Virtual Curriculum Fair: Foreign Language Immersion in the Homeschool

Welcome to the first week of the Virtual Curriculum Fair  hosted by Susan at Homeschooling Hearts and Minds! 

January is a great time to look back at the work you've accomplished and also to look ahead at the coming year and any changes you'd like to make. This is where the Virtual Curriculum Fair can play a role - it's nice to get a glimpse of other homeschools to motivate and inspire us!

This week we're focusing on language arts - grammar, spelling, writing, reading, phonics and foreign languages.

In our homeschool we use a variety of materials from different publishers -

• Grammar: First Language Lessons
• Writing: Writing with Ease and Teaching Writing Structure & Style
• Spelling: All About Spelling
• Reading: good literature selections to expand reading level as well as "fun" books to work on speed and accuracy
• Latin: Prima Latina
• French: Mission Monde

Instead of talking about all of these great programs, I thought I would focus on the study of a foreign language.

I believe most people would agree that learning a foreign language is beneficial to any well-rounded education. We study two languages in our homeschool - Latin and French (and I plan to add Greek at some poing during the middle school years).

We study Latin because it is good training for the mind, it improves English grammar skills, and it's a great preparation for studying other foreign languages.

We study French because we live in Quebec. ;-)

Now, I believe there are three parts to a well-rounded foreign language education:

• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Reading and Writing
• Conversation

It's very easy to learn the grammar and vocabulary of a foreign language with a textbook or workbook. And, after you have learned enough, you can start tackling books or writing in that language. But speaking a language fluently only comes by practicing (and more than just a few minutes during a lesson) - immersion, immersion, immersion! And, since we live in a French province, it's important to me that we learn to speak the language fluently. Over the past few years I've complied a short list of things that we do to encourage fluency (we study French, you can obviously change this list to suit your language needs):

Label things around the house
Conjugate a French verb each day
Games - hangman, bingo, matching, or play any game but only speak in French
Read familiar picture books in French
Write a short letter in French once a month
Watch movies in French (dvds are great for this with the language options available!)
Speak French at specific times each day; speak only French at mealtimes a few times a week
Write down daily phrases on index cards and make your own little "phrase book" and use them often
Memorize familiar Bible verses in French
Learn French songs
Pray in French

So, even if you can't send your child to an immersion school, it is possible to provide the benefits of that type of education on a smaller scale. But you have to be willing to learn the language with your child!

Nurturing Novelists = Building Strong Writers by Susan Anadale @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Building Blocks of Education--Learning toRead  by Kristi Kerr @ The Potter's Hand Academy

Finding Our Way Through Language Arts by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool

How Does a Unit Study Teach Language Arts? by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun

Our Language Arts Adventure by Linda @ Homeschooling6

2013 Virtual Curriculum Fair-Playing with Words: The Language Arts by Leah Courtney @ As We Walk Along the Road

Virtual Curriculum Fair-Playing with Words by Karyn @ Teach Beside Me

Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Language Arts by Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool

Writing Help in a Critical Thinking book? by Missouri Mama @ Ozark Ramblings

Virtual Curriculum Fair: Foreign Language Immersion in the Homeschool by Tonia @ The Sunny Patch

Formula for Reading by Erin @ Delighting in His Richness

Words and Learning by Annette @ A Net In Time

A Custom Designed High School English Credit by Tech Wife @ A Playground of Words

Virtual Curriculum Fair 2013: Still Loving Language Arts by Pam @ Everyday Snapshots

Word Play by Lisa @ Golden Grasses

Loving Language Arts by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset

Learning Language Arts ~ 2012-2013 School Year by Laura O in AK @ Day by Day in Our World

Virtual Curriculum Fair - The Language Arts Department by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

Playing with Words:  The Language Arts by Christa Darr @ Fairfield Corner Academy: The Story of Our Life

Playing with Words:  Language Arts by April @ Coffee, Cobwebs and Curriculum

What Language Arts looks like in our house - Are we doing it right? by Hillary M @ Our Homeschool Studio

Getting lost and finding our way in Language Arts by Piwi Mum @ Learning and growing the Piwi Way