4Real Forums: Modern Language

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Across Time and Place
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Topic: Modern Language

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obriens61
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Joined: Feb 18 2006
Location: Illinois
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Posts: 22

Posted: Feb 18 2006 at 3:35pm \| IP Logged

After 4 years of studying Latin during the Grammar stage, we are all just a bit burned out. (Finishing LC II with a 5th, 6th and 7th grader).

My question....without a background in Latin or Spanish (I took German in high school), should we take a year off from foreign language acquisition or switch over to something more fun like Spanish?

In our travels, we have had opportunity to speak/understand Spanish...........but we aren't equipped. We also have a Spanish Mass in a neighboring parish. I was surprised how much we understood between our Latin and English vocabulary.

I'm interested in opinions about the pros and cons of studying a modern language. Also, about taking time off from a language and "losing ground". I need a little convincing to continue on with Henle 1 next year!

But I'm all ears and open to suggestions and others' experiences.

Maureen
....whose husband travels the world and continually reminds me, "It's a global market." He thinks I should be pursuing Mandarin studies!

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Kelly
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Joined: Feb 21 2005
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Posts: 1211

Posted: Feb 27 2006 at 11:09pm \| IP Logged

Hey Maureen,
    I wish I had the perfect answer... We're still groping our way along on this issue, too.
    Even though I was a language major, I still make a strong case for sticking with Latin. To me, it is much more than a foreign language: it's a course in logic, in history and in literature, not to mention Church Prayer, all in one. It provides a great springboard to all those romance languages, and even helps with learning non-romance languages. I always tell my children, once you've "broken the code" on how to study a language, any language, the NEXT language will come easier.
     That being said, I truly identify with your burn-out mode. I have to confess that what has made our Latin studies hum has been...(drumroll please...)finding a tutor. Yes, I caved in and went to the local college classics department. We go back and forth between homes in North and South Florida, and I've managed to find excellent tutors in both locations, for very reasonable prices. I highly recommend this tactic.
     As for choosing a modern language, If you are planning to study it grammatically, I think I'd vote to stick with what you know, unless your children are really driven to a particular language. OTOH if you ARE driven to tackle something new, and are having lots of fun with, say, Spanish, why not tackle it from a conversation standpoint, bagging the "formal approach"? The foreign service teaches most of their students thru this method of listening and repeating, without any grammar (at least at first). Hey, if it works for the Foreign Service Institute...
     Still, language studies are always hard to implement. I always find that when the going gets tough, our foreign language studies are the first to go---which is ironic as I enjoy them the most. Oh well.

Kelly in FL
whose dh also travels globally and says the same thing about Mandarin!

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