French now ranks 5th among the world's most-spoken languages.

Growth is concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. Read the Quartz Africa article here

J'aime / j'aime pas

Great song that teaches how to say I like and  I don't like in French sign language
(N.B. "je n'aime pas" is the officially correct way to say I don't like, but folks say "j'aime pas" LOTS.)

Bonne rentrée! Welcome back!

I am SO excited to see everyone and for our new year together learning FRENCH! I spent a week this July in Danvers, Massachusetts at a spectacular language teachers's conference. In the mornings we were students in a Russian class and in the afternoons we learned how we could apply the skills used by our Russian teacher in our own teaching. I am SO jazzed to share.

My goal in class this year is to speak understandably in French and to do so for 90% of class time. The students's job is to

Listen with respect with the intent to understand.

Here's an adorable video of a two year old showing Dad his eyes, ears, nose etc. and counting.

Enjoy!

How to learn a new language: 7 secrets from TED Translators

Tips for learning a new language from the translators at TED

POLVORONES DE CANELA (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

POLVORONES DE CANELA

Ingredients

Cookie Dough:

• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour (all-purpose)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cinnamon Sugar Mixture:

• 1 cup powdered sugar (confectioners’ sugar)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Prepare cookie sheet(s) with butter or non-stick cooking spray or parchment paper.

Cookie dough:

In a medium size bowl cream butter and powdered sugar until well blended and smooth, then add vanilla and stir until well blended. Next mix flour, salt and cinnamon together, then add to butter mixture – stir until well blended – do not over mix.  

Cinnamon Mixture:

In a small bowl, mix powdered sugar and cinnamon – mix well.

Form cookie dough into one inch balls, then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture and place on cookie sheet (traditionally these cookies are rolled in sugar after baking but while still warm, they’re very fragile though). Bake on middle rack of oven for approximately 15 minutes. Cookies are ready when they turn a light golden brown. Be careful not to over bake. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack.  Enjoy!

Makes 20-25 cookies. Store in a tightly sealed container (if you manage to have any left!).

Play quick draw in French!

Amusez-vous bien en dessinant!

Are your prejudices your own?

15 minute Canadian film that will make you rethink how you see others

Please share your thoughts about the experiences of the various characters in the comments section.

¿Qué te gusta hacer?

What do you like to do?
¿Qué te gusta hacer? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvp0Q-99y9gVideo

Introducing yourself in Spanish

Introducing yourself in Spanish

Cinco de Mayo

Five things you may not have known about Cinco de Mayo (video in English).

Cinco de Mayo Parade in New York City (video)

Reporter asks people on the streets of New York about Cinco de Mayo (video)

Sesame Street video of Cinco de Mayo (without narration)

Hap Palmer song and video in English and Spanish

Marcos' Cinco de Mayo — children't book read aloud video

Thought provoking article from Smithsonian Magazine: 
"Is There a Proper Way to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo?"

Gorgeous photo with explanation of the Danza de Tecuanas that tells the story of a jaguar terrorizing two villages.

Vivir mi vida -- Marc Anthony

Aquí está (here it is)

Tengo tres ovejas

Tengo tres ovejas

Que llueva, que llueva - Let it rain!

Que llueva, que llueva

A Spanish-language song not super different from "It's Raining, it's pouring."

Que llueva, que llueva
La vieja está en la cueva
Los pajaritos cantan,
Las nubes se levantan.
¡Que sí, que no,
que caiga un chaparrón!

Let it rain, let it rain, 

The old lady's in the cave, 

The little birds are singing, 

The clouds rise up. 

Oh yes, oh no, 

Let there be a downpour! 

American Sign Language and Music

Here is a fascinating TED talk about the similarities between ASL (American Sign Language) and music. I'd love to hear what you think after you watch it.

Christine Sun Kim: The Enchanting Music of Sign Language

Where does winter go?

