27 01 20

Learning foreign languages easily and bilingual audio books : Consider reading a book you’ve already read or a story that you’re familiar with, but in electronic bilingual format. Doing that eliminates some potential vocabulary or storyline questions. You already have an idea of who the characters are and how the plot progresses, so it’s not a stretch to figure a few things out without having to look at the translated page. But when all else fails—that’s why the books are presented in two languages. Use the translations.

Going into new situations can be intimidating, particularly when you don’t understand what’s being said around you. Knowing more than one language can give your child a boost of confidence. Whether you travel or not, it will give them a better understanding of the world around them. And there’s always the added benefit that those who are bilingual will have an easier time picking up a third language.

As you know (perhaps after a distressing experience) when a well-meaning person tries to explain to someone in which way their beliefs are false, even dangerous, the good-willing person is coming up against a more and more solid wall. The more numerous and well documented his arguments, the more the listener will become deaf to his reasoning. It is a psychological fact that you must not fight, since the fight strengthens it. You have to bypass it. Find more information at Bilingual audio books – How to create your cult.

If money is available for purchasing audiobooks, it is important for librarians and teachers to do their homework before buying. Single-author unabridged audiobooks tend to be the best, though some dramatizations (such as Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, read by the author with a cast of more than 40 British actors) can be excellent. There are many sources of audiobook reviews readily available online, including School Library Journal. [Note: The Association for Library Service for Children also publishes an annual Notable Children’s Recordings list.]

The children listened…. and their parents too. Listening was not felt as a chore but as a delight. So, we decided to prepare bilingual audiobooks from “classical” works. Then, we thought we should publish contemporary short works in at least 2 languages (by the way, if you are the happy author of a work up to 25.000 words, prepare to submit it.) We propose mostly human voices, because to listen to synthetic voices feels… synthetic. But, whatever their accent, the synthetic voices offer a faultless pronunciation, which is important for the student. So, we prepare some sound files with synthetic voices. Read even more info at Bilingual Audio Books.