Author Archive
Make a Mexican King Cake: la rosca de reyes
Epiphany. Twelfth Night. King’s Day. El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos. Whatever you call the celebration on January 6, the celebration calls for a King Cake! In many places around the world, people remember the Three Wisemen’s visit to the Baby Jesus with a delicious cake. A bean, porcelaine figure, or plastic Baby Jesus is [...]
A French King’s Day Celebration: J’aime la galette . . . la galette des rois
January 6 is Epiphany, or Kings’ Day. The French call it la Fête des Rois. I’ll be celebrating with my French class with une galette des rois, or a King Cake. Recipes abound online, but here’s my simple shortcut:
Purchase frozen puffed pastry dough. Roll it into two large circles. Spread almond paste onto one circle. [...]
Wintertime Activities in Spanish and French
My family and I headed south for a vacation. An entire week with no snow. I know, I know . . . life’s rough! But I think I missed it. It was actually rather nice to pull into my driveway today and see the good ‘ol white stuff again. With the right childlike attitude, snow [...]
Three Kings Day: Los Tres Reyes Magos
Taking down the Christmas decorations is one of the saddest days of the year for me. I absolutely refuse to do it until January 7. Though the radio stations abruptly stop playing carols on December 26, I try to honor the Twelve Days of Christmas through Epiphany on January 6. So, as I write this [...]
Happy New Year Around the World: Greetings in a Dozen Languages
It’s hard to believe that it is almost 2009! Time to bring out the party hats and noise makers to ring in the New Year. Since having kids, my New Year’s celebrations have taken on a whole new vibe. Instead of paying top dollar for a sitter and hitting the town, I like to stay [...]
Piñata Land!
Bienvenido to Piñata Land! Now this is what I call some Foreign Language Fun. This photo is from a Spanish classroom at the high school where I teach. At home, Spanish II students create original piñatas from paper mache. The Spanish teachers then display the amazing works of art: Santas, Pokemon characters, chili peppers, [...]
Il est né le divin enfant: A French Christmas Carol
The Foreign Language Fun international Christmas carol series continues with one of my favorite traditional French carols, Il est né le divin enfant (He is born, the divine Child.) Here’s the chorus:
Il est né, le divin Enfant,
Jouez hautbois, résonnez musettes;
Il est né, le divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son avenement!
He is born the divine Child
Play oboe, [...]
Jingle Bells in Spanish
Enjoy this adorable Spanish video of Jingle Bells, or Cascabeles.
Feliz Navidad
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in Spanish and French
Enjoy these Spanish and French versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Spanish: Rodolfo el reno de la nariz roja
French: Le petit renne au nez rouge
Remember to leave out a carrot for Rudolph and the other reindeer on Christmas Eve. My three year-old will be sprinkling magical reindeer food outside in our yard this year. They [...]
Free Peace on Earth Nativity Coloring Page in English, French, Spanish, and Italian
Foreign Language House has another free holiday gift for you–a nativity scene printable in four languages. Kids will love coloring the adorable picture of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus as they discover different ways to say Peace on Earth:
French: Paix sur la terre
Spanish: Paz en el mundo
Italian: Pace sulla terra
Click here to download your FREE [...]
