How to Start Foreign Language Read-Alouds (Even When You Don't Speak Another Language!)

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How to Start Foreign Language Read-Alouds (Even When You Don't Speak Another Language!)

Homeschooling families know that reading aloud is GREAT for their kids; now, how can you put read-alouds to work for foreign language learning--even if you don't speak a foreign language yourself? Here's my most detailed post on where to find the best (affordable) foreign language audiobooks, how to match them to your child's proficiency level, and how to make them a part of your everyday routine.

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Why I Want My Children To Learn Foreign Languages

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Why I Want My Children To Learn Foreign Languages

Mastering a foreign language isn't about knowing myriad verb conjugations or grammar rules. It's about being able to connect with other people--and that's one reason why learning languages is so important to our family. In today's post, I ponder this and some other reasons why language learning is a priority in our homeschool; I hope that they inspire you in your own educational and parenting journey.

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Charlotte Mason and Language Learning: The Habit of Memorizing

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Charlotte Mason and Language Learning: The Habit of Memorizing

Charlotte Mason believed in the power of memorization to shape children's minds, and so do many homeschoolers today. If you're looking to combine memory work with foreign language learning in your homeschool, look no further--I've got some practical suggestions right here that Miss Mason would appreciate.

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Language Learning and Charlotte Mason: The Habit of Mental Effort

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Language Learning and Charlotte Mason: The Habit of Mental Effort

As homeschooling families, we all want our children to learn to work hard--to exercise the habit that Charlotte Mason called "mental effort." In today's post, I consider how language learning offers a unique opportunity for homeschoolers to develop this essential habit.

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Language Learning and Charlotte Mason: Forming the Habit of Attention

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Language Learning and Charlotte Mason: Forming the Habit of Attention

Have you been influenced by Charlotte Mason's ideas in your homeschool? Are you focused on habit formation in your children? Hear my thoughts about how language learning helps children develop what Miss Mason called "the habit of attention" and how kids can apply this habit to their study of other academic subjects.

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Christian Resources in Spanish (Our Favorite Children's Bibles)

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As Christian parents, we rely on quality literature, music, and other resources to help us teach our kids the Christian faith--in English AND Spanish. And over the past four years, I’ve been building quite the stockpile of materials that do just that—and today, I'm sharing a few of our favorite children’s bibles in Spanish.

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Holiday Blogging Break...Until The New Year!

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Hi all!

Thank you all for following along with me on my blogging journey this year. It has been so exciting to get Language Learning at Home up and running! 

I am going to be taking a blogging break from now until January in order to spend time focusing on my family in this season. Not only are we quite busy with holiday events, but we also just moved into our first home, and I need to spend some time getting the last few boxes unpacked and paintings on the wall, as well as getting toddlers settled into a new routine here. 

If you have some downtime over the holiday break, you might consider catching up on some of my recent series: 

Language Learning 101: where I lay out 10 basic principles for language learning at home. 

Homeschool Language Learning Apps: where I provide in-depth reviews of both Duolingo and Mango Languages along with recommendations for using them effectively in your homeschool. 

Motivation and the Homeschool Language Learner: while not technically a series, I’ve been writing a lot of this topic. My recent posts have focused on how cultural learning can boost student motivation and gives more creative ideas for motivating your language learner (from my own experience with a reluctant child!). 

I hope that your family has a wonderful holiday and can welcome the new year refreshed and encouraged for another season of homeschooling. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!