The Ultimate Guide To Foreign Language Curriculum In Your Homeschool

Here at The Curriculum Choice we have many foreign language curriculum reviews to help make your decisions easy. How to choose a foreign language course for your homeschool? What will work best with a certain homeschool method? Our authors have shared what they love, what works best for their students and examples of how each program works!

Latin and Greek Foreign Language Curriculum Reviews

Latin Homeschool Curriculum Reviews – A place to find all our Latin Curriculum reviews

• A Review of Latin for Children by Heidi – There is a lot to learn in this amazing curriculum.  I love the discussion of derivatives to boost overall vocabulary.  The focus on grammar reinforces concepts like tense that can help with English.
• Song School Latin Review by Amy – A key component of classical education is the study of ancient language, most commonly Latin.  Needless to say, I know nothing about Latin.  I figured that I would wait a few years and then get my kids a book that they could pretty much teach themselves from.  Well, my ideas changed once I heard some other bloggers talking about this neat little program called Song School Latin.
• Learning Latin with Song School Latin 2 by Heidi – How I wish we had started learning Latin with Classical Academic Press materials three years ago!  When we started homeschooling I had grand plans of teaching my children Latin, but after a lackluster attempt at Latin roots I put my idea on the back burner.  Both my children continued asking to please learn a foreign language.  Research continued to lead me to Latin and the materials available from Classical Academic Press.

• Latin in the Christian Trivium by Cindy – Looking for an in-depth, high school course that will provide a strong foundation in Latin grammar?  Would it be even better to find one that includes historical background from a Christian perspective, too?  You’re in luck!  I’ve been blessed to use Latin in the Christian Trivium, Volume I with my high school daughter this year.
• Latin for Children, Primer A by Cindy – Latin For Children, Primer A is the first of three curricula that teach your children Latin – words, pronunciation, conjugation, memorization and eventually reading.  It is Biblically based with Bible verses being some points of memorization.
• Latin in the Christian Trivium by Molly – Enter Latin in the Christian Trivium. I can’t remember how we found this program, but I am so thankful that we did.  It is systematic and thorough, rigorous but not overwhelming.

• Visual Latin Review by Tricia – Warning. The free lessons you may download and watch will have you hooked. Watch them with your children only if you want to hear…Laughter. Soon followed by, “Can we watch another?” Then after the second introductory lesson, “Can we watch just one more?”
• Latin for Children vs. Latina Christiana by Kristen – I think that BOTH Latin for Children and Latina Christiana are excellent Latin programs with many similarities. Both are designed to be used with students as young as about the third grade. They both teach Latin from a parts-to-whole method.
• Lively Latin by Brenda – Lively Latin or, The Big Book as it is called, covers all the elements of a first year elementary Latin program in a fun and engaging way.
• Prima Latina by Brenda – I highly recommend Prima Latina with the DVD’s to ALL families starting Latin in grades 1-4th.  It is a perfect blend of vocabulary and prayers and is an easy introduction into Latin.
• Elementary Greek by Brenda –Elementary Greek , year one, by Open Texture  is designed to be used for as young as second grade.  It is a full year’s course and is written simply for the teacher with little to no experience in the Greek language.

Root Words

• Have Fun Learning About Words with Rummy Roots by Mary – Do you know what PHOTOGRAMMETRY or THERMOPHILE mean? How about ZOOMETRY or SYMPHILY? Your children will be able to tell you quite easily what the definitions of these words are after spending time playing Rummy Roots.
• English From the Roots Up by Cindy – Twice a week, using English from the Roots Up by Joegil Lundquist, we are learning one new root word and reviewing all we have already learned. This is resulting in an amazing Greek/Latin connection to words we use everyday and boosting my children’s ability to break apart new vocabulary words for meaning. (Talk about a great way to boost spelling skills AND future ACT/SAT scores!)
• English From the Roots Up by Barb – We have not totally ignored all Latin. We have used English From the Roots Up as the basis for our very simple Latin and Greek roots curricula.  Why do we even bother learning these roots? I have found that my boys are able to easily decipher the meaning of an unfamiliar word by looking for roots within the word.
• Science Roots – Vocabulary for High School Science by Danielle
• Building Language: Latin Stems and Roman Architecture by Mary

Sign Language – ASL

Is American Sign Language really a foreign language?  Yes it is!  And every country in the world has its own sign language that is different from all the others.  So deaf people in Australia can’t sign with those from Spain, unless they know the sign language for the other country!

