Teaching Languages to Children?

Okay, well I went to a large city in my state to visit a store well known to have home school products. I was beyond shocked to find out that they only carry Spanish and Latin language resources. They had a few other languages on the SALE rack. What??? I even asked the woman over the department " Why do you only carry these two main language resources?" BTW , I was searching for German resources for children.

She informed me that they used to keep more available but that most home school families in the region are teaching LATIN. ?????????????????????? L A T I N ?????????????????????????????????????????????? in OKLAHOMA????????????

Yes, Latin - Well, I admit I own some LATIN resources. I (capital), I use them. I don't use them for my children YET. None of my older children have wanted to get that deep into language that they wanted to know it's base. The 3 eldest have Dyslexia -

So I find myself curious..... What languages are home schoolers teaching ?

When I was first introduced to (forced to learn) a foreign language, it was in public HIGH school. Yep, I'm a PS kid. Good thing I liked to learn is all I have to say----

This state requires two years instruction in a foreign language or computer. I had been so frightened by "teachers" to not touch a computer that I might "damage it costing thousands of dollars" that I dare not take that class. So Spanish or French it was. I now look back and am proud that I had enough brain power in my teens to make, what I thought, was a rational decision. I didn't figure that I would ever travel to France or Canada (I was poor in money) and knew not one person who spoke French, so Spanish was IT. I loved it, it came easy for me. I was in "Spanish National Honor Society" - somehow wasn't invited to yearbook photo for it or "Who's Who Among American High School Students" either... hmmm?

ANYway, I was good at learning Spanish. I had enough forethought to go to my local community college and test out of the first year coursework in Spanish. WHY I didn't test in math at the time, I don't know. It was my best subject and I had passed Trig and Pre-Cal... I can't even remember those now.

TEST while the iron is HOT. MAKE YOUR KIDS DO THAT before they turn 18...!!!!!! They may change their minds one day and go to college even if some say they will never go now.

So, that's why I picked my first foreign language.

My eldest child had a major speech/language delay. Her therapist suggested teaching her signs. I had a friend whose eldest child was deaf, so I thought it would be a good thing to do. I refused to teach BABY SIGNS as some were not real signs. Why waste time on made up signs? So when the home school decision was made, those are the two foreign languages that I taught. Only Spanish was accepted by local high schools if they ever entered. (They did. Eldest returned to Home School and sign language, two younger have taken/ are taking Spanish though one wanted German - it wasn't offered.)

Youngest child still at home. No known learning disabilities. I added German (local woman and some cousins speak) . Did SO well that I added Italian the next year. Local family from Italy--- (I always wanted to learn this language b/c I thought it would have a lot of Spanish cognates- it does). Next, French. The one I hate, though I took years of Ballet. The youngest REQUESTED to learn it. I started learning it over the summer break, because it was a language the youngest WANTED to learn. WOW. I'll deal with French.

So, Spanish, ASL and Signed English mix,German ,Italian, French. M,T,W,TH,F

I LOVE learning and learning foreign languages is more exciting these days b/c I've spent nearly 18 years teaching regular general education subjects. I am newly learning Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and some Portuguese.

As you may recall, on Fridays we have "Free Pick". My child picks what activity to do whether audio book or worksheet etc.. to do on each subject INCLUDING foreign language. Guess what happened a few weeks ago???? A language was picked straying from the M-Th norms. "What are the new languages you are learning, Mom? I want to learn one of those today."

SMILE. It's all worth it - teaching one to love to LEARN. Isn't that one of our base goals? Not JUST teaching what's required.... When my children/ students get to High School grade level, I allow them to pick which language they want to spend their two full years learning for graduation requirements. I HOPE they continue to learn and use foreign languages throughout their lives.

My story is over now.......... Back to the original thought... WHAT languages are your students learning? Spanish b/c that's the "norm" or Latin b/c that's what's "hot"? Are you inspired by a family heritage? Does your child want to be in law or medicine? Plesae share with us so we can know all the flavors of home education. I don't think it's so vanilla after all....