3. Join the Mixxer, a free educational site
for language learners: https://www.lan
guage-exchanges.org/. (As with any site
with chat or Skype features, parental
supervision is recommended).
4. Enjoy authentic music, movies, poetry,
and news programming in the target language. An online search using
the terms “comprehensible input” and
“movies” (for example), along with the
name of your target language, will turn
up multiple possibilities. Check out
this collection of ideas and resources
for learning Chinese! http://www.hack
ingchinese.com/learning-chinese-com
prehensible-input/
5. Study “high frequency word” lists. You
might begin with the top 100, then 200,
then 500 words, and so on. Here is a list
of high frequency French words I found:
https://mmerobinsonsclass.wordpress
.com/vocabulary/grade-1-sight-words/
Things Not to Worry About Just Yet
• Perfection
• Grammar (conjugating verbs and learn-
ing structures)
• Translation
• Recreating the sounds correctly
These things have more to do with output
and analysis than input . . . once more put-
ting the cart before the horse. One can’t
give what he hasn’t received, so don’t fret
over spending the time your students need
for soaking up input. If you do insist upon
memorization, remember that high fre-
quency word lists are ideal for this purpose.
Finally, as you gather your resources and
make your plans, keep in mind these inspiring words: “Education is not the filling
of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Similarly,
Alfred Mercier maintains: “What we learn
with pleasure we never forget.” This philosophy sees our role not as chief enforcer, but
as chief facilitator.
What a joy it is to come alongside our
students as they pursue their passions and
callings and develop their own unique
giftings! And fluency in another language
is just that—a wonderful gift, opening the
door to a world of possibilities. So bonne
chance, y ¡buena suerte!
May God bless your endeavors as you
strive to equip your students with this
wonderful gift!
Caryn Hommel, homeschool mom and author, taught Spanish in public schools for ten
years prior to homeschooling. Her successful experience with Total Physical Response
(TPR) and Total Physical Response Storytelling (TPRS) motivated her to develop Excel-erate SPANISH, a unique DVD-led curriculum to help other homeschoolers to benefit
from wonderful, brain-friendly approaches
to foreign language instruction. (excelerates
panish.com). Caryn assists families in the
homeschool community by offering private
and co-op classes, conducting free seminars,
and speaking at homeschool conventions.
The Hommels have homeschooled since 2003
and have graduated two students. She continues to teach her younger two children and
thinks that celebrating life and learning as
a family is the most fulfilling way to spend
your days!
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
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You taught them the Bible, worldviews, and apologetics.
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Fluency in another
language is a
wonderful gift,
opening the door to a
world of possibilities.
