Many of us want to help our children learn a second language, but where do we start? And what if we only speak one language ourselves?
Anne Guarnera of Language Learning at Home is joining us today to walk us through it. Although it isn’t her first language, she speaks Spanish in her home and encourages families to learn new languages together.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How to get started learning a new language
- How learning a second language helps us with our native language
- How books are a fantastic resource (of course!)
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Listener Guide
Use the time stamps below to skip to any part of the podcast:
- 2:20 Meet Anne
- 4:12 Like learning an instrument …
- 5:57 Spanish at home
- 7:36 How books can help foreign language learning
- 10:35 Broadening kids’ perspectives
- 12:45 Parenting differently
- 13:51 The Read-Aloud Family
- 15:37 Two resources
- 19:42 Order of learning
- 21:53 Help for single language learners
- 24:43 The reason to expose kids to languages
- 25:41 Tips for finding foreign language books
- 30:03 Favorite books for getting started
- 34:48 Where to find Anne
- 36:02 Let the kids speak
More free resources and booklists
Get the best episodes and reources
from the Read-Aloud Revival
More free resources and booklists
Get the best episodes and reources
from the Read-Aloud Revival
Links from this episode:
- Order The Read-Aloud Family now anywhere books are sold
- Get the audio version of The Read-Aloud Family (read by Sarah Mackenzie) right here
- Get the booklist! Text BOOKS to 345345 or head to readaloudrevival.com
- Use the hashtag #readaloudfamily to share photos on social media
- Language Learning At Home
- RAR #83: Why Read Picture Books with Older Kids
- The International Children’s Digital Library
- RAR #65: How to Best Use and Support Your Local Library
- Anne’s post, Three Unconventional Reasons I Read Aloud to my Kids (a lot!)
Quotes to Remember:
“I want my kids to feel ‘at home’ in both languages—not so that they can check a box on college admissions paperwork or gloat over their bilingualism, but so that they can befriend people from many different cultures around the world. It is my hope that their experience of language learning and cultural education will give them a rich understanding of our beautiful, diverse world, and a humble desire to learn from and serve others.”
“In terms of language learning, reading aloud in a foreign language offers all of the same benefits that you would get from reading aloud in a child’s native language.”
“When our kids learn other languages and learn to relate to the world through other languages they’re getting access to a whole range of emotions and experiences that they otherwise wouldn’t have known if they were to remain speakers of only one language.”
(Download the transcript above for more quotes and pull-outs.)
Books from this episode:
(All links are Amazon affiliate links.)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
FROM SARAH
A timeless classic told in sing-style rhyme, illustrated with Eric Carle’s famous flat collage artwork. My toddlers love chanting along while we read.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck--all parade across the pages of this delightful book. Children will immediately respond to Eric Carle's flat, boldly colored collages. Combined with Bill Martin's singsong text, they create unforgettable images of these endearing animals.
More info →
Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1)
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
‘The treehouse started to spin … and then everything was still. Absolutely still.’ Jack and Annie have so many adventures together! A gentle introduction to history, kids will love the non-fiction companion books too!
More info →
Go, Dog. Go! (Big Bright & Early Board Book)
FROM THE PUBLISHER:
A beloved Bright and Early Board Book by P. D. Eastman, now in a larger size! A sturdy board book edition of P. D. Eastman's Go, Dog. Go!, now available in a bigger size perfect for babies and toddlers!
More info →
¡Corre, perro, corre!
**Description from Amazon: Different kinds of dogs drive cars, wear hats, run through mazes, and even have parties in treetops.
More info →
Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí? (Brown Bear and Friends) (Spanish Edition)
**Description on Amazon: The beloved classic in a Spanish language edition, now available in board book format.Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? is a classic of children's literature. Bill Martin's rhythmic text speaks directly to young children, and Eric Carle's gorgeous illustrations hold children enraptured readin...
More info →
De Colores and Other Latin American Folksongs for Children (Anthology) (Spanish Edition)
**Description on Amazon: Bursting with color and spirit, this collection of Latin-American songs is a tribute to Latino culture. From traditional tunes to rhymes and hand games, De Colores has songs for all occasions and moods. Each song is accompanied by simple musical arrangements, with lyrics in both English and Spanish....
More info →
Love You Forever
**Description from Amazon: A young woman holds her newborn sonAnd looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him: "I'll love you forever I'll like you for always As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide. Since publication in 1986, Love You Foreve...
More info →
Harold and the Purple Crayon (Purple Crayon Books)
**Description from Amazon: From beloved children’s book creator Crockett Johnson comes the timeless classic Harold and the Purple Crayon!One evening Harold decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. Armed only with an oversize purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of wonder and excitement.Harold and his...
More info →
Navidad En Camelot (Christmas In Camelot) (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (La Casadel Arbol: Mision Merlin)
**Description from Amazon: FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. On Christmas Eve, Jack and Annie's tree house transports them to King Arthur's castle at Camelot, where they undertake a quest to the castle of the Otherworld.
More info →
