Horrible Histories by SOTW Chapter (V.1)

I love the Horrible History tv show. I like it so much I don't care whether my 7 year old learns anything from it or not and include it in our history studies anyway. I bet you like them too, or will when you get your hands on them, so I offer the list of Horrible History clips organised by Story of the World chapter we've used and enjoyed in our homeschool. 

Story of the World, for those who don't know is the popular history curriculum for children in the early years of school, written by Susan Wise Bauer: http://peacehillpress.com/story-of-the-world/

STORY OF THE WORLD, VOLUME ONE- ANCIENT TIMES

Chapter 1, The Earliest People

*Series 1, Episode 1, Savage Stone Age: Stone Age Tool Set advertisement and the funeral of the chief of a tribe.

*Series 1, Episode 2, Savage Stone Age: Historical Hospital, caveman art show (preserving heads)

*Series 1, Episode 5, Savage Stone Age: HHTV News: Bob Hale's Stone Age Report. Rattus Rattus fantasizes: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens dine together

*Series 1, Episode 8, Savage Stone Age: "Caveman Love" (song, two parts). Ready Steady Feast

*Series 2, Episode 3, Savage Stone Age: Hunting trip preparations. The Caveman Workout, the low-tech way to get in shape (advertisement)

*Series 2, Episode 6, Savage Stone Age: Trepanadol. Stone Age Family Fortunes

*Series 2, Episode 12, Savage Stone Age: Historical Crime Squad: burial pit (death customs.) Caveman Art Show (hands)

*Series 3, Episode 6, Savage Stone Age: Stone Age farmer. Shouty Man: New multi-purpose string

*Series 3, Episode 11, Savage Stone Age: Stone Age Dragons' Den (two parts). "Stone Age Song" (song)

*Series 4, Episode 1, Savage Stone Age: World of Stone (advertisement). Early News: Bronze Age Opening (After looking at pages on tools)

*Series 4, Episode 2, Savage Stone Age: HHTV News: Bob Hale's report on the Evolution of man. Charles Darwin's "Natural Selection" song

*Series 4, Episode 4, Savage Stone Age: Historical Apprentice

*Series 4, Episode 5, Savage Stone Age: Historical Masterchef. Stone-age man plan to found a city

*Series 4, Episode 6, Savage Stone Age: The Early Show. Mammoth hunting (animated)

*Series 5, Episode 3, Savage Stone Age: Invention no. 28: Wearing clothes. Historical Top Gear (parody of Top Gear).

*Series 5, Episode 6, Savage Stone Age: Now That's What Me Call Music. Historical Springwatch.

*Series 5, Episode 9, Savage Stone Age: Words we get from the Stone Age. A Historical Place in the Sun. 

Chapter 2, Egyptians Lived on the Nile River

*Series 1, Episode 7, Awful Egyptians: Egyptian mummy fantasizes: real estate pyramids. Meet the Gods (animated)

*Series 4, Episode 1, Awful Egyptians: Wonders of the Egyptian Universe. HH Games: Duat (the underworld

Chapter 3, The First Writing

*Series 2, Episode 8, Awful Egyptians: "Hieroglyphics Song" (song)

*Series 5, Episode 11, Awful Egyptians: Don't Tell The Corpse. Hieroglabble (Scrabble parody).

Chapter 4, The Old Kingdom of Egypt

*Series 1, Episode 2, Awful Egyptians: King Pepi's Super Sticky Anti-fly Honey Slave (advertisement). Rattus Rattus fantasizes: the first pyramid. Twisted Fairytales: "The Princess and the Pea" (deals with the killing of royal family members)

*Series 1, Episode 3, Awful Egyptians: "Making a Mummy" (song). The history of mummies. Shouty Man: All-purpose ancient Egyptian mummy

*Series 3, Episode 7, Awful Egyptians: Mysterious underground tombs. Shouty Man: Ushabti coffin dolls

*Series 3, Episode 12, Savage Stone Age: Comparison between Stonehenge and the pyramids (animated). Cliff Whiteley: Stonehenge purposes

*Series 4, Episode 5, Awful Egyptians: Egyptian Make Show. Mummification (a skit on Operation)

Chapter 5, The First Sumerian Dictator- none (wah!)

