Thursday, February 15, 2018

Children can learn languages: Bonjour! Let's Learn French & ¡hola! Let's Learn Spanish by Judy Martialay [Book Spotlight & Giveaway]

My thoughts: I did not have the opportunity to learn a foreign language and regret not having done so. My children had the opportunity and I am happy they did. They did not, though, have "immersion language studies" which really enhances and accelerates the process.

These two books have been written by retired languages teacher Judy Martialay so that parents who are not knowledgable of foreign languages can help their child in this pursuit. The books have a little story and culturally appropriate activities that make learning a fun experience. Also, a downloadable audio book so correct pronunciation can be learned.

If your young children are already learning French or Spanish, these bilingual books will be welcome additions. If you are a homeschooling family and entertaining breaking into the foreign language field, these two books will help explore. If you are a parent of a young child and want to learn along with your child, these print and audio books should be a welcome addition.

Both books take the reader to another country and they encounter a child and read about an adventure. This is an opportunity for a fun read that can be playful, educational, and can even have a bit of a party atmosphere.

I think they would be worthy of your attention. And you can also vie for a copy in the giveaway I am hosting with the winner's copies being sent by the author.

Bonjour! Let's Learn French: Visit New Places and Make New Friends

About the book: Buckle your seatbelts! Your child 6-10 is about to take off on a trip of adventure, discovery and learning with Bonjour! Let's Learn French. Your child-and you-will be speaking French in no time! Easy to use, whether or not you know French. Free downloadable audio version at polyglotkidz.com. Audio includes tips on French pronunciation. Download before using book.

Your child's guide is Pete the Pilot. Kids take a pretend flight to France, meet Louis l'escargot, France's favorite snail, follow his adventures, and learn French effortlessly.
Story told in English introduces words and expressions in French.

Also featuring:

  • Fun activities to use French including treasure hunt and daily expressions
  • Skit
  • Culture Corner
  • Song
  • Directions for adding an impressionist touch for your child's drawings and paintings

¡hola! Let's Learn Spanish: Visit New Places and Make New Friends

ISBN-13: 978-0991132409
Softcover $16.97
About the book: Easy and Fun Introduction to Spanish for your child. Fasten your seatbelts! Your child 6-10 is about to take a trip of adventure, fun and learning. Your child-and you-will be speaking Spanish in no time! Easy to use, whether or not you know Spanish.
Free downloadable audio version at polyglotkidz.com. Download before using book.

Your child's guide is Pete the Pilot. Kids take a pretend flight to Mexico. There, they meet Panchito, Mexico's #1 Jumping Bean, meet his friends, follow his adventure, and learn Spanish effortlessly.

Also featuring:

  • fun activities to use Spanish
  • Skit
  • Culture Corner
  • Catchy song
  • Directions for making a traditional Mexican mask

Find it on Amazon - click here

About the author: I retired from teaching foreign /world languages, and have devoted many years to the promotion of foreign language study as Co-Chair of the Public Advocacy Committee of the New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers (NYSAFLT).
I wrote the books ¡HOLA! Let's Learn Languages and Bonjour! Let's Learn French because I want every child to have the opportunity to learn a world language at an early age. This is the best time to start learning a language. Children's brains are wired for learning languages. They have a better chance for acquiring native pronunciation, and they have ample time to become truly proficient in the language.
I often hear the comment from teachers of young children:" Children absorb languages like sponges."
My granddaughter hears Spanish every day; she has an au pair girl who speaks to her in Spanish. She understands everything.
I want children and their parents to enjoy the experience of learning languages. It is an adventure into the soul of another world.
If your child continues study of a language, he or she will have a skill that will provide life-long benefits.
GIVEAWAY
2 Winners - Choice of 1 language book
Begins February 16
Ends March 9 @ 12:01 a.m. EST
Open to USA addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of each book to facilitate this book spotlight and giveaway. Any opinions expressed by me are my own, alone. I was not compensated for this promotional article. Winners' copies are provided by author to winner.

18 comments:

  1. "How have foreign languages impacted your life or someone in your family?" I'm relatively knowledgeable about French, but I've never achieved fluency, alas.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great resource for families and their kids!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would have loved to learn Spanish. My ex-DIL talks to my grandson i Spanish at times and I don't know what they are saying.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My husband studied German in school. I studied Spanish and American Sign Language.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am hispanic so I learned spanish to speak with my family in the native language

    ReplyDelete
  6. My daughters have always thought it was neat I know some Spanish from high school and college. I am not fluent in it, so a book would be so helpful to teach my girls since they have the desire to learn.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Knowing Spanish is important to many jobs. I think it's easier to learn a language the younger you start. My grandson knows some Russian and went to preschool for a month last summer on a visit with his Russian grandparents.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I took 2 years of Spanish in high school; but never became fluent in it. Went to Spain a few years back and it was even harder; to understand anyone; because of the Catalonian dialect.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I learned to speak Russian when I was younger before we went on a class trip for three weeks. I have lost some of the language, but I try to keep up on it as much as I can. I was actually able to help a Russian passenger a few years ago when we were on the same flight and no one could understand her. I was able to communicate that she needed diapers for her baby as she had put them in skycheck, not knowing they would be put down below until we landed. Their was another mom who gladly gave her a couple of diapers and her baby did not have to have a wet diaper for two hours.

    ReplyDelete
  10. My great aunts and aunts spoke Italian, along with my sister I learned French in high school, my oldest son married a girl whose family was from Guadalajara, he became proficient in Mandarin Chinese and he later married someone from Egypt who speaks Arabic. Rosanne

    ReplyDelete
  11. I only speak English, but like to study Latin and Hebrew!

    ReplyDelete
  12. For my mother and her sister, learning English was learning a foreign language. Consequently, my brother and I learned to speak and write impeccable English.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Even tho I took french in high school, when I visited France a few years later I couldn't speak any.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't learned another language but I have a grandaughter who is three and I think it would help her

    ReplyDelete
  15. I learned french in high school, but we want to work with our son to learn a new language while he's little.

    ReplyDelete
  16. OK, here's one story. My mom had helped a local Spanish restaurant she always went to with their menu (typing it up, helping them with the English on it). When she passed, I tried telling them in English but they didn't understand, but I knew just enough Spanish to tell them. She had moved away from other family to be closer to me, and didn't have many friends nearby. This family was one of the few people who came who actually knew her...and I was able to understand their heartfelt words. It meant so much.

    ReplyDelete
  17. When I was growing up, my grandfather spoke French and I learned it, although I have forgotten most of it, I remember enough to get by. This would be such a great thing to share with my kids!

    ReplyDelete
  18. No, they haven't impacted me, but I love to learn new languages.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment here at Chat With Vera. If you need to contact me directly, please use the email associated with this blog and posted in the sidebar.