How to Learn A New Language in Online School

byJulie Hersum

5 min to read
middle school girl giving thumbs up to computer

Learning a new language can be a transformative experience for students, with benefits extending far beyond simply fulfilling a language requirement for school. Online schools like Connections Academy are at the forefront of instructing students on how to learn a new language and preparing students for success in an increasingly globalized world.

How Online Schools Support Learning Foreign Languages

Online schools like Connections Academy are revolutionizing language education with comprehensive, accessible, and technologically advanced learning experiences, such as:

  1. Expanded offerings. Many school districts are facing financial pressures today, forcing them to reallocate resources and even scale back on courses taught at brick-and-mortar schools. In contrast, online schools like Connections Academy are increasingly expanding their offerings of online language courses for credit, empowering virtual students with a wider range of foreign language options. For example, in addition to the typical French and Spanish language courses, the Connections Academy curriculum offers courses in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, German, Latin, and more.

    Virtual school students can even begin taking language electives as early as elementary school, allowing for extended exposure and practice.
     
  2. The power of technology. Many online schools, including Connections Academy, make harnessing the power of technology to help students reach their full potential a priority. For instance, Connections Academy uses technology to create immersive language learning experiences. While attending class in online classrooms, students listen to their teacher speak and watch presentations. They can ask and answer questions over chat interfaces, or teachers can invite them to use the microphone. Students can also work with other students in small groups. Because these live classroom sessions are usually recorded, students can watch lessons over again to help them master pronunciation or challenging concepts.

    One innovative program at Connections, Time to Talk, pairs students with native-speaking tutors for virtual, one-on-one, or small-group practice sessions to help students improve their fluency. Working with the tutor, students also review specific lessons, show their understanding of course concepts and vocabulary, and practice communication skills. 

    So far, parents and students have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the program, saying that the additional practice during Time to Talk makes a huge difference to their learning. 

  3. Cultural education. Connections Academy’s online language curriculum also integrates cultural education, including traditions, history, and practices of native-language speakers. Teachers often integrate geography, history, diet, beliefs, cooking, and other practices into lessons. This gives students a window into another culture and provides learners opportunities to view the world from a different perspective and hear language in the correct context.

    This cultural context helps improve students’ comprehension of language, opens their minds to foster a broader worldview, and promotes understanding and positive attitudes toward diverse people from different backgrounds and cultures.

Do You Have to Take a Language in High School?

Foreign language requirements vary by state and school district. Some states (including Alaska, Kansas, and Colorado) don’t require high school students to fulfill any foreign language credits at all to graduate. Other states may require a certain number of years or semesters. Among states with foreign language requirements, the number of credits needed can vary significantly. For example, in New York, students must earn at least one unit of foreign language credit to graduate, while in California, high school students must study at least one year of either a foreign language or a visual/performing arts course. 

For the most accurate information in your area, check with your school district or state Department of Education.

Regardless of high school requirements at the state level, many colleges and universities expect applicants to have completed at least two years of high school foreign language. However, the benefits of learning a second language extend far beyond meeting specific academic requirements.

Benefits of Learning a Second Language

Students who study languages different from their native tongue can realize many benefits, including: 

  • Elevated cognitive abilities, including memory, intelligence, and problem-solving. This is true especially for those who learn another language early in life, according to The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
  • Gains in word-study, reading skills (in English) and verbal expressions of math and science.
  • Higher performance on standardized tests used for college admissions, such as the SAT and ACT.
  • A competitive edge in many career paths later in life. Demand for multilingual employees who can communicate effectively across borders is on the rise. 
  • Awareness about different cultures and enhanced global understanding in general—increasingly important in today’s interconnected world. 

With all of these benefits in mind, it’s no surprise many young people today are exploring different options for how to learn a new language.

Whether students take online language courses for credit or embrace language learning opportunities for the myriad of other benefits, developing foreign language skills can help broaden their understanding of the world and their future career options and ultimately lead to more enriching academic, professional, and personal lives.

Today, virtual schools are offering a wider variety of online foreign language courses than ever before. They’re also making efficient use of technology and other methods for practicing and gaining fluency in world languages, helping more students from around the world prepare for a successful future in the global economy.