Chapter 6, The Jewish People- none (wah!)

Chapter 7, Hammurabi and the Babylonians- none (whinge!)

Chapter 8, The Assyrians- none (sook!)

Chapter 9, The First Cities of India- none (woe!)

Chapter 10, The Far East: Ancient China- none (boo hiss!)

Chapter 11, Ancient Africa- none (boo hiss!)

Chapter 12, The Middle Kingdom of Egypt- none (wah!)

Chapter 13, The New Kingdom of Egypt

*Series 1, Episode 5, Awful Egyptians: Pharaoh Phashion [sic] magazine. Mouse Fresh Max (advertisement)

*Series 1, Episode 13, Awful Egyptians: This Is Your Reign: Cleopatra and Hatshepsut, the first woman pharaoh. 

*Series 2, Episode 5, Awful Egyptians: Real Tomb Raider. Scary Stories: "The Curse of Tutankhamun"

*Series 2, Episode 11, Awful Egyptians: Ready Steady Feast: peasant food. Pyramid Weekly (advertisement for a children's magazine)

*Series 4, Episode 11, Awful Egyptians: Historical Dentist. New Egyptian 2000 (advertisement)

*Series 5, Episode 9, Awful Egyptians: Historical Wife Swap: Pharaohs and peasants.

*Series 5, Episode 7, Awful Egyptians: Baldness cure troubles. Only For Men (advertisement).
*Series 5, Episode 12, Awful Egyptians HH Movie Pitch: Ramesses II, Building Site Queue.

Chapter 14, The Israelites Leave Egypt- none (wah!)

Chapter 15, The Phoenicians- none (wah!)

Chapter 16, The Return of Assyria- none (whinge!)

Chapter 17, Babylon Takes Over Again- none (sook!)

Chapter 18, Life in Early Crete- none (boo hiss!)

Chapter 19, The Early Greeks- none (boo hiss!)

Chapter 20, Greece Gets Civilized Again

*Series 3, Episode 11, Groovy Greeks: HHTV Sport: Ancient Greek Olympics. Stupid Deaths: Milo of Croton

*Series 3, Episode 12, Groovy Greeks: Historical Pet Shop. Fearne Polyester at a Greek Festival. HHTV Sport: Isthmian Games

Chapter 21, The Medes and the Persians

*Series 5, Episode 3, Awful Egyptians, Battle of Pelusium. I Love Cats (magazine). (525BC)

Chapter 22, Sparta and Athens

*Series 1, Episode 9, Groovy Greeks: Historical Wife Swap: Athenians and Spartans

*Series 1, Episode 11, Groovy Greeks: Stupid Deaths: Pausanias. The Court of Historical Law: Draconian law. Twisted Fairytales: "Sleeping Beauty" (disobeying the non-idleness law)

*Series 1, Episode 12, Groovy Greeks: "Brainy Greeks" (song, two parts). The first play in history. Stupid Deaths: Aeschylus

*Series 2, Episode 2, Groovy Greeks: Stupid Deaths: Heraclitus. Evil-Spirit-Prevention-Door-Frame-Tar (commercial). The Sibyl predicts Aeschylus' death

*Series 2, Episode 3, Groovy Greeks: Late schoolboy. "Spartan High School Musical" (song)

*Series 2, Episode 11, Groovy Greeks: Spartan school. Stupid Deaths: Draco

*Series 4, Episode 4, Groovy Greeks: Spartans form a phalanx. Pausanias

*Series 5, Episode 2, Groovy Greeks: Now Greek Battle Music. Don't Tell the Spartan Bride.

*Series 5, Episode 5, Groovy Greeks: Spartan cowardice. New Spartan Girl (advertisement).

