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CandaceC
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| Posted: March 17 2010 at 8:35pm | IP Logged
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Am I crazy to consider 2 languages with such young children?
I do believe they learn and soak it up better in their younger years.
Here is my dilemma. We started Prima Latina this past year...for now, I'd like to continue that, we are using the dvd lessons and the workbooks.
But, I'd also like to start Spanish. There are so many hispanics in our area...and I know it is growing and growing...I'd like to do this language too?!?
Is it too confusing? Has anyone done this? I'd appreciate any insight and suggestions.
My oldest is 8yrs and doing 3rd grade work.
THANKS!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
His Mercy Is New
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guitarnan
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| Posted: March 17 2010 at 9:00pm | IP Logged
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I think it is worth a try. We were living in Italy when my dd started Latin and we tried to teach her both languages. (I don't know Latin, so that effort fizzled out later on when my dh deployed, but you won't face that problem.) Even though she doesn't remember too much of this experience now, the "wiring" for language learning was definitely connected then...she has a great ear for accents and seems to understand the grammar of Romance languages.
What is the worst thing that can happen? Things get difficult and you shelve one language for a few months. Not a bad situation, in the overall scheme of things.
Your children will tell you when they feel overwhelmed - either in words or by refusing to work on language learning. If they seem enthusiastic now, give it a try!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 17 2010 at 9:09pm | IP Logged
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The only downside.. since Spanish is related to Latin is that you might get a mixture of the two for a while.. it's a natural process.. just like children in bilingual homes (english and spanish for instance) will mix the two for a time. It would help to have particular times for each.. like do one in the morning and one in the afternoon.. or have you teach one and your dh teach one.. things like that will help them seperate it.
I took Spanish 2 and French 1 my senior year of high school.. it was great because they did reinforce each other.. French was totally easy because I already understood how the language was broken down.. but I would still mix up words. Very nice that my French teacher would only take one point off for a "misspelled" word even if you used it many times on a test 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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pmeilaen
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| Posted: March 17 2010 at 9:37pm | IP Logged
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I don't think it's too confusing. My children are bilingual (English/German) and are also studying French, Latin, and Biblical Greek. So far they don't seem to mind and are happy to notice how much they can understand.
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Eva
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CandaceC
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| Posted: March 18 2010 at 9:45am | IP Logged
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Thank you ladies!
Nancy, you make a great point - try it, what is the worst that can happen?!?!  Sometimes I need others to point out the simple like that!!
And, I kept thinking in the back of my mind that in other countries, children were definitely learning more language than ours are, at least it seems to me...certainly bilingual children, and I feel they probably have an advantage over most of us as Americans who can only speak English.
Thank you for helping me think this through...sometimes I just need to hear from others.
And, Jodi, I was worried about them confusing the 2...separating the lessons in some way is a great idea!
I think we will at least give it a shot...we'll just play it by ear and see how it goes!!
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
His Mercy Is New
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 18 2010 at 11:37am | IP Logged
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Maybe I wasn't clear.. mixing the two is just a stage.. I didn't mean to say that it was a problem. Just know that it might happen.. and it's ok.. and keep going and they'll get it straightened out.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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CandaceC
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| Posted: March 18 2010 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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You were clear...thank you! I just thought it was a good idea to separate them in the day or in some other way...
Thanks for letting me know it is normal though, that is helpful to know in advance! 
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
His Mercy Is New
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: June 07 2010 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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Thank you for these thoughts (and please keep them coming!)
A friend discouraged me from teaching two languages... but she did suggest something.
First of all, those of you who teach Latin... are you actually SPEAKING it in your homes? Or just studying it?
I speak spanish proficiently. And I try to speak spanish to my kids... basic things. But there is no formal study. I was hoping it would just kind of leech into their systems.
Anyway, my friend said I ought to speak one language conversationally with my kids... while studying the other: Latin. (Yes, I know... I was the one who started a thread a while back about NOT teaching Latin. I'm a work in progress.)
We'd do Prima Latina and say some prayers in Latin... we attend Mass in the E.F. once a month.
But I really feel like I need to pass on Spanish because of its utter usefulness.
So I think we'll be tentatively doing both languages come falltime...
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Ellie
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pmeilaen
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| Posted: June 07 2010 at 8:23pm | IP Logged
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We don't speak Latin here, because it's a dead language. I think it's enough to be able to translate it and use it in ptayers, the Latin Mass, etc.
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Eva
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4Real Forums : Across Time and Place
Topic: Teaching 2 languages?
