Foreign Language Fun

Learn Basic Japanese with Big Bird: Ichi, Ni, San

Published on August 30, 2008 by Diane in Foreign Language Fun, Foreign Language Greetings, Japanese, Sesame Street, Songs, YouTube

At the library the other week, my 3 year-old and I checked out Big Bird in Japan, a Sesame Street special from 1989. We enjoyed it, especially all the sights and sounds of Japan. In the story, a tour bus leaves Big Bird and his dog Barkley behind. They have trouble communicating because nobody speaks

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Do You Know How to Say Beijing?

Published on August 16, 2008 by Diane in Beijing Olympics, Chinese, Foreign Language Fun, YouTube

I apparently don’t, but at least I’m not alone. I was just reading a story on Yahoo Sports about “NBC’s pronunciation conundrum in Beijing“ (August 15, 2008.) AP Journalist David Bauder writes about the pronunciation faux-pas of several American sports commentators as they report on the Olympic host city. The correct pronunciation is “Bay-jing” not “Bay-zhing”, which

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Big Bird in China: Learning Mandarin for the Olympics

Published on August 8, 2008 by Diane in Beijing Olympics, Chinese, Foreign Language Fun, Sesame Street, YouTube

I’m still trying to learn a little Mandarin Chinese in honor of the Beijing Olympics. I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t made it too far past Hello and Goodbye: Ni hao - Hello Zai jian - Goodbye But now, thanks to Big Bird, I can add one more expression to my repertoire: Wo ai ni – I

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French Back-to-School Vocabulary: Classroom Supplies

Published on August 5, 2008 by Diane in Foreign Language Fun, French, YouTube

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year . . .” Remember that Back-to-School commercial for Staples, the office supply store? Dad is skipping along to the holiday tune, happily shopping for school supplies. Meanwhile the kids follow with long, morose faces. Hilarious! Just to prove you can find anything on the internet, here is

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The Wiggles in Taiwan

Published on August 2, 2008 by Diane in Foreign Language Fun, Songs, Spanish, Taiwanese, Wiggles, YouTube

Watch out! It’s global domination, Wiggle style. Preschoolers across the English-speaking world have long danced and learned with The Wiggles, the enormously popular Australian kiddie band. In 2003, the first international version of the group wiggled onto the touring and Playhouse Disney TV scene in Taiwan. Let me introduce you: The Yellow Wiggle is Arthur.

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Learning Spanish Fruits With the Wiggles: Fruit Salad

Published on July 28, 2008 by Diane in Foreign Language Fun, Songs, Spanish, Wiggles, YouTube

If you have a preschooler, you surely know all about The Wiggles. This wildly famous kiddie band from Australia became an obsession for one of my boys. I remember the magical moment when it all began. I innocently popped in a Wiggles video for my then 11 month old son. He went crazy dancing and

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Funny Videos From Language Schools: Learn a Language

Published on July 15, 2008 by Diane in Foreign Language Fun, YouTube

I’ve been hanging out on YouTube, collecting a few funny language learning videos for your viewing enjoyment. Have a chuckle, but reflect on the truth behind the humor: learn a foreign language. Which one do you like the best? Do you have other YouTube recommendations for language learning? Leave a comment and let me know!