Monarch AOP Homeschooling & Ignite Christian Academy by AOP

I had the privilege of working with Odysseyware and AOP to author their French II course several years ago, and I’m pleased to see that it’s still being used in the Monarch homeschool program and at Ignite Christian Academy.

Monarch offers a homeschool version of French I-III and Spanish I-III. The same courses are taught by teachers at the online school Ignite Christian Academy. Although one is used at home and the other comes with a teacher, both Monarch and Ignite use the same lessons, activities, and tests.

One advantage of this French program is how well-organized and encapulated the lessons are. They all follow a predictable format that students will find digestible and manageable. Parents will also find them fairly easy to manage, as most activities are self-grading. The lessons are quite rigorous and prepare students very well for college-level French. Another pro is the excellent incorporation of rich cultural information and photos. The characters are played by native speakers, lending authenticity to the dialogues.

Possible cons might be the slightly outdated nature of the graphics and games, if they’re still the same as the original version. As well, like most online programs, there aren’t many opportunities for students to have authentic conversations with other speakers of French.

If you have used Monarch or Ignite French or Spanish, contact me so I can update this review!