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Curious Kids: Languages of the World

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Curious Kids Languages of the World

Did You Know?

The library has over 150 bilingual and foreign-language kids’ fiction books and lots of bilingual dictionaries in the kids’ collection!

Some books below may be eBooks or audiobooks. ask a librarian or parent for help.

Fiction Books

Non-fiction Books

Fun Activities

Greetings From Around the World
Learn to say “Hi!” in eight languages. Print out the cards and challenge a friend to see how many they remember when you tell them the language!

Make a Language Game
Using one of the library’s foreign-language dictionaries, make some flashcards! Draw an object on each of your cards, and write the foreign-language word on the back. Test yourself or challenge your friends to learn with you!

Databases

HelpNow
Scroll down to HelpNow and select it, then choose "Language Lab" for live help with French or Spanish lessons. For lessons teaching you any of eleven languages pick the "Vocabulary Builder" link. Your parent or guardian will need to set up your account for you.

Transparent Language Online (TLO)
Scroll down to Transparent Language Online and learn any of over 100 languages! Your parent or guardian will need to set up your account for you. TLO will keep track of where you are in your lessons, so you can get back to the right place.

Movies

Follow these directions to listen to the movie dialog in a different language:

  • Insert DVD into player.
  • Wait for MAIN MENU.
  • Select LANGUAGE MENU > ENTER.
  • Choose language > ENTER.

Scooby-Doo and the Legend of the Vampire [DVD]
On vacation in Australia, Scooby-Doo and the gang attend a music festival held at Vampire Rock and learn that a legendary Australian creature called the Yowie Yahoo is kidnapping musical acts and turning them into vampires. Hear this Scooby story in English or French!

My Neighbor Totoro [DVD]
Two young sisters spend a summer in the Japanese countryside with their father, and discover that their new home is a wonderland filled with creatures and a trio of furry woodland sprites who can only be seen by children. Hear the actors speak in English, French or Japanese dialogue. Subtitles are available in English or French.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory [Blu-ray]
Here’s the famous Willy Wonka story, with options to have all the dialogue in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and to have optional subtitles in those and six more languages, and subtitles especially for the deaf and hard of hearing. Also available as a DVD with options in English, Spanish and French.

Anastasia [DVD]
Princess Anastasia has been missing ever since the Russian revolution. Now she's living on the streets, and Vladimir is trying to convince her to claim a reward. This DVD includes sing-a-longs and special features, including one that lets you learn to sing two different songs in over a dozen languages.

The New Muzzy French. Level I [DVD]
Muzzy brings the French language to life for beginning to early intermediate learners, using an approach modeled on the way we all learn our first language. The library offers Muzzy resources (including DVDs) in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and Italian, too. See all of them here.

Websites

World Languages from PBS Learning Media
Choose a video to learn in and about your choice of five languages: Chinese, Japanese, French, German or Spanish!

Language from Bitannica Kids
Learn about language families and what makes a "pidgin" or "creole" language.

Duolingo
This fun site offers basic instruction in many languages, including a few made-up ones, like Esperanto and Klingon! Your parent or guardian will need to set up your account for you, if you want Duolingo to keep track of where you are in your lessons.

Language from Kids Web Japan
Learn some Japanese on this page, which includes easy lessons, and a chart explaining the sounds of characters used in written Japanese. This is from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.