By: Marie Zoscak
Learning a foreign language doesn’t have to be hard work; it can be fun! There are many resources available to help reinforce learning a foreign language at home. These resources include books, movies, songs, and games and toys. A lot of classic children’s books, movies, and songs have been released in several different foreign-language versions. Kids will be excited to see that their favorites are also available in the language they are learning!
Several children’s book classics have been released in Spanish versions. Even your favorite Dr. Seuss books have been released in Spanish versions. Some popular titles that have Spanish versions include Green Eggs and Hams; One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish; Are you my Mother?; Goodnight Moon; Harry Potter; The Going to Bed Book; Clifford; Count with Dora; Jack and the Beanstalk; Charlotte’s Web; and many more! There are also popular children’s books in Chinese versions. This includes stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. There are also Chinese versions of Harry Potter; The Three Little Pigs; Swan Lake; Cinderella; Beauty and the Beast; and many more.
Many classic Disney movies also have Spanish DVD versions. Popular Spanish DVDs include The Jungle Book; Finding Nemo; Winnie the Pooh; Mickey Mouse; Shrek; The Incredibles; Snow White; Cars; and many more. Many popular titles are also available on DVD in Chinese versions. These Chinese DVDs include Barney; Bear in the Big Blue House; Hercules; Land Before Time; Popeye; Snoopy; Sesame Street; Tom and Jerry; and many more!
As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can help your child reinforce the learning of a foreign language at home! Books in a foreign language are a great way to reinforce the foreign language, but it also develops your child’s reading skills. Movies are a fun way for a child to have a foreign language reinforced without them even noticing. Please keep in mind that movies should be watch in moderation. It should also be noted that personal interactions are the best way to learn a foreign language. These are just excellent additional tools that can be used to reinforce foreign language learning!
By: Marie Zoscak
While there is evidence that shows that learning a second language is best done through an actual person, there is also evidence that shows that watching television shows or movies in a different language is a great way to complement and reinforce the language learning that is being done through personal interactions. Families should always remember that although television may serve as a beneficial learning aid, it should always be watched in moderation.
There are several different shows that children can watch to facilitate the learning of the Spanish language. An article titled “Top 4 Kids’ TV Shows That Feature Spanish Words and Latino Customs or Characters” has been written that highlights 4 shows that can be useful tools to reinforce foreign language learning. These shows are a fun way for kids to practice the language! They will reinforce class topics without even realizing it. There four top shows for kids are Handy Manny, Go Diego Go, Dora the Explorer, and Maya and Miguel.
Handy Manny is a show for preschoolers about the adventures of Manny Garcia. The show features Latin music and has a lot of ethnic characters in the community. Go, Diego, Go is a spinoff of the hit show Dora the Explorer. The show follows Dora’s eight year old cousin, Diego. Diego is an animal rescuer that has the ability to talk to animals. The show is great for preschoolers, because it focuses on journeys that are inspired by Latin American cultures and animals. The show has many Spanish words, music, traditions, and folktales. Dora the Explorer teaches preschoolers Spanish words and phrases in every episode. Dora and her friend Boots help kids also develop thinking and problem solving skills. The final show, Maya and Miguel, focuses on the adventures of twins Maya and Miguel. The show encourages children to learn a different language by presenting it in a fun and exciting way.
These shows plus other shows and movies are a fun way for children to reinforce the foreign language at home. The shows can also be enjoyable for the parents to watch alongside their child. I have watched a few episodes of these shows before, and I have always thought they were a great way to learn! The more exposure kids have to the culture and language the better chance they have to learn the language. For more information on show information and show times, please visit your local listings.
Looking to practice the Chinese language?! Shows, such as Ni Hao Kai Lin can be a great way to reinforce the learning of the Chinese language. The show introduces children to Mandarin Chinese, as well as elements of the Chinese culture and values. This show is intended for preschoolers, and may also help them develop problem solving abilities. The show follows an adventurous preschooler by the name of Kai-lan Chow. This show has been airing on Nick Jr. since 2008. For more information, check your local listings.
Source: <http://kidstvmovies.about.com/od/spanish/tp/spanishshws.htm>
Welcome to the official blog of Fun with Foreign Language (FwFL)!
My name is Yani Peyton, and I’m the Director at Fun with Foreign Language. As a mom passionate about foreign languages and culture for children, I started FwFL with the belief that there were others like me in the surrounding area that wanted to expose young children to foreign language exposures.
I am currently raising my children in a OPOL (one parent-one language) household where I speak exclusively to my children in Spanish and my husband in English. We have had success in doing this, but it has not been easy! My 6 year old kids are now enrolled in the FwFL Mandarin Chinese program and they are pronouncing words that I will never be able to pronounce!
Foreign language exposure does not have to be limited to families that speak a second language at home. Families can get involved in the language learning too! There is an abundance of free and not-free resources available to families that want to exposure their children at home to a second language. It does require a commitment of time and finances from families, but it is a worthwhile investment. The children of today will be competing with the world as adults and the world will know more than one language.
I hope you check back on this blog and feel free to add posts of your own. I’ll be adding my own experiences with foreign languages including traveling to foreign countries, international recipes, parenthood stories and more. I hope to encourage others to join in on the fun!