A Tasty Surprise on Second Sunday

As I wandered down King Street during Second Sunday a few days ago, I couldn't help but be reminded of the streets of Europe, filled with boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and shops.  The monthly closing of King Street allows locals to enjoy a meal or a drink outdoors,  musicians playing on the sidewalks, and easy access to countless stores.  The positive energy is contagious and is complimented by a sense of community as pedestrians rule the street for five hours, taking in all there is to experience. 

The best part of this particular Sunday for me was walking a few steps down Society Street to Christophe Artisan, Chocolatier & Patissier .   The French flag hangs proudly outside the gourment pastry and chocolate shop and is visible from King Street.  After one sample, I was sold. The pastries are authentic and delicious, and I for one am delighted that the French chocolatier is sharing his sweet talent with our city! Stop by for a taste- this shop is worth the trip!

L'araignée Gypsie

This week in French class we have been singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, or l'araignée Gypsie.  Practice at home with the lyrics at the bottom of the video!

This song is not found on the World Languages for Kids CD but it's definitely a fun one!

A Celebration of Latin America

The Latin American Festival this Sunday is the perfect opportunity to expose the family to  food, music, and dance from Mexico, Central America, and South America!  Wannamaker Park in North Charleston will be hosting the festival on Sunday, October 7 from 12pm-6pm.

 Live salsa and merengue music will fill the air while you enjoy education booths, authentic food, local crafts and plenty of activities for the whole family.  More information can be found at www.ccprc.com/laf .  Don't miss this oppotunity to celebrate the sights and sounds of the Latin world!

My Name Is...

This week in WL4K classes... 

We are learning how to say, "My name is ______"

Here is a great video in Spanish to practice at home with your children!

Also, for you French students out there... this is one of the silliest songs on the CD: Je m'appelle Funny Bear!!! Here is a video to that song. Listen and sing along everytime he says, "Je m'appelle"!

This week in WL4K classes...

We are learning how to greet one another in French / Spanish and how to answer the question, "How are you?" Here are some good videos I found for you to practice at home with your children: 

 Spanish Greetings:

 

French Greetings: 

Spanish Hello Song

 This is one of the cute songs we use to sing HOLA to our friends at the start of Spanish class each week.

Brought to you by Sing-a-lingo: http://www.singalingo.com/

French Hello Song

Hello songs are a wonderful way to help children who are learning a foreign language. It's also nice for children to always sing the same song at the beginning of a class. Hello songs are great for this.
The song below is called "Bonjour". It's a French hello song written and sung by Alain Le Lait. Sit back and enjoy the song by clicking the MP3 below. You can read along with the lyrics in French, followed by an English translation by Alain...

MP3 of Bonjour

Bonjour
(French Lyrics)
Bonjour, bonjour
Comment ça va?
Bonjour, bonjour
Très bien, merci
Je suis content d’être ici
Avec tous mes petits amis
Bonjour, bonjour
Comment ça va?
Merci, merci
Merci d’être ici
Merci, merci
Écoutez
Aimez-vous cette chanson?
J’espère que je suis dans le ton
Merci, merci
Merci d’être ici
Hello
(English Translation)
Hello, hello
How are you?
Hello, hello
Very well, thank you
I am happy to be here
With all my little friends
Hello, hello
How are you?
Thank you, thank you
For being here
Thank you, thank you
Listen up
Do you like this song?
I hope that I am in tune
Thank you, thank you
For being here.
The French and English lyrics to this "Bonjour" song are © 2003 Alain Le Lait.

Alain Le Lait is a French native who grew up near Paris, France. He moved to the United States in the 1970s and now lives in Colorado. Alain writes and performs easy to learn children's songs in French, Spanish and English. Check out his site www.Yadeeda.com to hear samples of his music and to buy his CD's or mp3's.
Merci Alain!

Spanish Games

Thanks for staying tuned! After doing some research I found this great website that is FULL of resources for you to use with your children with endless game possibilities. University of Iowa compiled a list for various grade levels. CLICK HERE to check it out and explore on your own!

French Games

Making learning fun is obviously one of our biggest goals and I think we do it quite well! Singing and dancing in the classroom, and coloring are among some of the many ways we engage your children and disguise learning by making it fun. Courtesy of about.com I found a website full of games for kids to learn and practice their French skills. CLICK HERE to check it out! And check back soon to see some Spanish games!

Foreign Language Article

I wanted to start today with this quote from a USA Today Article: "Not only is learning a foreign language easier for children than it is for adults, but children who are exposed to other languages also do better in school, score higher on standardized tests, are better problem solvers and are more open to diversity, says François Thibaut, who runs The Language Workshop for Children, which has nine schools around the East Coast." 

Foreign language opens up doors and offers possibilities. A mother quoted in the article stated: "It's such a global environment now, you never know what you might need." And I couldn't agree with her more! As the saying goes with the Boy scouts: "Be Prepared"

CLICK HERE to read the article yourself!