In the middle school world language classes we've been learning about the countries where Spanish is an official language. As part of a "Países hispanohablantes" Scavenger Hunt I asked the students to find a Spanish-speaking country where winter is from June to September (not just a place with cold summers!).

Can you think of one?

Here's a website I found helpful in explaining (the paragraph titled Opposite Sides — Opposite Seasons):

Seasons at timeanddate.com

For Thursday, March 15th

Spanish-speaking Countries

Quizlet for finding Spanish-speaking countries on the map 
This one has an interactive map for reviewing. Try inventing mnemonic devices (memory helps) like, Chile is the long skinny chile bean shaped country or Venezuela is shaped like a sideways "V."

Seterra for Spanish-speaking countries of Central America
This one has game mode settings on the left under the map to change how you play. It focuses just on Central Americ

Seterra for Spanish-speaking countries of South America
This one has game mode settings on the left under the map to change how you play. It focuses just on South America.


Songs
Cabeza, hombros, rodillas y pies (Spanish)

Los pollitos dicen (Spanish)
This has a different tune but has easy to understand lyrics and a UKULELE!

Un elefante se balanceaba (the elephant song in Spanish!)

Andiamo! (Let's go — Italian)

More ways to learn about Spanish-speaking countries — Los países hispanohablantes

Quizlet Países hispanohablantes — Spanish Speaking Countries (and 1 US Territory)
This one has the best audio


Another Quizlet — This one is good and has maps but Tegucigalpa is misspelled (and so mispronounced!)


Seterra Spanish-Speaking Countries - Map Quiz Games — Look below the map to change game mode


Seterra Spanish-Speaking Countries AND CAPITALS - Map Quiz Games



Sporcle matching game for Capitals of Spanish-speaking countries

Bake a King Cake and Laissez le Bons Temps Roulez!

We looked a bit at Mardi Gras and Carnaval traditions around the world this week. One of the students asked for the King Cake recipe, so here it is! Bon Appétit!

¿Cuántos países hispanohablantes participan en los Juegos Olímpicos?

How many Spanish speaking countries can you find in the parade of nations at this year's Winter Olympics?


Check out the list of participants 

Países hispanohablantes - Spanish speaking countries

¿Donde se habla español?
(Where is Spanish Spoken?)

Maps and Capital quizzes

La Gozadera song

Song with maps for learning Countries and Capitals


¿Cuanta gente habla español?
(How many people speak Spanish?)

Babble Article

Des chansons françaises (French songs)

Meunier tu dors (The sleeping miller whose windmill is going too fast)

Meunier tu dors
Ton moulin va trop vite
Meunier, tu dors
Ton moulin va trop fort.
Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop vite
Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop fort
Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop vite
Ton moulin, ton moulin va trop fort.

Miller, you're sleeping,
Your mill spins too quickly
Miller, you're sleeping,
Your mill spins too strong.
Your mill, your mill spins too quickly,
Your mill, your mill spins too strong.
Your mill, your mill spins too quickly
Your mill, your mill spins too strong!

Un éléphant qui se balançait (The elephants swinging on a spiderweb)

(a version in French sign language)

Les Paroles (the words)
version 1

Un éléphant qui se balançait
Sur une toile toile toile
Toile d'araignée
Et qui trouvait ce jeu tellement amusant
Que bientôt vint un deuxième éléphant
Bedou, badoum, bidou,
Deux éléphants qui se balançaient
Sur une toile toile toile
Toile d'araignée
Et qui trouvaient ce jeu tellement amusant
Que bientôt vint un troisième éléphant
Bedou, badoum, bidou,
Trois éléphants qui se balançaient
Sur une toile toile toile
Toile d'araignée
Et qui trouvaient ce jeu tellement amusant
Que bientôt vint un quatrième éléphant
Bedou, badoum, bidou,
Quatre éléphants qui se balançaient
Sur une toile toile toile
Toile d'araignée
Et qui trouvaient ce jeu tellement amusant
Que tout à coup...
Zip! WIzz! Boïng! Badaboum!