French and/ or Spanish CDs or DVDs - recommendations?

[FiveStar]

Hi my children (DS 5 and 2 DDs aged 3) are all v interested in languages and have picked up some French and Spanish phrases from random things (partly Dora the Explorer!) and a few little French sessions at nursery. As brains are wired to learn any languages at their age and they love listening to CDs (and then reciting them word for word later) I am thinking of looking for some language CDs and/ or DVDs for them. Plus we are planning to visit France so I thought it would tie in with that. I want the discs to be fun so they don't think it is all a big chore! They are all very verbal.

The only one I have heard of is Muzzy which seems expensive. Does anyone have any recommendations of ones they have seen/ used?

Many thanks

[Tinuviel]

SKOLDO Elementary books are great. They do both French and Spanish. Simple exercises, colourful worksheets and quite a lot of songs!! Each lesson teaches 5 words - pets, animals, food, veg, fruit, numbers, colours etc. You get the CD free with the book.

[FiveStar]

thanks for this info - did you buy from amazon or direct?

[kodokan]

The Usborne 'First Fun with French' is lovely, and quite cheap. It's a cartoon following this little girl through her day, as she chatters in English and French, and is watchable more than once. The illustration style is the same as the one used in the Usborne books about those children that live on a farm, so it probably already familiar to your kids.

I'd strongly NOT recommend Muzzy. I got it out of our library prior to our move to Switzerland. Older kids won't watch it more than once (and that's if you're lucky) and younger ones will just be bemused - it's a bit Magic Roundabout psychedelic in places. Oddly quite fun for grown-ups, though, especially ones who've already learnt a language and can see what the storyline and repetition is trying to achieve.

The Putumayo World Music series 'French Playground' CD is also very nice for kids who like jumping around to a bit of music.

The other thing to consider is changing the language on any of their existing DVDs, if there is a 'French' option. Also, in French-speaking countries Dora is a French girl who sometimes speaks English, and is surprisingly helpful at teaching English kids some basic words (mine picked some up this way when we arrived). Perhaps French Amazon will have some DVDs to order.

[Bonsoir]

TinTin DVDs are great.

[elk4baby]

BrillKids have a nice little program to teach reading/language

[FiveStar]

Thanks for all these suggestions

[lovecheese]

Watching with interest as my DD is keen to learn too. Interesting to read about Muzzy, was hoping it would be slated as DD only wants it for the (Scary) soft toy.

[FiveStar]

Have ordered some of these recommendations from amazon so will let you know how they go down with the children

[FingonTheValiant]

Spongebob squarepants has French audio options as standard, Spanish as well I think



Yes, series one and two seem to. The series box sets are under £10. Not sure if they have subtitles though. Although subtitles are pretty useless for kids anyway, and ime they just ignore them even if they can read them.

You could also order some disney films from France, as they come with both French and English options, but they are slightly more expensive than they would be in England. Toy Story in French is great though.

[Summersbee]

Hi, I'm searching around for opinions about A Green Mouse French and Spanish songs for kids. I don't suppose you've looked at them have you?