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Hello to all! Just wondering what HOD's, or any of you homeschool Mama's, take is on foreign language instruction. I've always thought that younger is better when teaching a child a second language so should I be adding this in or?

As far as I know Heart of Dakota does not promote any foreign language or have it in their guides. However, I can give you my personal stance. When my DS starts writing proficiently, I plan to begin Prima Latina with him (hopefully around 2nd grade). Once we complete that and Latina Christiana, I want him to learn a common language. Most likely we'll do Spanish since it's becoming more prominent in our country. We'll likely use Rosetta Stone. Hope that helps.

We use the BBC website and Rosetta Stone right now to help teach language in our home. I'd *love* to have a little check mark box for "Languages" on our HOD guide just to remind me

Yes, I believe the younger the better UNLESS you feel totally overwhelmed all ready. We really mix our language learning up based on whether I need it to be more relaxed or can stand a bit more rigor that particular month or year. We've done private tutoring, classes, and sometimes nothing at all or a few books or DVDs in our language a month. My dd9 can do RS on her own now so that really helps! The studies I've read show that as long as you get started with a language before the age of 11.5, the child can pick up on the accent. So, I think you can use that as a guide to when you must start. Of course with Latin accents don't matter, so there's always an exception to that rule!

Hope that helps.

Amy

We do French and Latin. Charlotte Mason said in the early elementary ages they should only hear and speak it, preferably from a native. We have a friend of the family who is French Canadian and speaks it fluently, so that is why we chose French. My children do know general Spanish as well, I have taught them common phrases, counting, colors, body parts and food items. I am doing the Latin Primer with my 5th grade son, this is our first year doing Latin. I wanted to incorporate it because I think it really helps with grammar and vocabulary. I did find a bargain on Song School Latin (doing half speed with 6yo) and I must say I am loving it! The songs are so great. We just started Monday. We are doing Latin MWF and French on T/Th.