Mike Smith:
Learning a foreign language might be good for your student, but how do you teach a language when you don’t speak it yourself? As a homeschooling parent, you have several options.

Interacting with other speakers is an important part of learning a new language, so consider having your student attend a foreign-language class. Homeschool co-ops can be a great resource for this. If your co-op doesn’t offer a language class, you can start one. Is there a parent in your local homeschool community who majored in a foreign language in college? Do you have families in your church from a different national or cultural background? Or, you might know of a teacher at a local school or college who would be willing to teach a homeschool co-op class.

Are you interested in a traditional class based on grade level, or an integrated, family-style one? Some teachers will let your whole family take a language class together, breaking into levels only after you reach a certain proficiency. This is a great way to learn a language right along with your children!

For your high school student, language classes at your local community college are an option. Your high schooler may be able to earn both high school and college credit through dual enrollment.

There are also many options for pursuing a second language right in your own home. On the next program, we’ll talk about choosing foreign-language curriculum. And until then, I’m Mike Smith.