October 21, 2026 – When to Start Teaching Foreign Language and Why

Hey, Mama!

Gena Suarez, Publisher of TOS

Start With Hello

Hey, Mama,

Your child’s next friend may speak a language you don’t know.

That friend might live across an ocean. Or right down the street.

That gives foreign language a purpose your child can understand.

When should you start? Your preschooler can begin with songs, greetings, and picture books. Keep it playful. Use a few words during breakfast or while putting away toys.

An early start can help when children hear and use the language often. Older children can make strong progress, too. Your teenager hasn’t missed the opportunity.

You can learn alongside your child. Use reliable audio instruction or a fluent speaker to model pronunciation. Practice short conversations, and keep using what you learn.

Think of what those words could make possible. Welcoming a family at church. Making a friend. Sharing the gospel.

Let your child see that you’re willing to sound a little awkward while learning something new, too. You can laugh together and try again.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” Matthew 22:39, KJV.

Explore the foreign language courses at SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and choose one to learn more about. Then try a greeting together today.

His hand is on your head, Mama. Always.

– gena

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History, faith, and adventure collide as Jenny L. Cote connects Jonah and John Newton in The Storm, the Fish, and the Vine.
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Hal and Melanie Young

Teaching Foreign Languages

We have eight children—and eight different ways we’ve taught foreign languages. Sure, it’s ideal to introduce other languages and accents when they are young for the best chance of fluency. But in reality, you’ve got to adapt to your situation and your children. Learning another language can help kids understand grammar better, discover their gifts, reach out to different people groups, and enrich their lives in so many ways.

With some of our kids, we started foreign languages, both ancient and modern, early in elementary school. Others of our kids struggled so much with learning to read or write their native tongue that we left teaching foreign languages until middle or high school. All of them did well with their language in college, though, whether we started late or early. You don’t need to feel guilty if you haven’t started yet!

Some of our kids are linguistically talented and others absolutely are not. The ones with a gift for language went far beyond our teaching just on their own—finding apps, books, and videos to help them learn even more than one language. Don’t worry. If your kids are gifted, they’ll find a way and it’s never been easier.

The easiest way to learn another language is to have a purpose to learn. Years ago, we were able to travel as a family to China. We studied Mandarin for months leading up to the trip and picked up lots more while we were there. Think about real-life ways your children might use a second language and seek them out. Interacting at an ethnic grocery store or church can be highly motivational to kids.

It’s never been easier to learn a foreign language. We’ve used apps, computer programs, classes at a foreign language church, recordings, tutors, online classes, college classes, and occasionally even textbooks. Melanie would tell you that she’s one of the linguistically un-talented, but we’ve had success (with various children) with Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Latin, American Sign Language, and more. You can, too!

Your friends,

Hal and Melanie,

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About the author

Hal and Melanie Young have been homeschooling almost as long as they’ve been married, and they’re still happy with both decisions! They wrote My Beloved and My Friend: How to Be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses to encourage their young adults – find out more at raisingrealmen.com.

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Lani Carey

Will Your Child Need a Foreign Language?

Are you wondering when to introduce a foreign language to your students? The best time really depends on what your goals are. If your goal is just to earn the two foreign language credits that many colleges require, then most parents just wait until high school and select something common like Spanish, or Latin if they are using a classical curriculum. However, be aware that the United States military academies and some other colleges do require a modern foreign language. There’s also American Sign Language, which counts at many colleges and can also be an artistic expression of music. 

But, if you want them to speak the language fluently, then the younger your student is, the better. If you have a bilingual family, you have a great opportunity for your children to be fluent in both languages, which will help them in every area of life. Many people don’t have that opportunity, but if your student learns a foreign language in elementary school, they’re going to learn it faster than if they had waited until high school. 

It always helps to be able to speak and write a foreign language, so if your student has the opportunity to learn one, they should take it. For example, if they’re in elementary school and they want to learn French, let them do that. Maybe in high school they will want to learn Spanish because it’s more practical. The Romance languages—Spanish, French, and Latin, all help students learn English better. And once they learn a second language, it’s easier to learn a third and fourth language!

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About the author

Lani Carey has been homeschooling since 1990,  graduating four children and three grandchildren. As a homeschool guidance counselor for 21+ years, she developed programs for NCAA eligibility, military/military academy admissions, and many more.  A speaker since 1997, Lani shares her expertise through conferences, webinars, and workshops. She is passionate about the value of play, relaxed schooling, and empowering parents. https://www.homeschoolcounselingteam.com

Beth Mora

The Possibilities and Benefits of Early Language Instruction

When it comes to foreign language instruction, the earlier the better. It’s a known fact but often a daunting idea to implement, especially if you are like most Americans who don’t speak a second language. Our European neighbors introduce English as a second language as early as preschool and continue through elementary school. So let’s consider why we should start early. 

Fresh neurons: A child’s brain has brand new neurons yearning to learn and grow! New words and additional languages don’t seem to confuse the child at all. These fresh neurons enable a child to grasp a language faster than young teens and adults.

Younger children don’t fear making mistakes: My toddler granddaughter can confidently mispronounce English words as she learns to converse. It doesn’t faze her at all. She has no fear of making language mistakes, and that’s why she learns to speak well. Teens and adults have to hurdle the fear of using the wrong word or mispronouncing foreign words if they are going to be proficient. 

Improve memory: Learning another language lights up the memory section of our brains. The skill of speaking another language improves memory, which helps with all other subjects. 

Better at English: When one learns another language, an understanding of linguistic patterns of speech translates to being a better communicator in your own language. 

My homeschool friend, consider the possibilities and the benefits of early language instruction. Don’t let your lack of knowledge stop you. These days, there are so many ways to learn another language, and you will open many doors for your child’s future!

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About the author

Beth Mora is a staff writer for The Old Schoolhouse and lesson designer for SchoolhouseTeachers.com. She is the creator/teacher-on-camera for Here to Help Learning’s Homeschool Writing Program Grades 1-6, and a homeschool conference and women’s events speaker. Meet up with Beth at Home To Home, one of her favorite places to encourage. Everything she does, whether laughable or heart-gripping, is done to honor her Lord and Savior, Jesus. God’s grace is the salve that has healed her own life and is what she offers liberally to others. Did you know, Here to Help Learning’s Writing Program Grades 1-6 is part of your subscription to SchoolhouseTeachers.com subscription? 

Would it surprise you to know that SchoolhouseTeachers.com offers courses in Spanish, French, German, Latin, Latvian, Korean, and American Sign Language? Depending on the language, students as young as first grade all the way through high school can begin learning a different language! Each course includes lessons on vocabulary, grammar, and conversation, with many also having audio components. Check out our Foreign Language Focus Learning Center today to learn more and consider the options!