Foreign Language Resources

Other Foreign Language Resources

Getting Started in a Foreign Language, Foreign Language Groups & Schools and Classes

Books, DVDs, Games & Toys

Books, CDs & DVDs
Suggested Books - ParenthoodNJ's list of foreign language or bilingual books, including French & Spanish
Little Pim - DVDs in Spanish, French, Chinese, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese & English; check our review
Spanish Bookworld
Learn4Good - list of recommended language books
Usborne Books
Muzzy DVDs
Brainy Baby DVDs - languages include French & Spanish
Skipping Stones Magazine
Noddy & Friends DVDs - A 2-minute "Say it with Noddy" segment follows each 10-minute episode and relates simple words or phrases in languages like Spanish, French, Mandarin, Swahili & Russian

Shopping
Bububooks - sells Spanish/English, Chinese/English & Vietnamese/English books
Language Resource Online - sells software, audio courses, online courses & electronic dictionaries in several languages
Culture for Kids - sells bilingual books, language-learning books, videos & software
inFrench.com - games, toys, books, DVDs & software to learn French
Chinese Childbook.com - sells books, DVDs, software & more for Chinese
Ty's Toybox Online - includes favorite (& sometimes hard to find) characters as well as some language toys, books, DVDs, etc including French & Spanish
Magellan's Toy Shop - site selling books, dolls, toys, DVDs, games & more in languages including: Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish
International Kids - buy & sell books, CDs & other language products
Nest Learning - sells foreign language books & workbooks including French & Spanish
Worldlanguage.com - sells books, software, toys & more in various languages
Little Leaps - some come in multiple languages, such as French & Spanish & English; works with Little Leaps™ Grow-With-Me Learning System (sold separately)

Bilingual/Multilingual Toys
Language Littles Dolls - says about 30 different words & phrases in English & their "native" language; dolls currently come in Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish,
Caillou Plush Laugh N Learn doll - says 30 words & expressions in French & English
Berlitz Kids Adventures with Nicholas Book & Plush Toy - French & Spanish
Chicco Bilingual Toys - bilingual English/Spanish toys for infants & toddlers

Language Learning "Courses"

Berlitz Kids - learning products, online courses & tutoring in several languages
Professor Toto - CDs/books & kits to teach kids 2-12 languages including Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Speak in a Week - book/CD set & flash cards to learn several languages including Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish

Language Learning Software

French Course Reviews - reviews of popular French language software
Byki - you can download free short courses in languages including Arabic, Armenian, French, Greek, Hebrew, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Spanish, Swedish; you can also buy apps; CD-Rom programs produced by Transparent Languages for various languages can be purchased - titles include "(language of choice) Before You Know It" or Language Now
Muzzy for Kids - software in languages including Chinese Mandarin, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian & Spanish designed for ages 2 to 12 years; also have DVDs
Jump Start Languages - 4-in-1 program with English, French, Japanese and Spanish (the French one is a bit hard to understand; the Spanish is very clear)
Power Glide - languages including Spanish, French, German & Chinese
Rocket Languages - Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish
Rosetta Stone - 31 languages including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese
Caillou Software - English, French & Spanish

Online Learning Tools

Free Online Translator - available for numerous languages including Arabic, Chinese (simplified & traditional), Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian & Spanish
Free Language Translator - translate popular phrases in many languages or input a custom word or phrase

Online Courses & Learning

Best Free Language Learning Apps! - Review by PC Magazine
Babbel.com - English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Byki - you can download free short courses in languages including Arabic, Armenian, French, Greek, Hebrew, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Spanish, Swedish; you can also buy apps Duolingo - This is a great site reminiscent of Rosetta Stone's format; FREE ipad/iphone app for learning as well; languages include French, Spanish, German, Italian, English and Portuguese
Memrise - Free online and app programs; Languages include Spanish, French and German but many others including Arabic, Chinese, Lithuanian, Swedish and Turkish
Surface Language - free online learning with phrases and pronunciation guides as well as audio; also offers skills tests; more than 20 languages including Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Welsh and more
Free Language - Lessons, Podcasts, Courses, Audio, Video, Articles, Study, Learn, Teach, Translation for all ages in more than 20 languages
Mango languages - if your local library is a member, you can learn these languages for free: Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish
Learn a Language - free languages include Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian & Spanish
Foreign Language Friends - web-based learning system for kids in Spanish; monthly subscription fee
EZ Learn Chinese - free online classes designed for grades K-12
EC for Kids - kid-oriented site providing free Chinese lessons
Easy Learn - free online classes for adults in Spanish & Portuguese

Chinese Language & Culture
EChinese Learning - links for classes, schools & other materials
Chinese Childbook.com - free online stuff such as coloring pages & games
Learn Chinese with Kai-Lan - offers printable activities and "Listen & Learn," video clips that give the Chinese & English words

French Language & Culture
French for Infants, Tots & Parents - blog, suggested curriculum & activities for teaching your child
French Resources for Kids - links for learning the alphabet to games (including French Sesame Street)

German Language & Culture
German Bilingual Resources - links for everything from community websites to German nursery rhymes

Russian
Education.com - has free printable coloring pages to teach young kids various Russian words

Spanish Language & Culture
Zona Latina
Learn Spanish with Dora & Diego - Nick Jr's website provides printable activities, games & flash cards and "Say it Two Ways," video clips that give the Spanish & English words

NJ Preschools & Kindergarten Facilities Offering Foreign Languages

Kangaroo Kids (Branchburg, Somerset County) - curriculum for preschool and Kindergarten includes exposure to SpanishRaritan Valley Montessori School (Bridgewater, Somerset County) - offers Spanish for Stepping Stones (18 months-3 years)The Cherry Blossom (Flagtown Somerset County) - offers Spanish for Stepping Stones (18 months-3 years)
St. Andrew's Nursery School & Kindergarten (New Providence, Union County) - offers French for 4-year-old & kindergarten classes.
Central Presbyterian Church Nursery School & Kindergarten (Summit, Union County) - full-day kindergarten enhanced with French and world cultures
The Children's Academy (Springfield, Burlington County) - includes French in classes for 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 year olds

Bilingual/Multilingual TV

Great for an introduction to a new language
Dora the Explorer (English/Spanish)
Go, Diego, Go! (English/Spanish)
Handy Manny(English/Spanish)
Ni-Hao, Kai Lan (English/Chinse)

Other Online Resources

iTunes - offers apps for numerous languages for iPod Touch & iPhone users. The apps vary in price from 99 cents to $9.99; they also vary in quality so read the reviews
apps include:
Spanish Anywhere - offers common phrases in Spanish and English; cost $3.99

Foreign Language Blogs:
Bilingual Babes - a mom's journey to teach her children English, French & Twi

Community Sites
Kids' Bilingual Network - an international network of bilingual or multilingual families
Bilingual Families Connect - includes a discussion forum & a resources page for the following languages: Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, & Swedish
Chinese American Cultural Association - information on NJ cultural events & schools