Language Lizard Update

Dear Reader:

The holiday season is fast approaching! If you’re looking for unique holiday gifts for multicultural kids and families, consider Language Lizard’s dual language books and audio CDs. This month we are offering subscribers a 10% “Early Shopper” discount on a popular gift for the young language learner: our Talking Dictionary Book and CDROM. Please see our “Special Offer” section below for details.

Many of us have been very involved in raising bilingual children – a wonderful gift to give a child. However, it is important to keep in mind that even if children do not become fully bilingual, they (and society) benefit significantly from early exposure to other languages and cultures.

Addressing that point, this issue contains the second of a two-part article in which our guest writer discusses the value of using dual language books for families and “regular” classroom teachers. In this article, Heather Leaman, Assistant Professor in the Elementary Education Department at West Chester College, suggests numerous activities that can be used in concert with dual-language books to help children understand their world. We hope that this will spark ideas for how you can best engage your children while expanding their global perspective.

Please forward this newsletter on to others who are interested in raising and teaching multicultural children. They can sign up by visiting www.LanguageLizard.com.

Happy reading!

Anneke Forzani
Founder and President
Language Lizard, LLC

Product Review: My Talking Dictionary Book and CDROM

A fun and educational holiday gift for the early language learner, this unique bilingual picture dictionary introduces 750 widely used words, arranged thematically. Themes include Clothes, Feelings, Family, Fruits, Playground, Classroom, Music, Weather, Town, Sports, Numbers, etc.   It has brilliant illustrations that are appealing to children, and the book includes language scripts and transliterations for languages that do not use the romanized alphabet. The hardback book comes with an interactive CDROM, which allows you and your child to hear and practice spoken words and do speedy word searches and other exercises.

The dictionary is available in English with your choice of the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese, Chinese-Simplified, Croatian, Czech, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Lithuanian, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Scottish Gaelic, Slovakian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, Welsh and Yoruba.  Best for Pre-K through Grade 6.

If you're interested in purchasing this book, please visit the Talking Dictionary webpage at http://www.languagelizard.com/My_Talking_Dictionary_p/dict-fslash-cd.htm

Special Discount Offer on My Talking Dictionary Book and CDROM

As a reader of Language Lizard’s Culture Connection, you are eligible for a special 10% “Early Shopper” discount on My Talking Dictionary Book and CDROM. Simply apply coupon code CCS-TDCD to your order upon checkout. This offer expires November 10, 2006.

Feature Article: A Child’s Place in the World – PART II:Using dual language books to initiate social studies learning at home and at school

Guest Writer: Heather Leaman

Schools and families have acknowledged the importance of extending children’s learning beyond an understanding of our country to include an understanding of the world. While social studies is an ideal school subject to help children understand the world around them, many schools have significantly reduced their social studies instruction due in part to the influence of No Child Left Behind.

However, reducing class time for social studies instruction does not mean that teachers must eliminate instruction about our world for elementary school children. There are outstanding tools available for teaching social studies in tandem with instruction in reading, writing and math. In addition, there are many activities parents and families can engage in at home to supplement their children’s social studies education. Dual language books are an ideal example of a tool that can be used to introduce children to their world and to initiate deeper learning.

When teachers and families share dual language books with their children, they are increasing a child's connection to the world through language, culture and geography. There are a multitude of activities that can be used in concert with dual language books to help children understand and find their place in the world around them. Activities such as those listed below can be used at home or at school.

• Locating Countries: After reading dual language books, use a current world map to help children locate countries where each language is spoken. The online CIA World Factbook provides an excellent description of countries including information about the country's geography, people and cultural characteristics for adult and student reference.
• Learning About Culture: After locating countries where the selected languages are spoken, read about that country, its people, customs, government, religion, economic resources and history.
• Recognizing Diversity in the USA: Have children draw, color or label a map of the USA and identify the numerous languages spoken in the country. The Modern Language Association’s website includes census data and a Language Map that students can use to find out about the linguistic and cultural diversity in the United States.
• Introduce New Reading Material: Check your local or school library for stories, poems or folktales originating from various nations or select books with characters or settings connected to the country or language under study. Libraries also offer electronic and audio books, many accessible from home.
• Celebrate Diverse Cultures: Investigate and replicate traditions from around the world. Cook national specialties from various world regions, create art in the traditional style of various countries, or play games from different parts of the world.
• Examine Internet sites: Use child-friendly, high quality Internet sites to help kids learn about the languages and cultures they are investigating. A few examples include:
  Nationalgeographic.com/kids
  Worldalmanacforkids.com
  Whitehousekids.com
  UN.org/cyberschoolbus
  Bensguide.gpo.gov

Such activities can help children learn about social studies beyond their geography, history, civics, government, and economics classes. Families and schools can enhance a child's connection to the world by using dual language books to initiate and extend learning about the people and cultures similar to and different than themselves. By encouraging children to learn about people around the world, we help children build knowledge of and a love for social studies.

Heather Leaman is an assistant professor in the Elementary Education Department at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She also spent eleven years teaching sixth grade social studies.
© Language Lizard, LLC. 2006

Did you miss part one of this article? If so, you can find it at http://www.languagelizard.com/newsletter1006.htm.

Want to use this article in your e-zine or web site? Contact Language Lizard President and Founder, Anneke Forzani, at [email protected].