Archive for September, 2008
Learn German with the Little Red Hen
The Little Red Hen is an awesome story for teaching foreign languages. You’ll find animals, repetition, dialogue, and even a great lesson. I found an adorable German-English bilingual picture book called Die Kleine Rote Henne und die Weizenkörner: The Little Red Hen and the Grains of Wheat (by L.R. Hen, illustrated by Jago, published by [...]
Fall Apples in Spanish, French, German, and More: Free Coloring Page Worksheet!
Autumn apples! It’s my favorite part of the fall season. Though I might lament being a Michigander in the middle of February, in October I pity those poor Hawaiian souls who miss out on crisp fall air, trees of orange and red, hayrides, and cider mills. In celebration of the apple season, I’ve prepared a [...]
We Are Little Amigos Spanish CD Giveaway: CONTEST CLOSED
If there’s one gift I want to give my kids, it’s the ability to speak more than one language. I’ve taught all ages, and believe me when I tell you that the most effective learning happens when young kids are simply having fun. Fun is exactly what you’ll find in the We Are Little Amigos [...]
Mexican Hot Chocolate: A Recipe for Learning Spanish Numbers
Looking for a yummy way to introduce your kids to a little culture and a little counting en español? Teach them the Bate Bate Chocolate song and then settle in with a delicious, steaming cup of Mexican hot chocolate. Click this link to print out an adorable, kid-friendly recipe from the Nick Jr. website. You’ll need: [...]
Learn French and Spanish Numbers with the Telephone Game
I would like to announce the arrival of my first foreign language teaching e-book. Since 1990, I’ve shared classroom games, activities, and projects at teacher conferences across the U.S. Now I’ll be sharing ideas digitally on-demand! I have partnered with a former Spanish teaching colleague to create Foreign Language House language learning materials. My talented [...]
Preschool Circle Time Rules in French and Spanish
When I teach languages to preschoolers, there’s always excitement, fun, and surprises! But all of the wackiness is packaged within predictable structure. I’m not overly fond of the words “structure” and “rules,” but as a Mommy to two active boys, I know that they are absolutely necessary and that children need them. So do I if [...]
Teach Geography with ClustrMaps
Clearly, I’m all about teaching kids foreign languages and cultures. I think geography rates right up there, too. You might have noticed the ClustrMap visitor counter in my sidebar widgets. Perhaps you have one, too. That’s my 5 year-old son’s favorite part of this site. He loves to check out the map every day to spot [...]
Jambo Means Hello: Learn Swahili
Learn Swahili with a tried-and-true picture book, Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book (Penguin Young Readers Group, 1992.) The author, Muriel Feelings, and illustrator, Tom Feelings, have both lived in East Africa. Their first-hand experience certainly comes through in this culturally rich, award-winning book. My boys and I have already picked up a few words [...]
Learn German Disney-Style: Cinderella’s Castle and More
Like the castle? The locals in Bavaria, Germany, call it a Schloss. This Schloss, called Neuschwanstein, was the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s classic animated feature, Cinderella. Perhaps you recognize it’s wannabes from the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland. You can learn some more German vocabulary words by playing the Learn the Lingo online matching game at [...]
Introduce Your Kids to Spanish Tapas
Tapas are tasty little appetizers served in bars and restaurants in Spain. The word tapas actually means “covers.” Spanish restaurants used to cover the drinks they served with little plates in order to keep out flies. Eventually, food was served on those small plates. Now, people sometimes make an entire meal out of a variety [...]
