each) are a great introduction to 7 Sisters' curriculum.  Written by Sabrina Justison and Vicki Tillman, MA with collaboration by Dr. Gerald R. Culley, Ph.D., these guides help you and your student get the most out of a work of classic literature.

    Each literature study guide includes background information, vocabulary, discussion questions, supplemental resources, and answer key.  They take the lesson-planning out of English for the duration of the book you are reading.

    Download one and see how helpful a literature study guide can be!

    Click the book title to order the study guide for The Hobbit, British Poetry, Antigone, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, A Christmas Carol, Sense and Sensibility, The Invisible Man, Animal Farm, T. S. Eliot's Cats, or A Tale of Two Cities.

    From a homeschool mom who reviewed the literature study guide for A Tale of Two Cities:

    "Some time ago on 7 Sisters, you gave your "Tale of Two Cities" study guide as a freebie and asked for feedback.   Just wanted to say that it looks fantastic and helpful.  Love the questions, love the vocab, love the writing suggestions."

     

     

  • Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese...Making World Languages Fun in a Group!

    11 August 2011 / Curricula, Foreign Languages, Homeschool Information, Teaching / 6 Comments

    Advanced High School Poetry Writing

    Theme, Tone, Symbolism, Sound, Rhythm: 5 weeks of quick, creative lessons to help your homeschooler develop his basic poetry skills.

    Poetry helps develop great minds! Download your guide today!

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    Are you teaching Spanish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Latin...or any other World Language to a group of  homeschoolers?  Want to know how to benefit from your numbers and make it fun?  Good for you!

    If you read Part 1 of this series last Tuesday,  you know FUN is a key to language learning.  You may also notice  recurring themes with different applications for groups. Today's tips can work for elementary, middle, high school and mixed groups.

    -Incorporate vocabulary that is meaningful to the student.

    Talk about whatever is going on in your life and in theirs.  It can be as simple as learning a few words or phrases.  With the more experienced students, we share the "Altos" (highs) and "Bajos" (lows) of our lives in class, in Spanish.

    Senora Kym with James


    Senora Kym with James - Who do you think is the winner?

    -Use your target language in other fun activities that your student enjoys. 

    What do your students do together in English?  One of my favorite applications of this one is having the students write and present their own "material".  Anything goes! Younger and earlier level students may start with a short conversation, poem or skit.  As they gain more vocabulary and confidence, they can write or do their translations of some of their favorite songs or learn dances.  I even had a class write, perform and film  a "school" newscast.  They still remember those lines!

    -Play games! 

    We love to play games (you'll be able to get most of them in my upcoming release from 7Sisters).  While scrabble and hangman are obvious favorites for the youngers/newbies, we had a blast playing Pictionary, Smash Mouth and Manzanas con Manzanas in my advanced class.

    Whether you use Rosetta Stone, Holt McDougal, Learnables, Flip Flop Learning with my amiga Senora Gose, the high school curriculum I'm developing or something you've created yourself, remember to laugh together.  Fun is one of the keys to successfully mastering any world language!

    Why do your children learn World Languages in a group setting?

     

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