Middle school is a great time to begin learning a foreign language or to further develop skills in one that has already been introduced. Because most students have learned basic English grammar skills by this stage, foreign language study can be carried out at a more advanced level than the simple learning of foreign vocabulary that might occur in elementary school. Conversely, middle school students who have not learned all the basic rules of English grammar (such as basic parts of speech) will benefit from foreign language study at this age, as learning to speak and especially write in another language will further teach them the grammatical rules of English, as well.
Not all students take a foreign language at the middle school level. You’ll want to check the requirements for homeschoolers in your state regarding foreign language at this stage. If your child does decide to undergo foreign language study in the middle school years, he or she will first need to choose a language to study. Families who follow the classical homeschool model will have already introduced their children to Latin by this time; they may continue their Latin studies at this stage while also expanding their knowledge to encompass another language, as well (a background in Latin can be particularly beneficial when learning Romance languages). Some middle schoolers are already bilingual and will be interested in learning a new, third language in these years.
The foreign languages most commonly studied by middle schoolers are Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and American Sign Language. When helping children to choose which language they want to study, remind them that they will be learning more than just words; their foreign language study will also introduce them to many elements of a foreign culture, from history and literature to art, music, and cuisine. So encourage them to choose a language related to a foreign culture that interests them.
There are excellent curriculum options for teaching foreign languages to homeschooled middle schoolers. This section includes our favorite curriculum recommendations in this category. If you have questions or want more information, please email us!