• You Can Learn Sign Language – a book containing more than 300 signs with easy to follow instructions, and colorful, clear photos of kids demonstrating each sign. 
• Sign Language Flash Cards – Sign Language Flash Cards includes 105 colorfully illustrated cards that teach the signs for numbers, and letters plus some very basic common words.
• The Best Video ASL Resources – When teaching (or learning) ASL (American Sign Language) books can easily fall flat. It is much easier to learn if you can see the signs in action. This is a collection of the Best Video ASL Resources that are either FREE or low cost.
• Self-Paced ASL Courses for Homeschoolers – Self-Paced ASL Courses for Homeschoolers with Mr. D Math. Online, video based, in every level from elementary to ASL 3
• Hands on Foreign Language for Kids by Tristan (sign language) – While there are many ‘foreign’ languages a homeschool family can study, the one I recommend for those with young children is American Sign Language.

Spanish

What are the 5 Best Language Learning Apps for Kids to Learn Spanish at Home? In this article not only do we take a look at 5 of the best language learning apps for kids, but we are also going to talk about what things to look for when evaluating these learning apps

• The Easy Spanish – Charlotte Mason Style Learning by Barb – This past year we finished up The Easy Spanish or El Espanol Facil! Level I. I found the link through the recommendation of a friend and after watching the introductory video explaining how the program fit a Charlotte Mason style of learning, we decided to investigate the book further.
• Teaching Spanish Can Be Easy! Speekee! by Dawn – Have you ever heard of Speekee? It is a Spanish program for young children ranging in age from two to 10. As a homeschool family, we were given the opportunity to review “Speekee TV” which is their online version. Exciting and perfect for us, it also comes with “Speekee FastTrack” which is an already prepared set of lesson plans!
• Speedy Spanish Level 1 Review by Amanda – Speedy Spanish is written by the Bechtel Family. The students learn Spanish through memorization, Christian songs, Bible verses and games. This program is very simplistic and level 1 is most definitely a level 1 program – meeting your entry level child at his placement.

French

• French is Fun by Annie Kate – In grade 7, after years of low-key, informal French, our children start French is Fun 1.  This inexpensive textbook from AMSCO works well for us, helping the children consolidate all their earlier knowledge and extending it dramatically.
• Hooked on French Program from Hooked on Phonics by Angie – I would definitely recommend it to a friend whose children were not older than mine.  (Mine range from kindergarten to 5th grade.)  It is definitely for younger kids, but it is a fabulous price and really works on the basics.  It is a fun introduction to a foreign language.

Misc Foreign Language Curriculum Reviews

A Simple Start In Hebrew: You will get the Companion Guide to these art lessons to accompany the 7 most recognizable Hebrew works. The Companion Guide is packed with Aleph-Bet chart, word studies, traceable letter printables, and much more. Find this hands on way of learning in the You ARE an ARTiST Clubhouse.

• Mango Languages: An Online Foreign Language Course by Richelle – Mango language is an online foreign language program offering twelve languages. The lessons are designed to teach you conversational skills and promises that the first lesson will show results. The program is completely web based and self directed. Language is taught in small step by step chunks to increase understanding and proper pronunciation.

The Curriculum Choice Foreign Language Reviews

To see all of our foreign language reviews from here at The Curriculum Choice you can head over to the Foreign Language Reviews category where you will find EVERY review for languages like Latin, French, Spanish, Greek, English roots and more!

~ Originally published July 2014. Homeschooling for over fourteen years now, Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos with five children from preschool to high school. She is author of art curriculum for all ages and a series of cookbooks at Hodgepodge. She and her husband, Steve (who writes app and technology reviews), are co-owners of Curriculum Choice.