Bring FunImmersion home! Below is a list of language resources to help you select fun, effective ways to reinforce budding language skills at home. We note several Star Picks  - products we have reviewed and especially like as they share our commitment to fun, native speakers, and 100% immersion! Please note that the majority of this list reflects Language Stars’ current language offerings in Spanish, Mandarin, French, Italian and German. However, resources for other languages can be found on the list under Resources in Additional Languages.
Rhythm and Receptive Learning: Audio
Around the World with Language Stars
Over 60 songs in Spanish, French, Italian and German designed to directly complement Language Stars FunImmersion programs. Lyrics and translations included. 100% immersion, 100% fun! Available at your local Language Stars center or by clicking here.
Baby's First Words in Spanish/French/Italian/Mandarin
Each disc is a collection of 50 songs sung by native speakers, all entirely in one foreign language. While marketed to newborn-2 year olds, the collection of songs, rhymes and native sounds is appropriate and effective for older children as well. Lyric book and language immersion commentary included. Available from Living Language.
Other titles, including:
Rose Nadolsky’s “La Voix en Rose”
Available at your local Language Stars center and amazon.com.
Teach Me Tapes (available in Spanish, French, German, Italian and Mandarin).
Available at amazon.com.
The Adventures of Pouce and Poucette. Available at frencheducation.com.
Charlotte Diamond’s “Qu’il y ait Toujours le Soleil” and “Soy una Pizza”
Available at charlottediamond.com and amazon.com.
Trepsi (Spanish)
Available at bilingualjourney.com.
Rolf Zuckowski’s “Im Kindergarten,” “Starke Kinder,” “Vogelhochzeit” (German)
Available at www.amazon.de.
Putumayo World Music, Putumayo Kids “Latin Playground” and “French Playground”
Available at www.putumayo.com.
Interactive Immersion: Software & Games
This CD-ROM offers vocabulary and simple phrase review through a selection of games “hosted” by Hopsalot Rabbit. Various levels of difficulty help children learn at their own pace and challenge themselves. Available at amazon.com or wor.com.
Other interactive games including:
Kidspeak 6-in-1 CD ROM
Available at amazon.com.
www.pbskids.org (selections such as Sesame Street, Dragon Tales, and Maya and Miguel have Spanish games, Sagwa offers Mandarin activities).
bbc.co.uk/primaryfrench or bbc.co.uk/primaryspanish: featuring fun, interactive games, ideas and resouces for Spanish and French.
Language Littles: plush dolls that speak Spanish, French, German, Italian or Mandarin.
Available at your Language Stars center or www.languagelittles.com.
Virtual Immersion: Video
This story of a loveable monster from outer space captivates kids as it follows a silly plot line entirely in the foreign language. Short sequences highlight concepts and phrases, such as “big/small” or “Can you give me a...please?” Includes vocabulary builder and activity book.
www.early-advantage.com
Whistlefritz: Los Animales, Vamos a Jugar
Full immersion, bright colors, and fun songs make these Spanish DVDs appealing for young learners! Available in your Language Stars center.
Other videos, including:
Available from Target, Toys R Us, and many of our listed Shopping Sites.
Disney films, Blues Clues, Sesame Street, other children’s programming,
in Spanish. “Caillou” series (French)
Big Bird in China (a great introduction to China & Chinese culture)
Available at amazon.com
Follow Jade: Learn Chinese
Available at amazon.com
Play and Learn with Mei Mei
Available at amazon.com
Did you know many American children’s DVDs have a toggle option to view in another language?
Reading and Receptive Learning: Books
Usborne First Words and Sticker Book series
Introduce your child to Chinese characters in the context of this simply told, and boldly illustrated picture book by Christoph Niemann.
Available at amazon.com.
My First Spanish Word Book (DK Publishers)
Available at amazon.com.
“Spot” series by Eric Hill available in multiple languages
Available at amazon.com.
El Castillo Misterioso.
Available at www.languagestars.com/books.html.
“In the Park” series by Huy Youn Lee. Lovely, simple books that introduce
a bit of Chinese culture and characters. Available at amazon.com.
Resources in Additional Languages
Introduce your child to Indian culture in a fun and interactive way! Little GuruSkool features both Hindi and English to familiarize children with basic vocabulary and the sounds of both languages during the early developmental years. Available at www.littleguruskool.com.
General Shopping Sites:
“Parent Picks” – our parent recommendations:
www.asiaforkids.com
Multilingual resources in Mandarin, Spanish, French, German, Italian and more!
www.pentonoverseas.com
“Hear-Say” vocabulary builder CDs and activity books in Spanish, French, German and Italian.
www.symtalk.com
K-12 sentence building activity kits in Spanish, French, German and Italian.
Other Ideas:
Host an exchange student or send your child abroad:
Attend a foreign language summer camp – Language Stars day camps,
Concordia Language Villages (overnight): www.concordialanguagevillages.org
Find an international pen-pal – www.epals.com
Hire a second language babysitter or au pair – www.iapa.org, aupairbox.com,
bulletin boards at local cultural organizations
Visit your local cultural center: take advantage of local cultural offerings, befriend a family newly arrived from another country, learn about another country’s customs, traditions and language.
French: Alliance Francaise, www.afchicago.com
German: Goethe Institut Chicago, www.goethe.de
Spanish: Instituto Cervantes, www.cervantes1.org
Italian: Italian Cultural Institute, www.iicch.org
Chinese: Chinese Culture Center of the TECO, www.chicago.ocac.net
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