Chapter 23, The Greek Gods

*Series 1, Episode 6, Groovy Greeks: Greek Myth Talk: The story of Kronos

*Series 1, Episode 7, Groovy Greeks: The story of Helen of Troy. Rattus Rattus fantasizes: the Wooden Horse

*Series 2, Episode 4, Groovy Greeks: HHTV Sport: Paris vs Achilles. Dodgy War Machines No. 14: elephants

*Series 4, Episode 8, Groovy Greeks: Bird messengers from the gods. Shouty Man: New Ancient Greek Tattoo Message

Chapter 24, The Wars of the Greeks

*Series 1, Episode 10, Groovy Greeks: Weapons store. HHTV News: the Battle of Thermopylae. 

*Series 3, Episode 2, Groovy Greeks: Words We Get from the Greeks. Stupid Deaths: Greek boxer

*Series 3, Episode 4, Groovy Greeks: Words We Get from the Greeks. Historical Head Teachers: Mr Brasidas

*Series 4, Episode 3, Groovy Greeks: Socrates' prison break. "The Thinkers" (song)

*Series 4, Episode 9, Groovy Greeks: Words We Get from the Greeks. HH Investigates: False doctors 

*Series 4, Episode 10, Groovy Greeks: Diogenes in his barrel. Stupid Deaths: Pythagoras

*Series 5, Episode 3, Groovy Greeks: Come Dine With Me.

*Series 5, Episode 12, Groovy Greeks Words we get from the Greeks. Wonders of the Greek Universe.

Chapter 25, Alexander the Great

*Series 1, Episode 4, Groovy Greeks: Historical Hospital. Alexander the Great's cities of Alexandria

*Series 4, Episode 12, Groovy Greeks: Words We Get from the Greeks. Historical Mastermind. The legend of the Gordian knot

*Series 5, Episode 6, Groovy Greeks: Alexander the Great's Conquest of Greece board game and song.

Chapter 26, The People of the Americas- none- (wah!)

Chapter 27, The Rise of Rome- none (wah!)

Chapter 28, The Roman Empire

*Series 1, Episode 1, Rotten Romans: Funeral Fights. Rattus Rattus fantasizes: gladiator school

*Series 1, Episode 9, Rotten Romans: Roman Gods Direct (advertisement). Appease the gods

*Series 2, Episode 12, Rotten Romans: Andabatae troubles. Stupid Deaths: Diodorus

*Series 5, Episode 1, Groovy Greeks: HH Games: Ultimate City Defender. Aesop and the angry mob.
*Series 3, Episode 5, Rotten Romans: Historical Hospital. Shouty Man: Criminal's head
*Series 5, Episode 6, Rotten Romans: Shouty Man: New Roman Dog. Cato the Elder and his cabbage cures.

Chapter 29, Rome's War With Carthage

*Series 1, Episode 6, Rotten Romans: Rattus Rattus fantasizes: Galley Safety Announcement (parody of passenger announcements, two parts). Dodgy War Inventions No. 7: the Onager (animated)

*Series 4, Episode 5, Wild Warriors: Hannibal and his Carthaginian ruthless battle tactics star in the blockbusters "Snakes on a Ship" and its sequel, "Elephants on a Plain" (Second Punic War)

*Series 5, Episode 9, Rotten Romans: Wonders of the Roman Universe. Battle of Drepanum sacred chicken. (Battle of Drepanum 249BC during First Punic War)

Chapter 30, The Aryans of India- none (boo!)

Chapter 31, The Mauryan Empire of India- none (sook!)

Chapter 32, China: Writing and the Qin- none (woe!)

Chapter 33, Confucius- none (wah!)

