To want ds to learn a second language

[strugglingthroughlife]

We homeschool ds (6) well I say "we" What I mean is "I". Well, recently I've been thinking that it will be really beneficial for ds to learn a second language, after some searching around and some research I've been thinking Chinese mandarin may be one he could learn. I've looked further and found "lingobus" . Native Chinese speakers teaching students Chinese. Perfect.

I am also aware of the job prospects when he is grown for knowing another language, also for the advantageous effects on the brain.

But, dp has said it's a "waste of money" no other reason than "he should learn more English vocabulary" (we do a few new words a week) and that's it. We can afford for ds to study. I simply feel that it's because it's my suggestion and not dp.

So aibu to want ds to study a second language? It's only a 25 minute class a week or so, so not massive amounts!

I just don't know

HeadDreamer Mon 18-Dec-17 14:41:05
But I don’t think the benefit really is in speaking another language. There are the side effects like lower dementia risk. And enriching our lives. I can’t really play the piano or do ballet. It doesn’t mean I have wasted all those hours in lessons. If you use that argument you might as well not study most things at school or do any extra curricular activities. You can guarantee most kids going to ballet or gymnastics or football won’t do any of these professionally.

This.

"In addition, though, I think it's a mistake to think of languages solely in terms of getting to a professional standard (teacher, translator, etc). The thing I wished I'd realised at school is this: the point of languages is communication. I speak ropey French and Italian. I make mistakes with the grammar. I forget words. But I can still talk to people... any linguistic skill is better than none, and the more effort you put in, the more you get back - even if you will never get perfect."

Sorry, pressed button too soon: second quotation were the equally wise words of PricklyBall.

Personally I wouldn’t teach your DS Italian. It’s only of use in one country (unless you plan to visit Ethiopia)

It gives you a head start in Latin. It is spoken widely in areas outside Italy, Switzerland, parts of Holland (Utrecht) Argentina parts of Croatia.

Absolutely go for it OP. A second language will be a great advantage to any child as they get older. BIL's wife is German but as lazy as sin. She basically couldn't be bothered teaching the kids German so now they can only speak English. Such a waste. My friend's husband is French and her kids speak fluent English & French.

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all of your advice and guidance!

I've had extensive talks with dp and we've agreed that ds will learn German, he is starting tomorrow after the break!

So I've signed him up to duolingo, and looked at German cartoons, and will look into a tutor aswell, apart from travelling are there any other ways to immerse him in the language?

On a side note he's very excited to think he'll be able to watch some cartoons as part of his studying 😂

Hi op
I think it is a great idea to pick a European language

I learned enough German in a year on Duolingo to cope with most eventualities on a road trip through Germany and Austria. (My grammar is shocking, but I can ask questions and understand the replies, follow directions etc)

My dd was amazed that I could communicate and she came back full of enthusiasm for starting French at school. I really can't say how useful a trip to that country is to inspire language learning.

German is great because there are tonnes of resources and it is the most widely spoken language in Europe, so if you like to travel, you can get by in Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Germany (and I think it is an official language in Belgium) it's also a gateway to Dutch - if you have English and German you have a good start on Dutch. That's the makings of a great road trip :)

I recommend Duolingo, the Youtube channel easygerman and kids tv like this: www.ard.de/kinder/ARD_Kinder/3275060/index.html.

Oh and I forgot to say, music. Germany has a good record industry, so there are loads of songs he can listen to too.

@jedenfalls wow thank you so much! Will check those out! I'm so excited for him to learn and will learn along side him! Your experience sounds wonderful so even better! Thank you all for the link

No worries,

I have loads more links if you are interested. Let me know if you want more. It has been a hugely enjoyable undertaking for me.

Im dyslexic and was pretty much written off at school in terms of learning a language. It has been a total revelation to me that I could learn. The high point ( Literally and figuratively) of our trip last year was being complimented on my German in a cafe at the top of an Austrian mountain. I kind of wished my old teachers could have seen that!

I've now been going about 18months and can manage to read kids books at about the level of Harry Potter. I think that little Little and often is the real key. I do 5-10 mins a day on Duolingo and make a point of then listening to/ singing along with at least one song, reading a simple news article or watching one short YouTube video every day.

I wouldn't be able pass an exam or anything at the moment as I don't have a handle on the grammar, that's my project for the New Year I think! But I feel it doesn't matter too much in the early stages if you are just looking to have fun learning to understand and communicate. That sort of stuff can be learned whenever.

@jedenfalls I would be greatly interested in any links you have! I have bookmarked the previous one and had a browse around it and it looks great :)

It's wonderful to hear how great you're getting along, especially being self taught like that, I have decided I will learn along side ds as I simply can't vision trying to teach something I have no grasp over!

How long did it take for you to understand the programmes

A friend of mine has paid for her son to have Chinese lessons every week for 10 years. She isn't rich at all, but he was keen and somehow it was one of the rare things he stuck to. 10 years on though, he can just about get by communicating. It's such a difficult language and he has never practiced it with Chinese people except for the one hour a week. He is now an adult and has forgotten almost all of it and no interest whatsoever in going to China, let alone use the language in any way. My friend looks at it that it was an activity like any others and few leads to kids continuing with it as an adult, for which she has a point.

The fact is that unless you are going to use that language somehow or indeed, you just consider it one thing to learn for the pleasure of learning for that time, you will find that it won't lead to anything. I've learnt German for 6 years (30 years ago) and have long lost the ability to say even the simplest sentence as I've never been to Germany or needed to speak the language during all my adult life.

Have pmd you OP

@jedenfalls Thank you, will check that out on the computer in a while

My DP is from another EU county.
When he first met the twins (4) they were fascinated by the fact that he spoke another language and kept asking him how to say ..... and that was how we started picking up his language.

When I was pregnant with our second child we moved to his country for 3 years so all of us speak that language. The children are totally dual language like DP, I speak it, read it ok but my written is pretty crap.
We speak that language most of the time at home.

Twins are now 14 and have studied Spanish & French at school. Both will do a language GCSE and DPs language GCSE as an extra. Learning so young has definitely helped them.