Which foreign language is "easier" for inattentive ADHD with weak working memory

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My inattentive ADHD son with low processing speed takes French and Latin. French because it's our native language, and Latin because it's mostly written, not oral, and that really helps him in the processing speed department, where verbal fluency is a problem. He's also pretty good in computer science, even though it's also a language, but not a spoken language. Everything is written out and pondered over.

Processing speed, attention, and working memory are three totally different things. OP describes her son as low in working memory so Latin is going to be unduly hard.

OP, the state department rates how easy and hard languages are to learn and Spanish and French are in the easiest category. Go with that.

But you need to conjugate on the fly with spoken languages. You don’t with Latin although you do need to decline nouns, but that piece is actually helpful for understanding English grammar. If OP’s son needs to take this for four years he will be expected to speak the language. Is Latin on the state department website?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My inattentive ADHD son with low processing speed takes French and Latin. French because it's our native language, and Latin because it's mostly written, not oral, and that really helps him in the processing speed department, where verbal fluency is a problem. He's also pretty good in computer science, even though it's also a language, but not a spoken language. Everything is written out and pondered over.

Processing speed, attention, and working memory are three totally different things. OP describes her son as low in working memory so Latin is going to be unduly hard.

OP, the state department rates how easy and hard languages are to learn and Spanish and French are in the easiest category. Go with that.

But you need to conjugate on the fly with spoken languages. You don’t with Latin although you do need to decline nouns, but that piece is actually helpful for understanding English grammar. If OP’s son needs to take this for four years he will be expected to speak the language. Is Latin on the state department website?

No, Latin isn't, because no one working in the Foreign Service (who the list is for) will be using Latin. Here's the list: https://www.fsi-language-courses.org/blog/fsi-language-difficulty/
See Spanish and French in Category 1 and Mandarin in Category 5.

[Anonymous]

My son with inattentive ADHD, ASD, low processing speed, average working memory (depending on subject!), chose Latin because his issue was the type of fast recall necessary for verbal expression, and Latin is mostly a writing-based class. His school did not offer ASL, but that also would have solved that problem.

Memorizing Latin declensions was a bear, but at least he didn't have to assemble sentences orally. We speak two languages at home, and by dint of weekend native language classes and being immersed at home, he can actually speak two languages... but learning a new one in school proved difficult, even with the verbal component.

[Anonymous]

The one they want to study. My kid had no interest in Spanish and didn’t learn a word, but is doing well in Japanese. He wanted Japanese.

[Anonymous]

ASL if it's offered. It was wonderful for my DD with a similar profile (inattentive ADHD and weaker working memory)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My inattentive ADHD son with low processing speed takes French and Latin. French because it's our native language, and Latin because it's mostly written, not oral, and that really helps him in the processing speed department, where verbal fluency is a problem. He's also pretty good in computer science, even though it's also a language, but not a spoken language. Everything is written out and pondered over.

Processing speed, attention, and working memory are three totally different things. OP describes her son as low in working memory so Latin is going to be unduly hard.

OP, the state department rates how easy and hard languages are to learn and Spanish and French are in the easiest category. Go with that.

But you need to conjugate on the fly with spoken languages. You don’t with Latin although you do need to decline nouns, but that piece is actually helpful for understanding English grammar. If OP’s son needs to take this for four years he will be expected to speak the language. Is Latin on the state department website?

You also have to conjugate on the fly during tests … also I don’t recall there being oral exams during any language class but maybe there are?

[Anonymous]

I'm not the OP-but my ADHD kid with weak working memory is getting clobbered this year in Spanish as the teacher is autograding a lot of tests, and the computer isn't giving partial credit, and since my kid can't spell (in English or in Spanish, despite a lot of intervention in English), he's getting a lot wrong, even when he's has some language knowledge of the words.

But this would be a problem in any language.

[Anonymous]

My kid with severe ADHD and awful working memory excels in Japanese... I think it's because she's very interested in it, and also because the grammar is relatively straightforward. She also took 4 years of French (she likes languages in general) and found it trickier.

My impression, though, is that it's a language that gets harder the longer you study, unlike something like Spanish, which I think starts to get easier after the third year or so (at least that was the experience of my other child).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for all the responses!

His initial plan was to continue French. That is my personal bias, too. Most likely, that's what he'll choose.

