Hippity-hoppity Easter’s on its way!  Make it international by teaching your kids ways to say “bunny” in many languages:

Bunny = English

Lapin = French

Coniglietto = Italian

Conejito = Spanish

Häschen = German

Króliczek = Polish

Coelho = Portuguese

Thanks to my favorite online multilingual dictionary:  wordreference.com This is the only online translator I recommend to my students.

Happy Bunny Day!

Image credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1247592

Today’s post is a completely self-indulgent excuse to show you my other two children–the furry ones.   I used to take pictures of my cats all the time BK (Before Kids,) but the kitties have been photographically neglected for years.  Tonight, I was surprised to discover several cat videos on my Flip camera.  My son’s been busy!  He took this picture of the feline matriarch of the family, Gina.  She’s a spry 17 year-old who loves, loves, loves people.  My Madeline isn’t pictured, but she looks exactly the same.  She’s Gina’s ornery 16 year-old daughter.   Can’t blame old age, she’s always been a grump.  (Love her anyway!)   Madeline is named after my favorite children’s book character . . . the girl who lived in that old house in Paris, covered in vines . . . 

They say a cat has nine lives, so today let’s learn nine ways to say “cat” in foreign languages:

1.  French:  le chat

2.  Spanish:  el gato

3.  German:  die Katze

4.  Portuguese:  o gato

5.  Italian:  il gatto

6.  Norwegian:  katten

7.  Polish:  kot

8.  Dutch:  de kat

9.  Hungarian:  a macska

Want to add on to the cat list?  Feel free to comment with your favorite world language.

Speaking of Siamese cats, I’d like to recommend the children’s book Minou, by Mindy Bingham.  (Minou means Kitty in French.)

I’ve read this book (in English) to my French students for years and years.  It’s an empowering story of a cat’s independence on the streets of Paris.  I use the gorgeous watercolor illustrations by Itoko Maeno as a culture lesson.  It’s great for identifying monuments, and I personally love looking at that gorgeous Minou who looks so much like my babies!

This Mother’s Day, let Mom know she’s the best in the world!  Learn how to say Mother in these twelve world languages:

Moeder, Moer (Dutch)
Mère, Maman (French)
Mutter (German)
Màna (Greek)
Ma, Maji (Hindi)
Anya (Hungarian)
Madre, Mamma (Italian)
Okaasan, Haha (Japanese)
Matka, Mama (Polish)
Mat’ (Russian)
Madre, Mamá (Spanish)
Mati (Ukranian)

Please post to keep the list growing!  Consider using these phrases to create a unique “Best Mom in the World” craft, card, or keepsake.  Visit this article for ideas:

Read more: “International Mother’s Day Gifts: Crafts for the Best Mom in the World”

Want to make a French or Spanish Mother’s Day card?  Homemade is best!  Check out these downloads for vocabulary lists, French and Spanish quotes, and card templates:

French Mother’s Day Card

Spanish Mother’s Day Card

Happy Mother’s Day!

 
Image Credit:  by Adrian Yee at  http://www.sxc.hu/photo/698517

Amazing deal on an effective tool for language classes. Only $59.99: Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 30-Minutes (White)

In honor of Valentine’s Day–February 14–let’s learn fourteen ways to say that magical word:  CHOCOLATE!

French:  chocolat

Spanish:  chocolate

Italian:  cioccolato

German:  Schokolade

Dutch:  chocolade

Portuguese:  chocolate

Esperanto:  cokolado

Danish:  chokolade

Polish:  czekolada

Swedish:  choklad

Indonesian:  coklat

Maltese:  cikkulata

Norwegian:  sjokolad

Finnish:  suklaa

Be sure to check out a unique download for Spanish Learners:  The History of Chocolate for Spanish I Students:  Spanish I students in grades 7 to 12 will love learning about chocolate’s fascinating history while they learn or practice preterite, past tense verbs. This unit fuses the ACTFL C’s of culture, connections, & communication. Included are a bililngual vocabulary & verb list, a short Spanish reading on chocolate’s origins, post-reading activities, student to student conversational activities, writing activities, and internet video and site recommendations.

Happy Chocolate Day!

Photo Credit: by Linnell Esler at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/452631

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 home and let my little guys join in the fun.  But since I will NOT allow them to stay up until midnight, we celebrate in a different time zone.  Click here to read about my annual French New Year’s celebration.  We wish everyone a Bonne Année when it’s midnight in France, but still early here in Eastern Standard Time.  We feast on French food, as well as some original New Year’s cookies.

I’d like to wish you a Happy New Year in a dozen different languages.  Feel free to comment with a New Year greeting in other languages, too.  I’ll be taking a little blogging break until after the New Year.  May your 2009 be filled with blessings and happiness

French:  Bonne Année!

Spanish: Feliz año nuevo

German: Ein glückliches neues Jahr

Italian: Buon anno

Czech: Stastny Novy Rok

Finnish: Onnellista uutta vuotta

Portuguese: Feliz ano novo

Dutch: Gelukkig nieuwjaar

Hebrew: Shana Tova

Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku

Thai: Sawatdee Pi Mai

Hungarian: Boldog uj evet

Photo Credit: by xymonau at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1123224

Dankie (Afrikaans)

Shukran (Arabic)

Dekuji (Czech)

Tak (Danish)

Dank u wel (Dutch)

Dankon (Esperanto)

Kiitos (Finnish)

Merci (French)

Danke (German)

Mahalo (Hawaiian)

Toda (Hebrew)

Shukriya (Hindi)

Takk (Icelandic)

Grazie (Italian)

Arigato (Japanese)

Grazzi (Maltese)

Xie xie (Mandarin Chinese)

Dziekuje (Polish)

Multumesc (Romanian)

Spasibo (Russian)

Gracias (Spanish)

Ahsante (Swahili)

Tack (Swedish)

Photo Credit: by cidinha28 at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/772189