Homeschooling and teaching your child a second language might seem impossible, but it doesn’t have to be! By adapting to this new endeavor, you’ll cultivate some quality father-daughter or father-son time. Hopefully, you will also learn another language in the process. Here is how to start.
Use Multiple Resources
Use all the tools at your disposal! These days, learning a new language is the easiest it’s ever been. If they are old enough, kids can use phone apps, play age-appropriate video games, and watch TV shows or movies. There are also plenty of Spanish reading and activity books that help teach a second language to your homeschooled child.
Follow a Curriculum Plan
Assuming you aren’t fluent, it will help you to lean on the materials that other experienced teachers have already put together. When you utilize the curriculum, you’ll cover all aspects of learning a language: listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Using lesson plans is helpful to keep progressing in a structured way and will help you measure how far along you’ve come. They also save you time because you don’t need to create a curriculum from scratch.
Stick To a Routine
However you choose to teach a second language to your homeschooled child, you need to set your child up for success with regularity. Establishing a consistent routine will ensure they keep on learning. Kids learn best with repetition and understand the necessity of learning a language when you expose them to it regularly.
Find a Language Immersion
Language immersions can come in many different forms. They could be home-based through hiring a Spanish-speaking nanny, au pair, or tutor. If your home has space, you can look into hosting a foreign exchange student. Search around in your local community for Spanish camps or other child-friendly events. These are great for letting your kid practice speaking the language in the real world.
Experiment with different resources and schedules to find the best way for you to teach your child another language. Once you discover what fits your family, learning a new language will only take maintenance and time.
