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Learning a second language has been on my list for so long. We’ve started too many online and workbook programs to count! I came across Global Goose and loved the way they taught French, Spanish and Mandarin. It has all the structure of a language program with the added bonus of a live teacher who works 1:1 with your child.
Global Goose offers quality, affordable online French, Spanish and Mandarin classes with a live teacher for students ages 8 & up. The personalized classes form year-round based on request, which makes it even more tailored to students and homeschool parent’s needs.
I talked to owner and French teacher Summer Osborn about Global Goose. She offered insight into the program as well as tips on how best to use it in your homeschool.
What was the inspiration behind Global Goose Languages?
When I was a new mother I met a family that homeschooled. I was intrigued and considered homeschooling an option for my family. Then, as a French teacher who had just left the classroom to stay home with my son, I asked her what homeschoolers do for foreign languages.
As we discussed the options that were available at the time, it became clear to me that organizing group lessons would be beneficial to the homeschool community. Today there are many more options available. But I still strongly believe that live lessons with a teacher are the best way to learn a foreign language besides a complete immersion setting (ie, living in a country that speaks the target language).
How do the classes work?
When parents sign up their student for a course, they receive a link to the online classroom. They use that link at the appointed time each week to join the class. During class time, the teacher presents new information in short bursts, and then gives the students time to practice each new concept so that it can become ingrained.
Her interaction with the students provides instantaneous feedback, which is essential and largely lacking in other types of programs. The instructional portions of each lesson are recorded, but the practice portions are not. So the kids don’t feel self-conscious. After class, the family receives the recap recording, and a set of related activities that they can complete during the week before their next lesson.
Why did you decide to make the classes with a live teacher?
Language is learned best through relationships and interaction. An experienced teacher knows how to build community within a group, which keeps students engaged. She can also quickly pick up on strengths, weaknesses, and interests of her students so that she can adapt her lessons to their needs and motivations. But the most obvious reason to choose a live class is the speaking element!
Even though many self-paced programs encourage the kids to speak aloud, they have no idea whether they are saying things correctly or not. Sometimes the students skip those portions altogether, because they do not see the purpose However, language teachers know that all the communicative skills must be practiced individually. Even though some of our groups are fairly big, we are able to use breakout rooms so that the students all have the opportunity to speak.
What are some highlights of the course?
I’d say that you could ask 10 different students and get 10 different answers to this question. Some of them love to talk! Some of them love to listen to music or stories. Some of them like the online games that we link in their homework list. Some of them love to read or try to write their own stories. I even have some students who love grammar! There is something there for everyone.
Global Goose Languages offers many different courses in French, Spanish and Mandarin. Not only do we have three languages to choose from, but we organize groups according to the student’s age, experience, and preferred pacing. Parents can also indicate whether they would like a small group to ensure more individualized instruction, or a larger group to keep the price exceptionally low. Parents who use our priority waitlist form are often the ones who tell us what day and time they prefer, so we can literally build a class around their schedule.
