Help Your Child with a Foreign Language: Teach a Foreign Language Naturally and Easily from Home (Berlitz Kids) [Paperback]

Opal Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berlitz Kids | Publication Date: June 1998

This practical parents guide offers fresh, appealing, and effective guidance for teaching young children another language. It shows you how to teach your children naturally and easily at home, using the same methods applied when you helped your children learn to speak their native language: encouragement, interaction, and repetition. Written by internationally recognized author and teacher Opal Dunn, this book includes helpful tips for understanding each child’s individual learning needs, selecting appropriate language-learning materials, and planning opportunities for language exposure outside the home and abroad.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Dunn starts off on a positive note, acknowledging that parents have helped their children "from zero to fluency with their first language." Dunn, a teacher-trainer and bilingual education consultant, moves on to assisting children acquire a foreign language in a discussion that covers selecting a program; using books, chants, and songs; developing cultural awareness; and finding opportunities at home and abroad to use the language skills. Specific publications are not recommended, but criteria for evaluating print, audiovisual, and CD programs are suggested. A variety of homemade and at-home activities are spelled out as well. A glossary of helpful phrases is appended. Denise Perry Donavin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Berlitz Guides; P edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2831568064
• ISBN-13: 978-2831568065
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #539,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have book, November 28, 2006

By 

ana (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Help Your Child with a Foreign Language: Teach a Foreign Language Naturally and Easily from Home (Berlitz Kids) (Paperback)

Wow!!! I have just come to realize that the author of this book, is also the author of my very favorite French CD for children (1,2,3 My First French Rhymes).

I read this book when my first child was born. I wanted to teach her French from early on. Not only does the author give plenty of ideas of how to teach a child a second language (much in the same way one teaches instinctively to speak the native language, actually) but more importantly, the author makes every parent realize how much he/she can actually do, even if not fluent in the language one is willing to teach.

I keep the book by my bedside, and have, over the years, re-read now and then bits and pieces, just to keep me encouraged.

I must say that at 6, my daughter can communicate with French children in a way I had not imagined! And as a bonus for the hard work, I am finally fluent myself in French too!