Is it possible to teach yourself a language from home?

When do you know it's time to give up on a language?

• I know, I know, I should just work through all my difficulties and come out on top. Please here me out. It's all up to me in the end, just wanted some input. I am a high school Junior. For medical and other reasons, I am being homeschooled my Junior and Senior year. It is more like self-education. I took Italian I and Italian II my Freshman and Sophomore year. I signed up for it in 8th grade because at the moment, I thought it was cool. My first Italian teacher didn't come to school until December. She was on maternity leave. That wasn't her fault. But after she came back, she didn't teach us much. Mainly note taking and oral tests. I learned a bit, but only the bare minimum. Sophomore year what was supposed to be Italian II we had to do a lot of Italian I work because of the previous teacher. Our new teacher was a really bad teacher. He was a college prof. and was used to the students having a good idea of the language already. We weren't able to take text books home and study and maybe did about half of what we should have in Italian II. Now, here I am, struggling to make up for all the lose ends and poor quality education I got in this language and I just can't do it. Backtracking is really wearing me thin. I am starting to strongly dislike this language and it is feeling like a chore. Latin, on the other hand, I really enjoy. I was thinking about dropping Italian, and working on Latin. Then, after I have a solid grounding in Latin, either returning to Italian or another Latin-based language. Obviously, this wouldn't be until after high school. So, when do you think it is finally time to give up a language? I'm not too worried about college admissions. Want to be an Occupational Therapist and my top two schools don't have language requirements. Plus, Latin would be a lot better in the medical field. So, advice, suggestions, experiences? Thanks.

• Answer:

  From experience, I can say that a language is much easier to learn when you enjoy it and have a true desire to learn it. If Italian is becoming a chore, leave it be (at least for now) and focus on something else that you like (which sounds like Latin). It's not "giving up," it's just turning to learn something in addition to what you already know. I had an experience like you did with bad circumstances/teachers, except for me it was Chemistry/AP Chem. That can really turn you off to something you'd otherwise love, but don't let that happen! Focus on whatever language makes you happier/more interested, and you can always go back to the other language(s) later. :)