The gold medal goes to....

My friends from Professor Pocket are debuting a great on-line commercial about the importance of foreign language education in this country... what a great message to spread!!

ZUMBA!

Culture and traditions are pass down from generation to generation through many ways... food, stories, faith... to name a few. But this is my absolute favorite ways:
MUSIC AND DANCE!!!!!

Well, have you heard of the latest craze in the fitness world? "Zumba" is a Latin dance exercise that will have you dancing to merengue, salsa, mambo, cha-cha-cha, flamenco, tango, samba and more. It's so much fun it does not feel like a workout, I am hooked! I love seeing the people at these "workout sessions" that don't speak Spanish dancing away to all kinds of Latin music and even trying to sing to it. Are you a member of a gym that offers Zumba classes? Does your local YMCA offer it? If they do, try it!! Not only will you be learning a very important part of Latin/Hispanic culture and tradition, but you will get fit as well (I just love that combination).
Don't forget to show your children your new learned moves and dance with them too!!!

Check out the official Zumba website

an audio slideshow

Lets continue learning more vocabulary related to the story of The Three Bears:

Chair Bed Sizes

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: lesson kids)

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"Wala" gets some local press!

We are Little Amigos is talked about in the St. Petersburg Times. Click here to read the full article.

Start early, early, early!

I really love teaching ages 1-6. At this age, children pick up a 2nd language exactly the same way they are acquiring their first language... through play, songs, stories, and everyday interactions. If you are a monolingual parent, I encourage you to join a language learning playgroup or class, or take advantage of so many great language learning tools and media available, just be sure to make it a family affair and make it FUN, FUN, FUN!

Meet the Bears ~ episode 3

Key vocabulary:

• compartir - to share
• es bueno compartir - it's nice to share
• La tortilla está caliente - the tortilla is hot
• muy caliente - very hot
• ten cuidado - be careful
• sopla - blow
• otravez - again
• grande - big/large
• mediano/a - medium
• pequeño - small
• tengo mucha hambre - I'm very hungry
• estoy muy cansada/o - I'm very tired
• tengo mucho sueño - I'm very sleepy
• la silla - chair
• la cama - bed
• se rompió - it broke
• se durmió - fell asleep

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We are Little Amigos music CD giveaway!

Why is it that after so many years, you still remember those childhood songs and lullabies? Why is it that even as adults, you can remember all the words to a favorite song, even after years has passed since you last listened to it? Sí amigos, that's the power of song!! Music and song make deep and lasting impressions in our brains. It only makes sense than, that using music and song to teach a new language should go hand in hand, especially for young children.

My amiga and fellow language enthusiast/blogger Diane (Foreign Language Fun) got her copy of the We are Little Amigos Spanish learning music CD a few weeks ago, and she and her boys "LOVE it!". Visit her blog to read what she's got to say about the CD, and to learn how you can enter to win a FREE copy of the CD!!

Happy singing... and good luck!!