Loop Scheduling for Foreign Language Learning
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When I first began homeschooling three years ago, I heard a lot of other homeschool moms rave about the benefit of loop scheduling. Despite my teaching experience and work in curriculum development, I’d never heard the term before, so naturally, I took to Google. It was there that I found Pam Barnhill and all of her blogging about loop scheduling for homeschoolers. Ever since, loop schedules have been a powerful planning tool for our homeschool, and I use them in both our bilingual Morning Time and our Portuguese practice.
But, just what is a loop schedule, you ask?
Put very basically, a loop schedule is a list that helps you schedule subjects, resources, or activities into your homeschool on a rotating basis.
You might have a loop schedule for your Morning Time, like I do, to ensure that you fit in all the “riches” of a Charlotte Mason education: picture study, artist appreciation, and the like.
Or you might have a loop schedule for your memory work, to ensure that you have a chance to do spaced review.
Today, I want to suggest using a loop schedule to help you work real-life language resources—that is, non-textbook resources—into your foreign language study.
Benefits of Loop Scheduling for Foreign Language Learning
From a language learning perspective, the benefits of using a loop schedule for authentic resources are many. Here are a few that I want to highlight:
Using a loop schedule ensures regular practice outside of official “teaching time,” which is essential to successful language learning.
Loop scheduling lets you include all of the “fun” aspects of language learning—like learning new music, watching new shows together, and enjoying picture books—without feeling the pressure of making each one of them into a formal lesson (unless you want to)!
Loop scheduling prevents boredom. Adding in authentic resources (especially if you can vary them somewhat), lets kids practice their target language in different ways, which ensures that language learning doesn’t become predictable drudgery.
Creating a loop schedule with authentic resources can help your children understand the broader context of language learning. Language textbooks can be sterile and sometimes difficult to work through, but bringing in real-life materials helps kids make the connection between the language they’re learning and the people(s) who speak it.
Moreover, as a homeschool mom managing many different subjects, I can’t overlook the logistical benefits of using a loop schedule. I love any strategy that helps me put my homeschool planning on autopilot, and loop scheduling allows me to do just that!
Loop scheduling means that I’m not scrambling around trying to invent a new, creative way to practice our third language with my kids.
Loop scheduling helps me collect the resources that I need at the beginning of the year—and NO MORE. I don’t have to be on the lookout for “the next great thing,” because I’ve already pre-determined what is realistic for me at this point. I focus on using what I having, not buying new stuff.
Loop scheduling removes the guilt. If I protect the time that we have to work through our loop, then I’m able to simply “follow the plan” without worrying whether or not it will be enough, Even if homeschooling with a toddler means that our loop goes more slowly than I might have hoped, I know that I’m still giving my kids consistent opportunities to practice.
So, what might it look like to develop a loop schedule for foreign language learning in your homeschool? I’m glad you asked, because I have some ideas!
Sample Loop Schedule for Spanish Learners (Elementary School)
Here’s what your loop schedule with a younger student—led by a homeschooling parent—might look like:
Practice a folk song in Spanish.
Read a picture book in Spanish.
Listen to a podcast for Spanish learners.
Watch a Netflix Show in Spanish.
Create (or review pre-made) picture flashcards for new vocabulary.
Once you have this loop schedule in place—and have gathered the resources that you need to put it into practice—then all you have to do is block out time for the loop. For example, you might set aside time three days a week to practice —say, 20 minutes a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. When that time comes, you simply have to work your way down this list, getting through as much as you reasonably can (without rushing). Read a picture book and, if the baby allows, do some flashcard review also. If the baby is having a hard day, read the book and then stop—you’ll pick up with the flashcard review on the next day.
Here’s a pro tip learned from experience, by the way: You can keep your brain (and your life) organized by writing out your loop schedule, and storing it in a separate basket (or magazine holder) along with the materials you’ll be using.
Seriously, I can’t recommend enough that you write the loop down. It will be such a help to your mental load.
Loop schedules aren’t just for little ones, though! You can also create a loop schedule for older students that can help them make space for regular, independent review. Here’s an example of what that might look like:
Sample Loop Schedule for Spanish Learners (High School Students)
If you have teens, they can do an independent foreign language loop on their own! In fact, I think that this is a great study tool for high school learners learn to use, as following through with independent review only becomes more important as they further their education.
Here’s what a sample loop study schedule might look like for a homeschool student learning Spanish as a high schooler:
Listen to a podcast for high school Spanish learners.
Draft new vocabulary flashcards for current chapter/unit of study.
Complete 15 minutes of grammar practice on a free Spanish practice website.
Read a short story in Spanish and answer comprehension questions.
If your high school students can set aside 20 minutes a day to work through this loop, their language learning journey will be so much richer—and more effective—than simply trying to learn through a curriculum alone.
Sample Loop Schedule for a Bilingual Homeschool (Elementary)
Finally, I wanted to include this because loop schedules are the primary tool that helps me manage our bilingual homeschool curriculum for second grade and junior kindergarten. These are a little different from the above examples, since the materials that I’m using are for native speakers and not designed to teach the language. Nevertheless, I wanted to share, since I know that many of my readers are bilingual homeschoolers themselves!
We do Morning Time five days a week, during which I run two alternating loops: Loop A is in English and Loop B is in Spanish. This year, our Spanish Language Loop includes:
Storybook Bible Reading and Devotionals (using our favorite Spanish Bibles for kids)
Poetry Reading and Memorization
Art/Music/Engineering (12 weeks of each one)
Folk Songs
Science
Geography
For reference, our English Language Loop includes:
Bible Memorization
Hymn Study
History
Art/Music/Engineering (12 weeks of each one)
Poetry
We are usually able to keep this loop to an hour, but sometimes we don’t get to the last item on the list. That’s okay, since it’s what the loop is designed for—we just pick up where we left off when it’s the next time to go through our loop.
Designing a Loop Schedule for Foreign Language Practice
If those sample schedules didn’t give you enough ideas of what to include in a loop schedule for foreign language practice, might I suggest reading my list of 39 Ways to Practice a Foreign Language in 5 Minutes or Less? You can create your own custom loop schedule by picking between 3-5 of those activities and committing to doing them in a particular block during the week.
Finding Resources for Extra Language Practice
So, once you’ve figured out the activities that you want to include in your foreign language loop, where do you go about looking for resources?
If you’re homeschooling Spanish, I recommend following the links I’ve included above to help you find the very best picture books, music, podcasts, and TV shows for language learners. I’ve sorted all of my resources by language level—not just age-appropriateness—to help you find the best fit.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for there, however, I recommend checking in with Lauren, who blogs at Bilingual Together. She is a wonderful resource to the bilingual homeschooling community, and I’ve used many of the materials that she has recommended to me! Monica at Mommy Maestra and Elisabeth at Spanish Mama are also great resources.
If you’re looking for resources in Brazilian Portuguese, I also have a monster post of our favorite resources for homeschooling Brazilian Portuguese.
Angela Reed is my go-to resource for all things Latin for homeschoolers.
TL;DR: Put Your Foreign Language Practice on Autopilot and Lose the Guilt
Starting up a loop schedule for foreign language can help your children make quicker progress, help you manage their practice time more effectively, and can lighten your mental load for the school year. And also, it brings joy to your homeschool—helping you do the things that you really want to do to learn a new language!
For all of these reasons and more, this is a great strategy to try this school year.
If you’re looking for resources in another language, do let me know! I’d be happy to send you over to someone else who can provide you with the resource recommendations that you need.