Chapter 34, The Rise of Julius Caesar

*Series 5, Episode 4, Rotten Romans: Thou Hast Been Framed!. Minted (song). Carthage

Chapter 35, Caesar the Hero

*Series 1, Episode 6, Rotten Romans: Rattus Rattus fantasizes: Galley Safety Announcement (parody of passenger announcements, two parts). Dodgy War Inventions No. 7: the Onager (animated)
*Series 1, Episode 8, Rotten Romans: the Battle of Avaricum (spoof of a movie trailer). The invention of decimation  (Avaricum 52BC)
*Series 1, Episode 10, Cutthroat Celts: Home decorating with severed heads. Video game: Warrior! Romans vs Celts

*Series 1, Episode 10, Rotten Romans: Sponge on a Stick (two parts) and Viper Deodorant (advertisements)

*Series 1, Episode 13, Rotten Romans: Roman kitchen nightmares. Communal toilets (Britain invasion)
*Series 1, Episode 13, Awful Egyptians: This Is Your Reign: Cleopatra and Hatshepsut, the first woman pharaoh.

*Series 2, Episode 2, Awful Egyptians: Rattus Rattus fantasizes: Historical Desktops: Egyptian social network (Cleopatra)
*Series 2, Episode 7, Cutthroat Celts: Dodgy War Inventions No. 79: Romans try using stilts to cross marshland (animated). "Historical Wife Swap": An upscale Roman couple moves into newly conquered Britain and swaps with a traditional Celtic family.

*Series 2, Episode 8, Rotten Romans: News of the Empire Julius Caesar Special. Crimewatch BC 

*Series 2, Episode 10, Awful Egyptians: Cleopatra's beauty regime. Historical Hospital: Dr Isis 

*Series 3, Episode 1, Rotten Romans: Qualifying for the Roman triumph. The new aBook (pastiche of Kindle)

*Series 3, Episode 5, Awful Egyptians: HHTV News: Bob Hale's Tutankhamun Report. "Cleopatra" (song)

*Series 4, Episode 6, Rotten Romans: Army pay day. Conscription. God Compare (Gaulish Gods)
*Series 4, Episode 9, Rotten Romans: Julius Caesar: The Romeover and Laurel Leaves. HHTV News: The Roman Invasion of Britain report

Chapter 36, The Roman Prince

(Posted by Emperor order, rather than series and episode number, to save you trawling through Wikipedia like I did.)

*Series 5, Episode 7, Rotten Romans: Ambush in the Teutoburg Forest. HH Pictures: Augustus: the Movie.

*Series 2, Episode 6, Rotten Romans: Elagabalus' Romo Lottery Millions. Emperor Tiberius moves to Capri to avoid being murdered but still he is terrified of everything

*Series 4, Episode 12, Rotten Romans: Historical Dentist. Tarpeian Rock death sentences
(Ok, this one is not about an Emperor, but it still seemed like a good place to put it.)

*Series 2, Episode 11, Rotten Romans: Caligula and Mr Hand (two parts). Roman Army

*Series 1, Episode 4, Rotten Romans: HHTV News: Bob Hale's Roman Report. Caligula's speech

*Series 1, Episode 5, Rotten Romans: Caligula's attack on Poseidon
*Series 3, Episode 7, Rotten Romans: Caligula's recovery. "Evil Emperors Song" (song)
*Series 3, Episode 4, Rotten Romans: Historical Crime Squad: murders of Caligula. Arena fighter. Roman god body inspectors

Chapter 37, The Beginnings of Christianity- none (woe!)
Chapter 38, The End of the Ancient Jewish Nation- none (boo!)

*Series 5, Episode 10, Rotten Romans: Shouty Man: All New Roman Baths. Stupid Deaths: Emperor Domitian. (Domitian 81-96 AD)

*Series 5, Episode 11, Rotten Romans: Stupid Deaths: Pliny the Elder. Historical Apprentice: Maximus vs. Minimus. (Pliny the elder 23AD-79AD)

Chapter 39, The Romans and the Christians

*Series 4, Episode 8, Rotten Romans: Nero and the victims of the Great Fire of Rome. HH Games: Scorpus Chariot Racer
*Series 1, Episode 3, Rotten Romans: Nero's Christian candles. Rattus Rattus fantasizes: HHTV Sport: Lions vs Christians
*Series 2, Episode 3, Rotten Romans: I'm a Christian, Get Me out of Here!. Love You to Death, a movie about Nero and his wives. Ave! Magazine: Spiculus

