Foreign Language Fun

I was recently reviewing some workshop presentation notes on brain-based learning.  One of the principles is that learning is both conscious and unconscious.  Okay, makes sense.  I’ve got my actual lesson and objectives, but I also have this “French-only” environment that my students are immersed in.  Sure, they learn the language tasks presented in the lesson (at least I hope they do!) but they are unconsciously learning so much more by just naturally picking up words and phrases they hear casually.

I had the surprise and privilege of experiencing this unconscious learning with my own child the other day.  My four year old has taken an interest in Spanish, resisting French even though that’s what I speak.  I don’t ever want language to be a battle, so I’ve completely backed off of our more formal “French time” as we explore español.

But bedtime for my little guy IS a battle.  He’s a tough one to settle.  Wiggly and bouncy, a regular Tigger!  I’ll often sing quietly to him to help him calm down before drifting off to sleep.  My repertoire includes four French songs, because I thought he tuned the language out and would just be soothed by the melodies.  We have talked about what the songs mean, but I usually just sing and sing until he gets droopy.

Well, yesterday I was SHOCKED when, completely out of the blue, my little boy began singing our songs in the car.  I hadn’t overtly taught them, but he had learned them! He could actually sing most of the verses, and identify them: “That’s the song about the Mom & Dad making chocolate and cakes for the little boy” (Fais Dodo) or “That song is the one about how you’ll never forget me” (À la claire fontaine.)  Wow.  Love it when that happens!

If you’d like to hear our songs, check out the following music samples.  They aren’t all lullabies, per se, but I sing them quiet and slow.

I guess the moral of the story is not to worry about lesson objectives and activities while you’re at home with your kids.  If you speak another language, just speak it.  (Or sing it!)  Surprising things will happen all on their own.

Image credit:  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1262065