Interested in rounding out your student’s K-12 education by exposing them to world language learning? Find a school near you to check out Connections Academy’s foreign language curriculum options.

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    by Allison Brubaker

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    Outdoor physical activities are beneficial for elementary school kids’ physical and mental health, giving them an opportunity to expend their energy and get some fresh air and sunshine. 

    Physical education (PE) for kids is an important part of learning at home. While outdoor exercise happens more naturally during the summer, how can families ensure that a child has fun exercising throughout the year? 

    Below are 12 ideas for PE exercises for kids that you may want to add to your list! 

    PE Games for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade:

    1. Timed firefly (aka lightning bug) hunt.

    Encourage children to catch as many lightning bugs or other harmless insects in a jar as they can, and see who can capture the most before you call time. Make sure to set the bugs free again! Lessons can also be incorporated into this fun PE activity by having kids learn fun facts about the bugs!

    2. Sponge race.

    Each participant in this race needs a sponge and two buckets, one bucket filled with water and the other empty. Starting at the empty bucket, players run across the yard to the full bucket, filling the sponge and returning to the empty bucket to squeeze the water into it. The first person to fill the empty bucket to the designated line wins.

    3. Timed scavenger hunt.

    Set a time limit for kids to find all the objects on a list of items found in nature. Whoever has the most items when the clock runs out wins. Older children can even coordinate the scavenger hunt.

    4. Balloon relay race.

    To make this race safe from germs, an adult should inflate balloons using a pump instead of blowing them up by mouth. Set up a laundry basket full of balloons and a hard chair for each relay team. Participants run to the basket, pick up a balloon, then run to the chair, sit on the balloon to pop it, then run back.

    5. Sack race.

    For this old-fashioned but socially distant favorite, each child will need their own sack or pillowcase. Players stand in their sacks and jump their way to the finish line.

    6. Outdoor yard sports and games.

    Outdoor physical education activities like sports require equipment, but you can easily set up and play them in a yard or nearby park.

    Fun PE games for kids like soccer, kickball, or basketball can be played with just a ball at a nearby park. Games like “H-O-R-S-E" or "around the world” can be played with just two or more players on a basketball court. Net sports like tennis, volleyball, and badminton are great PE games for kids. Many public parks have tennis courts you can use, but you can also set up outdoor volleyball or badminton in the grass. Volleyball is always fun at the beach, but you might also find sand volleyball courts at a public swimming pool in your area.

    Once you have a net, you’ll just need racquets and birdies or a volleyball. Two to four people can play each sport.

    7. Solitary exercise.

    Other traditional gym activities for kids include jumping rope or hula-hooping, both of which are excellent forms of exercise. Either of these activities can be done indoors on rainy days, too.

    8. Group games.

    Try some variations on classic PE activities for elementary school students: flashlight tag, “Simon Says” with balls or other items, and water-bottle bowling in the yard.

    9. Outdoor pool activities.

    As long as they aren’t crowded, pools can still be a safe option for some outdoor exercise. Swimming or jogging laps is great for cardio exercise and muscle toning. Elementary school children who want to become better swimmers and stronger athletes can do laps regularly and track their progress.

    10. Diving games.

    Diving for objects like diving rings and diving gems at the bottom of the pool helps swimmers practice holding their breath longer. It’s also a lot of fun for kids to play diving games, such as racing to find as many coins as possible within a time limit or within one breath.

    11. Water aerobics.

    Instead of signing up for a water aerobics class, create your own exercise routine to do in the backyard or neighborhood public pool. Kids of all ages and their parents can get involved. Watch water aerobics videos online to learn some moves and consider using a pair of water weights.

    12. Water wars.

    There are plenty of ways for children to have fun with water fights. Challenge them to stay on their rafts while practicing their splashing techniques on each other or shooting water guns.

    If thunderstorms keep you inside, you can always try this list of indoor PE activities for online elementary students. 

    There are plenty of fun PE activities for kids to try that fit into their online school schedule. For more tips on keeping kids learning at home, visit Connections Academy’s resources page for families who are new to distance learning or online school.

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