The Mandarin idea came about out of the blue. It turns out, his friend takes Mandarin (for fun!) outside of school and has been using funny phrases. I imagine (implicit bias alert) that Mandarin teachers could be more strict? His French teacher has been so relaxed and flexible. She lets kids retake quizzes as many times as they want because she doesn't want grades to be the driving factor. She has mentioned that DC sometimes looks anxious when spoken to in French. I think the auditory part is hard to process. I know how that is, because I prefer to "see" things written down than hear orally.

DC has zero familiarity with Chinese characters so he would be a total novice. Not sure how much he'd have to catch up if other students are from bilingual homes or have taken Mandarin outside of school.

ASL is not offered, but good to know!

In my family, there is an auditory processing weakness that runs together with ADHD. I think this is common in the students I see as well. Some ADHD kids are very good at language, some have language processing issues (writing or reading or spelling).

I would suggest sign language. Pronunciation and spelling become non-issues, and there is something about the physical movement that I think helps kids with ADHD -- easier to pay attention and to memorize. Many schools don't have sign language, but maybe you could get an abbreviated schedule and leave early to take at MC.

In terms of foreign language, keep an eye on meeting any HS credits which is different from taking enough language to qualify for admissions in college (as well as what colleges require to graduate). Many selective colleges wouldn't care if you took a couple years of French and then tried Chinese, even if you decided not to continue Chinese. Be aware that some colleges, like UVA (last I checked) have foreign language competency requirements for graduation, and that can be difficult for ADHD or dyslexic kids.

[Anonymous]

Whichever he wants most

OR
If you can get any Intel on the teachers:

Whichever is taught by the most engaging teacher.

In general I'd vote Spanish for the utility, but I have friends with kids in a school where the Italian teacher has a reputation for being incredible. Everyone loves her. She makes the class so much fun. And unlike the other languages, her class culminates in a trip to Italy. So in a case like that, they chose Italian.

[Anonymous]

Based on my kid, who has a very similar profile to your kid, I would have him take French 1 and 2 and be done, since he already has background knowledge in French. Languages were such a struggle, whereas he's very strong in math and science. You don't have to be strong in every category to go to college and do well in life. Make language as easy as possible and use brain cells in subjects where they will hyperfocus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one they want to study. My kid had no interest in Spanish and didn’t learn a word, but is doing well in Japanese. He wanted Japanese.

Interesting. My inattentive ADHD picked up on Japanese quickly as well by just doing Duolingo and spending a month in Japan. They were absolutely horrible in Spanish at school, though. Maybe there is something to Japanese for inattentive kids. It's a much more logical language than romance languages.

[Anonymous]

Let him choose, he's the one who has to sit in class every day. He may do better studying a subject that he is interested in, even if it's more difficult, than a subject that seems objectively easier but bores him. I also personally think that learning is about more than just maximizing GPA, but I know not everyone agrees.

If he doesn't choose French, this could also be a good opportunity for you to start managing your reactions and remaining supportive when your son starts making decisions that you don't necessarily agree with. Those situations will probably crop up more and more as he gets older.

[Anonymous]

PP here - I also don't think you should dissuade your son from doing something (healthy/productive/nonharmful) that he wants to do because you think his ADHD is going to make it too difficult. He may internalize that message and start using his neurodivergence as an excuse not to challenge himself or take risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My inattentive ADHD son with low processing speed takes French and Latin. French because it's our native language, and Latin because it's mostly written, not oral, and that really helps him in the processing speed department, where verbal fluency is a problem. He's also pretty good in computer science, even though it's also a language, but not a spoken language. Everything is written out and pondered over.

Processing speed, attention, and working memory are three totally different things. OP describes her son as low in working memory so Latin is going to be unduly hard.

OP, the state department rates how easy and hard languages are to learn and Spanish and French are in the easiest category. Go with that.

But you need to conjugate on the fly with spoken languages. You don’t with Latin although you do need to decline nouns, but that piece is actually helpful for understanding English grammar. If OP’s son needs to take this for four years he will be expected to speak the language. Is Latin on the state department website?

You also have to conjugate on the fly during tests … also I don’t recall there being oral exams during any language class but maybe there are?

You’re not conjugating on the fly. You have time during a test to think is this past participle, pluperferfect, etc.

And with spoken languages being able to speak the language in class and during exams is usually part of the grade. With a spoken language the goal is fluency in speaking as well as reading and writing.