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Our picks for the beset homeschool french curriculum for middle school:
- Best Online Program: Dinolingo French
- Best Classical Approach: First Start French I, Memoria Press
- Best Budget Option: Getting Started with French, William E. Linney and Brandon Simpson
Is your homeschooled middle schooler interested in learning French? French is one of the world’s great languages, and fortunately there are some wonderful homeschool curricula available for teaching it in the homeschool setting. In this article, we’ll tell you about three of our favorite options. If you have older or younger kids interested in learning French, check out our other articles, Best Homeschool French Curriculum for High School and Best Homeschool French Curriculum for Elementary. And don’t forget to check out our list of recommended French language and culture supplements for homeschooling!
Best Online Program
If your middle schooler does well with online learning and you’d like to be able to introduce them to French without having to use physical materials, we recommend the awesome online French program offered by Dinolingo. Dinolingo is a web-based language learning platform for kids ages 3-14, and it has a fabulous interface for homeschoolers. French is taught through games, educational videos, and stories. This is an excellent option if your child struggles with traditional text-based curriculum of if you want a program that is easy to do on the go with just a tablet or smartphone.
Dinolingo, which offers more than 50 foreign languages, uses an immersion-based method to effectively teach French to kids. Your student will learn through writing, reading, speaking, and listening to French. The program includes video lessons, games, stories, and worksheets. Dinolingo recommends that kids use the app for 15-30 minutes a day, during which time they’ll naturally progress through the course at their own pace.
Dinolingo is also a great option if you’d like your middle schooler to learn French alongside a younger sibling. The program is subscription-based, and up to four kids can use the same subscription for the same language. Each additional language costs an extra fee (and there are over 50 languages to choose from!). If you’d like a 10% discount on a year-long Dinolingo subscription, use this link!
Best Classical Approach
First Start French I, Memoria Press
If you are looking for a great all-around French curriculum with a classical approach for your middle-school homeschooler, consider First Start French by Memoria Press. If your child has previously used Memoria Press’s homeschool Latin programs, this curriculum will be a natural choice, as it uses the same type of format and classical approach. If not, this is still a great option. It’s very user-friendly, even for those who have never used Memoria Press’s programs before. No previous knowledge of Latin (or French for that matter) is necessary on the part of either the parent or child.
This program has a clean, easy-to-follow structure that builds French knowledge incrementally. This curriculum is quite comprehensive, covering pronunciation, grammar, dialogue, and writing over the course of 36 lessons. French cultural themes such as food, manners, and holidays are also introduced. The teacher book makes planning easy, providing you with a four-day weekly schedule. This can be easily modified if you want to go at a slower pace. Upon completing the program, your child can progress to First Start French II.
To begin First Start French I, you’ll need to purchase the student guide, teacher manual, and pronunciation CD. These are available at Christian Book and the Memoria Press website.
Best Budget Option
Getting Started with French, William E. Linney and Brandon Simpson
If you’re looking for a simplified French program that won’t break the bank, we recommend Getting Started with French by William E. Linney and Brandon Simpson. The program has a simple structure, with one book and free access to online pronunciation recordings. The lessons are short (about a page each), making it manageable for the homeschool setting.
This is a great program for independent learners and strong readers. Kids should be able to work through the program without needing a ton of help from parents. Although it lacks some of the bells and whistles of other programs, it still provides a solid introduction to French, teaching the language gradually and incrementally. This book could easily be paired with some resources on French history, art, and food for a well-rounded introduction to the language and culture of French-speaking countries. Click here to see a great list of French supplements for homeschooling!
Conclusion
If you’re teaching French to a homeschooled middle schooler, there are some great curriculum options to choose from. For recommendations on supplementary French material to use in your homeschool, see our article Best Homeschool Supplements for Teaching French Language and Culture. If you have older or younger kids interested in learning French, check out our other articles, Best Homeschool French Curriculum for High School and Best Homeschool French Curriculum for Elementary.