This question comes from a friend of mine. Her son is in a dual language Spanish program in Queens and she does not speak Spanish.
Even if you do not speak the language your child is studying, keeping up the exposure for your child is the most important factor in keeping them connected. Gently encourage your child's interest in the language and in the culture. Try to attend cultural events that feature music, dance, or food from the country or countries where the language is spoken. You and the other dual language parents can ask your childrens' teacher to put together a packet or resource sheet, worksheets and/or books that they recommend. Make sure you put this request in written form leaving enough time before the end of the school year (aka) soon, rather than leaving it to a casual discussion. There are lots of foreign language books, games and videos that are available online, at Barnes and Noble and my favorite, the library. You can talk with the other parents of the students in the program and try to get as many kids together as possible once a week to use any books, videos or games they have found. This will create the social situation that will encourage students to speak, sing songs and play games in the foreign language with others that know the language.
I found a nice site that has a few activities that can be helpful:
www.apples4theteacher.com/foreignlang.html#spanishgames
The site below does not provide you with activities in the actual language but gives you some great ideas of how to use games you already know or have to practice a foreign language:
http://www.languagestudy.suite101.com/
This site is a potpourri of resources for both educators of foreign language and for parents:
www.internet4classrooms.com/flang.htm
Bonjour, Buongiorno, Buenos días, Boker Tov, Guten Tag,
Sara Lise
Even if you do not speak the language your child is studying, keeping up the exposure for your child is the most important factor in keeping them connected. Gently encourage your child's interest in the language and in the culture. Try to attend cultural events that feature music, dance, or food from the country or countries where the language is spoken. You and the other dual language parents can ask your childrens' teacher to put together a packet or resource sheet, worksheets and/or books that they recommend. Make sure you put this request in written form leaving enough time before the end of the school year (aka) soon, rather than leaving it to a casual discussion. There are lots of foreign language books, games and videos that are available online, at Barnes and Noble and my favorite, the library. You can talk with the other parents of the students in the program and try to get as many kids together as possible once a week to use any books, videos or games they have found. This will create the social situation that will encourage students to speak, sing songs and play games in the foreign language with others that know the language.
I found a nice site that has a few activities that can be helpful:
www.apples4theteacher.com/foreignlang.html#spanishgames
The site below does not provide you with activities in the actual language but gives you some great ideas of how to use games you already know or have to practice a foreign language:
http://www.languagestudy.suite101.com/
This site is a potpourri of resources for both educators of foreign language and for parents:
www.internet4classrooms.com/flang.htm
Bonjour, Buongiorno, Buenos días, Boker Tov, Guten Tag,
Sara Lise
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Muchas Gracias. Once again you have inspired and taught me more than I could ever learn on my own after doing hours of research! Thank you for sharing your wisdom, knowledge and experience. Your blog is truly helpful - keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteSamantha