Mike Smith:
On our last program, we talked about attending language classes. But there are also a lot of resources out there for learning a language right in your home.

The library is a great place to start looking. If your local library doesn’t have audio or video courses for the language your student wants to learn, find out if you can borrow them from another library through an inter-library loan. At the library, you can also look for children’s books and music in other languages. These are great resources for older as well as younger learners, because the grammar structure will be simpler than in literature written for more advanced readers.

Some homeschool curriculum companies offer correspondence courses in foreign languages, which might include audio, DVD, or online courses. Your child can enjoy the benefits of being home and learning at their own pace while also gaining from the expertise of fluent language teachers.

The web provides a multitude of resources for learning a foreign language, including online courses and interactive software.

And, of course, there are always textbooks. Language texts are available for modern and classical languages. A trip to a used-curriculum fair is sure to net some books or flashcards that have served another family well in their language-learning adventures.

As you consider what curriculum to choose, keep in mind your student’s age and learning level. Is your child too young to start learning a foreign language? Find out on our next program. And until then, I’m Mike Smith.