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What do you do when your child wants to learn a language that you don’t know, and there aren’t any convenient and affordable classes nearby?
We dipped our toes into a number of different languages in our homeschooling. Over the years the boys tried Spanish, Greek, Russian and French. I learned quickly that trying to learn a language, even at an introductory level, without a teacher who knows that language is not super productive.
I knew Spanish well and had studied Russian a bit. And not surprisingly, those two courses went so much better than the ones I didn’t know. We even used a computer program for one course and it was terribly confusing and not intuitive at all.
So when my youngest expressed an interest in learning Japanese, I was kind of at a loss. Japanese?
Learn Languages to Use in Real Life
He’s interested in pursuing a degree in business, perhaps International business, and is thinking about possibly doing some study abroad. So he wasn’t looking for a curriculum per se, as much as wanting to gain a functional use of the language.
Rosetta Stone has been such a great tool to do just that.
I used Rosetta Stone when I was teaching English as a Second Language to adults years ago, so I was a bit familiar with the program and method. The learning is natural and immersive.
In fact, I decided to check out the Spanish program as a refresher since I don’t speak it all that much these days. Using the program reminded me of my visits to Mexico. I was listening and understanding native speakers, and then forming the correct response. I’m really loving it as a way to brush up!
The visual paired with hearing the language makes all the difference. And it is all very intuitive. (That is huge for us! If we have to muddle through, we’re not likely to continue.)
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Intuitive Language Learning
When my son started using Rosetta Stone, he felt like he was missing something. He said, “They’re saying things that I don’t understand.” I told him to press on. Within a few lessons he was telling me phrases and words he had learned and was able to use.
And because it’s so much like real life, the learning builds on itself and you continue to see, hear, and use what you’ve already learned. That, more than anything, cements the learning in your mind.
I am utterly thrilled that we tried Rosetta Stone when we did. My son is gaining a familiarity with Japanese, he’s understanding more and more every day. And the really cool thing is that he’s learning to speak it too.
Try Rosetta Stone for Free!
As a special offer for my readers, Rosetta Stone is giving you a chance to win a 12-month subscription for FREE! You can choose from 24 languages to study. This is a huge offer! Do not pass this up.
Enter here:
Thanks for the review, Susan. I was just saying that I wanted to start learning Spanish with Boy #1. Would it be too advanced for my preschool aged language lover?
Rosetta Stone is marketed towards kids as young as kindergarten, so I don’t think it would be a stretch to try with a pre-schooler. Definitely sign up to win the free subscription to give it a try!