Chapter 40, Rome Begins to Weaken

(Also an attempt at Emperor order)

*Series 2, Episode 10, Cutthroat Celts: "Historical Fashion Fix": A warrior gets an unusual pre-battle makeover and Boudicca song

*Series 4, Episode 7, Rotten Romans: the Praetorian guard. Shouty Man: New Emperor Statue
*Series 1, Episode 12, Rotten Romans: Titus' animal absence. Execution: Animals "Я" Us

*Series 3, Episode 9, Rotten Romans: Tabellarii messenger. Emperor Constantine's security

Chapter 41, The Attacking Barbarians- none (growl!)

Chapter 42, The End of Rome
*Series 3, Episode 10, Rotten Romans: Danke magazine. The fall of Rome

Next in the series

____________________

Rose-Marie was one of those enthusiastic planners who began researching when she was pregnant with her first. She wanted to homeschool because it sounded like an affordable adventure, then she met her kids personally...

Her young daughter has Echolalia and some processing issues so isn't speaking fluently yet; but she is making good progress as they work and play in Central Victoria, Australia.

Give Away winners!

The little winners of our little giveaway are:

A small boy from Western Australia, whose grandmother has won him an Auslan book

and

A small girl whose fond friend won her a numbers puzzle.


Congratulations, kids and thank you to the adults who entered for them!

Give Away!

To do honour to our little blog and the contributors from two continents, we are going to give away two little gifts to two little people. We're more than happy to post anywhere in the world, though Gift Two is really only of use to Australians. To enter, tell us either on the comments on this blog post or on the thread on the Facebook page a little about who you want to win this for. :)

Will be drawn on Sunday the 25th of May.

Gift one- A wooden number puzzle:

Gift two- A board book, Auslan (Australian Sign Language) version of 'Incy Wincy Spider.'

Religious Calendar Curriculum- February

1st

-Imbolc (Northern Hemisphere) Lammas (Southern Hemisphere)(Dates vary a little, there are the traditional dates and the astronomical dates, and people generally observe when it is convenient during this period)

*In the Northern Hemisphere, many neo-Pagans are celebrating Imbolc, which is the first of the Spring festivals. Some people, particularly the Wiccans, tell this story about their god and goddess: "The Lord is a small boy and the Lady continues her recovery from childbirth. The Earth is warming and waking up.  The Maiden is awakening within Her as spring blooms upon the warming Earth. The God is the Prince - young and growing. The Sun is brightening and chasing away the last of winter's cold." Many, particularly in Ireland and those who follow a Celtic path, honour the goddess Brigid, who is also honoured by many Christians as Saint Brigid. It is a festival about home, purification and the lengthening of the days. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, neo-Pagans are celebrating Lammas.

*Read the Imbolc section of 'Rupert's Tales' by Kyrja and a colouring page from the matching activity book

*Go to the laundromat to wash blankets, since that's what I do on Lammas.

~~~~~

-Jewish Shabbat (begins at sunset the night before)

*Observed by all observant Jews, this is a day of rest to commemorate all the work God put into making the universe. How much resting and avoidance of work depends on the family culture. Yesterday, of course, lots of work went into preparation because no one can take a full day off running a house unless they have already done the needed work. Otherwise, what would everyone eat?

~~~~~~~~~~

2nd

-'The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple' aka Candlemas

*On this day beeswax candles are blessed by priests in the Catholic church for use throughout the year. This is also one of the twelve great feasts in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

*Read 'The Meeting of Our Lord' by Sister Elayne

~~~~~
- Sunday Church services- Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics, encouraged for nearly all other Christians

~~~~~~~~~~

8th

-Jewish Shabbat (begins at sunset the night before)

*Observed by all observant Jews, this is a day of rest to commemorate all the work God put into making the universe. How much resting and avoidance of work depends on the family culture. Yesterday, of course, lots of work went into preparation because no one can take a full day off running a house unless they have already done the needed work. Otherwise, what would everyone eat?

