The best way to learn a language is to grow up with it. The next best way, we’re often told, is to live in the country in which the desired language is spoken. I think the next best way is to live in the country and use some good books, tapes, or other study guides. I became fairly fluent in Spanish while living in Mexico, but if I hadn’t studied the grammar and vocabulary at the same time, my Spanish would have been limited to that of the uneducated poor people with whom I spent most of my time. The same is usually true even in learning one’s native language: If one’s family and everyday associates speak ungrammatically, one’s own speech will be the same unless an effort is made to improve it through study and practice. If you want to learn a language but don’t expect to be living where it’s spoken, or you want to learn some of it before you go, there are many different ways of learning: tapes, phrase books, classroom studies, and so on. Finding someone in your community to act as a mentor is an excellent way to learn a language and make new friends. We’ve investigated and tried several methods, and we believe the selections we’ve made are among the best language-learning aids available.
I’ve considered some of the new computer software programs for learning languages and found that although you can hear native-born speakers, the sound isn’t as clear as on an audiocassette, CD, videotape or DVD. Although some of the software came highly recommended, I found myself getting numb after the novelty wore off, and my eyes didn’t like staring at the monitor. I wouldn’t want my children using software for learning a language, even though the multimedia effects are quite good.
Cathy traveled and lived in Mexico for several months after high school. She started studying Spanish at home with the book Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish and used an advanced cassette course from Audio Forum. She didn’t finish either the book or the course before she left, but these resources gave her a basic working vocabulary and an idea of the grammar. She learned enough to have a great time and make some very good friends.
If you are beginning language study with young children you will find that all the beginning programs are incomplete. Your kids will want words that are not on the tapes or in the books. You’ll want a good bilingual dictionary: one that goes from English to your target language and from the target language to English. You will also be better prepared to help your kids if you study along with them or use a more advanced course at the same time. It will give you a better understanding of the pronunciation and grammatical construction. I think everyone will benefit from using more than one program for young learners. The variety will increase vocabulary and decrease the chance of boredom stemming from listening to the same thing repeatedly. The more exposure you get to the sound of the language the better your ears will hear it, and your pronunciation will improve.
BABYLON (www.babylon.com) is downloadable software that works as an instant language translator and dictionary. The program works by loading a large dictionary onto your hard drive. Add-ons make the translation/dictionary program work in more languages than you’ll ever need to know. Babylon also offers special programs for kids. Very reasonably priced too.
Just a quick note about the most widely advertised children’s language programs: Having looked at many, I much prefer the BBC’s MUZZY program to Rosetta Stone. Muzzy was fun to watch, and somehow they managed to get in enough repetition – without being boring – to make the vocabulary stick in my mind. This was a remarkable experience. I tried this with their French program because I can’t spell well in English and French spelling boggles my mind so I have a built in resistance to it, and I still learned French from their program.
If you want extensive language materials or literature in a foreign language, I recommend writing to CALLIOPE BOOKS, Route 3, Box 3395, Saylorsburg, PA 18353. Their extensive catalog has learning materials and foreign-language books at all levels.
I’ve seen a lot of attractive ads for the LEARNABLES. Check www.learnables.com, 800-237-1830. They offer Bible stories, readable after level 2, but they are extra and not part of the curriculum.
Check out the website www.spanishworkbooks.com for Spanish workbooks, puzzles, and vocabulary building once you’ve gotten started with your own materials.
LATIN FOR CHILDREN, Primers A,B,C, with a book about logic and a workbook. You may have seen the ads for these. They seem to be working hard to market these primers. You’ll find these books fairly well organized and sometimes entertaining. These primers have a useful pronunciation key in the front of each book. There are regular spaces for practice and opportunity for reviewing material covered at the end of each section and at the end of the book. I find it nice that the English derivatives are regularly linked to their Latin roots. A high point for me was the glossary of useful famous Latin sayings in the appendix of Primer C. I think you may find the pages cramped at times, with too much information. Sometimes the illustrations don’t make any sense to me. You may not find this so. There are more military references than I like. A friend who knows Latin better than I do found some confusion in the translation in spots and a few misspellings. She also felt these books best for self-motivated mid-teens. There is a website students can use if they are interested. www.classicalacademicpress.com/. Now that I’ve written all that I’m not sure if I’m recommending this or not. Mostly I am, but with caveats.
CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES is a unique camp designed for youngsters ages 7 to 18 who would enjoy living in a camp atmosphere and learning a foreign language. It’s all done “immersion” style. They offer 13 languages. Contact: 901 8th St. S., Moorhead, MN 56562; 800-222-4750 or 218-299-3807; www.clvweb.cord.edu.
More useful resources to come just as fast as I can do it. Check back soon.
A note from one of our readers had this story:
A linguistics professor was lecturing his class one day. “In English,” he said, “a double negative forms a positive. In some languages, though, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative. However, there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative. ”
A voice from the back of the room piped up: “Yeah, right.”
Collins Spanish Club, Book 1. I think this book, with the CD included, would be a lot of fun for kids who have some basic Spanish. There are songs that are very easy to learn, stickers, puzzles, games, and some tips for parents. Answers to the puzzles and games are in the back. Most of the vocabulary is illustrated or explained but not everything. Most of the words I didn’t know I could figure out from the usage, but I found it a bit frustrating and had to find my Spanish dictionary. Maybe I just need to brush up on my Spanish. There’s no English-to-Spanish or Spanish-to-English dictionary included. Recommended for ages 4 to 8, but I think your child needs some basic Spanish before using this. Here’s the deal: The price is $15.99, and if you buy it and don’t like it you can return it for a refund of all but your postage. $14.00 From Brook Farm Books.