Teaching Foreign Language With Technology

One requirement that most schools have, be it a highabout any language, from Latin to Chinese.
school or a college, is the requirement that studentsBecause of the nature of foreign language instruction,
enroll in some type of foreign language course. Fora distance learning program typically offers a very
students in high school, a second language is ainteractive and creative method of instruction.
requirement for graduation. At the college level,Students often report that foreign language classes
foreign language is a requirement for admission. Withrepresents their favorite class. Online foreign language
this in hand, it is not hard to see that any student,programs delivered online take great care to give
traditionally-schooled or homeschooled, will at oneparticipating students an experience that is on par,
point or another encounter the need to take aboth academically and experimentally, with traditional
foreign language course or class.second language instruction. Successful online-based
For the homeschooled student, learning a secondlanguage programs make use of a variety of
language can present some challenges, especially iftechnologies, including video lessons, music-based
the parent delivering the curriculum is not fluent orinstruction, games, cultural videos designed to help
experienced enough in the language that the studentstudents develop their understanding of the culture
has chosen to study. In these situations, parentsas well as the language, and even virtual interaction
often choose to look to an expert in the field to helpwith avatars to stimulate learning and development.
with the development and even the delivery of aWhether the student is in the elementary grades or
foreign language curriculum. More often than not,in high school, there are tremendous benefits to be
parents who are homeschooling their child usuallyreaped from an online distance learning program in
make the decision to use some form of technologysecond language instruction.
as an option for educating their child in a particularWith the help of today's technology, parents who
language.have made the decision to homeschool their child
In developing and delivering a foreign languagenow have a variety of options that will allow them to
curriculum, parents typically choose to use aeffectively provide their children with instruction in a
technology-based approached to educating their child.foreign language. Regardless of the language being
This decision usually means the use of computertaught, options are available which will effectively
programs and software, as well as online distanceprepare a student for the foreign language
learning programs.requirements of high school, and for the foreign
While software and computer-based programs offerlanguage requirements that are a part of the college
a solid approach to teaching and learning a secondadmissions process. Whether a parent chooses to
language, distance learning represents the moreuse a software program or an entire online
popular and effective approach. Some distancecurriculum, the options (and the benefits) are
learning schools take great pride in the programsunquestionable.
they have developed, and most offer lessons in just