*Read one of the Shabbat books we have or play with Shopping for Shabbos http://www.amazon.com/Shopping-for-Shabbos-Memory-Game/dp/B004C9QQOO, or the Shabbat Felt Playtime, or colour pages from the Dover Jewish Holidays and Traditions colouring book. http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Holidays-Traditions-Coloring-Holiday/dp/0486263223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386971799&sr=8-1&keywords=dover+jewish+traditions+colouring+book

~~~~~

9th

- Sunday Church services- Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics, encouraged for nearly all other Christians

*Read a picture book, colour a colouring page from The Mass Colouring Book http://www.amazon.com/Coloring-Book-about-Catholic-Publishing/dp/0899426832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386972341&sr=8-1&keywords=about+the+mass+colouring+book or something printed out from one of the Catholic sites online.

~~~~~~~~~~

15th

-Full Moon (Neo-Pagan)

*Some Pagans, particularly Wiccans, observe the full moon as a special time.

*Read 'Aiden's First Full Moon Circle' by W. Lyon Martin

~~~~~
-Jewish Shabbat (begins at sunset the night before)

*Observed by all observant Jews, this is a day of rest to commemorate all the work God put into making the universe. How much resting and avoidance of work depends on the family culture. Yesterday, of course, lots of work went into preparation because no one can take a full day off running a house unless they have already done the needed work. Otherwise, what would everyone eat?

~~~~~~~~~~

16th

- Sunday Church services- Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics, encouraged for nearly all other Christians

*Read a picture book, colour a colouring page from The Mass Colouring Book http://www.amazon.com/Coloring-Book-about-Catholic-Publishing/dp/0899426832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386972341&sr=8-1&keywords=about+the+mass+colouring+book or something printed out from one of the Catholic sites online.

~~~~~
22nd

-Jewish Shabbat (begins at sunset the night before)

*Observed by all observant Jews, this is a day of rest to commemorate all the work God put into making the universe. How much resting and avoidance of work depends on the family culture. Yesterday, of course, lots of work went into preparation because no one can take a full day off running a house unless they have already done the needed work. Otherwise, what would everyone eat?

*Read one of the Shabbat books we have or play with Shopping for Shabbos http://www.amazon.com/Shopping-for-Shabbos-Memory-Game/dp/B004C9QQOO, or the Shabbat Felt Playtime, or colour pages from the Dover Jewish Holidays and Traditions colouring book. http://www.amazon.com/Jewish-Holidays-Traditions-Coloring-Holiday/dp/0486263223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386971799&sr=8-1&keywords=dover+jewish+traditions+colouring+book

~~~~~
23rd

- Sunday Church services- Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics, encouraged for nearly all other Christians

*Read a picture book, colour a colouring page from The Mass Colouring Book http://www.amazon.com/Coloring-Book-about-Catholic-Publishing/dp/0899426832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386972341&sr=8-1&keywords=about+the+mass+colouring+book or something printed out from one of the Catholic sites online.

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____________________

Rose-Marie was one of those enthusiastic planners who began researching when she was pregnant with her first. She wanted to homeschool because it sounded like an affordable adventure, then she met her kids personally...

Her young daughter has Echolalia and some processing issues so isn't speaking fluently yet; but she is making good progress as they work and play in Central Victoria, Australia.

March 2013- Late Summer --> Early Winter

(First published at Sandbox to Socrates http://sandboxtosocrates.wordpress.com)

No entries from the early winter part of March, it must have been a shock to the system.  All of these were from rambling at home.

I think this next one is the big, grey frog.

This would be a swamp wallaby, otherwise known as a black wallaby, which is a better name since they don't restrict themselves to swamps. Actually, this wallaby hangs around our house, half way up a hill, and eats the scraps I put out for the chooks (chickens) if he gets to them first. Who knew wallabies liked gnocchi?

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___________________

Rose-Marie was one of those enthusiastic planners who began researching when she was pregnant with her first. She wanted to homeschool because it sounded like an affordable adventure, then she met her kids personally…

Her young daughter has Echolalia and some processing issues so isn't speaking fluently yet; but she is making good progress as they work and play in Central Victoria, Australia.

Multilingualism with the 'One Parent- Four Languages' approach!

Languages were a priority for the classical gymnasium I attended for a few years. There were at least three classes a week for each language, and we studied three or four languages simultaneously. The lessons involved textbooks, chanting and tests. It was all rather dry, and I don't speak any of those languages today.

Despite being horrendously bad at textbook learning, I am fluent in five languages. Three of those came with my ethnic and cultural heritage, while two didn't. When I had kids, even before I knew I'd be homeschooling, I knew that it made sense to pass all the languages I speak on. I grew up bilingually, but felt rather stupid when I went to live in a country that formed a significant part of my heritage unable to speak the local language — so I vowed that wouldn't happen to my kids.

Do You Need A "Method"?

Plenty of people have plenty to say about raising children multilingually. OPOL, “one parent, one language”, appears to be the most popular way to encourage multilingualism in multicultural families. This method makes sense. It helps kids associate one language with one parent and another language with another parent. This prevents confusion and encourages fluency.

Another method is speaking the home language within the family, and the majority language outside of the house. This method, too, maintains a strict separation of languages. A child attending school in whatever language is pretty much going to be forced to become fluent in that language, while still being expected to speak the home language at home.

What do you do if you speak more than two languages? Or if you are a single parent? Or if you homeschool and can't do the school language vs home language thing? Or all of the above, as in our case?

I learn best by getting on a plane and being dumped into an environment where most people don't speak a language I already speak, or where not being able to speak the local language would be embarrassing because my ethnic background means I really ought to be able to. I suck at learning through textbooks, and I don't think I'd do much better teaching that way. 

Multilingualism Happens Naturally

After some discussion, my husband and I came up with a plan for our firstborn — basically, OPOL. The plan didn't work out very well. The first kid didn't start speaking her first words until she was two, and my husband passed away shortly after the second kid was born.

What happened next was interesting. When the first kid was three and the second a year old, they both started speaking in complete sentences in two languages. One was early and one was late, and they both developed simultaneously. I spoke my home language indoors, and the local language outside and when we had visitors. The kids were exposed to my home language through relatives as well.

When my oldest was four and I'd decided to homeschool her, it became clear the kids would have to learn English as well. The best educational materials that are designed for home use are in English — it's as simple as that. I wondered how to introduce English, and decided to try it the simple way: by speaking it. I didn't translate anything, or use any textbooks. I did, however, make gestures and point to things.

The first kid taught herself to read in the local, completely phonetic, language when she was newly four. Both kids were busy acquiring English at the same time, and I introduced English phonics through Explode The Code that year as well.

By the time the oldest was five and the youngest was three, both were fluent in three languages and the oldest could read and write in two. The youngest is currently five and learning to read English, while the oldest can read and write in three languages now.

We started learning a fourth language, again through immersion, about five months ago. I used the same method of just starting to speak the language one day. My kids learn really well through the “swim or sink” method, and learning progresses more smoothly with each new language.

Perhaps multilingualism is a science, but I don't know much about that. The price we pay for multilingualism in our family is a weird accent in all languages we speak. Since we're perpetual foreigners anyway, that's quite appropriate. I'd rather have kids that speak five languages with a weird accent than kids who speak one language with a weird accent. 

Since what we do is so incredibly simple, I'm pretty sure almost anyone could do it. If you have languages to pass on, don't miss the opportunity. Just start speaking your target language one day, and wait for the magic to happen.



____________________
Jack is the enthusiastic, opinionated mother of two kids who are frustratingly similar to her. They are "global citizens", otherwise known as perpetual foreigners. Happily, they're comfortable with being in a minority, and it's just as well because they're just about the only homeschoolers in their Eastern European country of residence and are multiethnic to boot. Jack enjoys knitting, redecorating furniture, and talking about things that shock people. She homeschools because she wants her kids to have a decent education and a childhood in which they can feel normal, despite being multiethnic, Jewish, vegetarian and raised by a widowed mom.