I agree with everything Ana says except the idea that parents don't need to "spoon feed" their children language--while it may seem natural to some of us, and therefore, not a deliberate intentional act--language acquisition does require work/ effort in the form of talking with your children extensively.  It is not always easy, again for some, to find topics to discuss daily with one's children (hence the value of reading & discussing stories together)--however, it is essential to have those dialogues or language does not develop. In my view, this is one of the main "jobs" of parenting and while turning to electronic babysitting devices may be easier after a long day or night, we have to recognize that providing that social interaction is valuable work and worth paying for as a society at a school, and doing out of love at home.

Having just come from workshops with teachers who say their average students cannot describe or discuss anything beyond a sentence or two, we know that some children just don't develop their native language skills as thoroughly as others, and not for lack of capacity. My mother's advice to me when I had my son was to simply narrate my actions as we went about our day. I felt foolish "talking" to an infant, but today he is able to chat about multiple topics and is interested and engaged with others even as a four year old. Keep talking to all the children you meet in any language you can. Ask them to tell you about their day and what they love to do.  We will all be better off for it.

 This is a great post!  Flashcards really are like fast food for the brain - and you see how hard it is for people to give up fast food!  Thank you for addressing such an important topic.  I think your explanations will help parents and teachers see how we can all do better to support bilingualism in our children!

I certainly agree with the perspective that flashcards are only one tool to help in the language learning process. Vocabulary is necessary to build up communication, but it is not the only tool. Syntax organizes the ideas in meaningful strings for both the native speaker and the second language speaker. Speakers, according to their language mastering level, are the ones who ultimately use the vocabulary in meaningful ways – semantics-. 

I would like to ask you about programs such as Symtalk® which use both vocabulary flashcards and discourse organization. This program is very popular and produces results as far as I know. Personally we do not use it at our school as a method of teaching, but I incorporate these method principles on my lessons using my own flashcards.  Another method that is not based on card to card but uses pictures to build meaningful discourse is the TPRS. Kids certainly love it especially when silly pictures are presented. Rosetta Stone® also bases the language learning by using digital flashcards that have to be matched with the oral discourse, it also gives the learners the possibility to correct their pronunciation. I think it is a good personal method, but not for everybody, especially children, and I do not bow in front of it because I find it incomplete and artificial.  

Finally, Most of our learners, and I mean this in general, are visual learners.  That is the reason “some companies” that exploit the market, promise that the Flash card method is the “plus ultra” and ultimate method of learning another language. It is also a cheap imitation of those methods above mentioned. I am an eclectic teacher, and I use the tools I consider work for my students. Parents approach me every year with the same question. “What can I use to supplement my child’s L2 learning? …”

Ana (not Ana Lomba)

yeah I guess I should pick up the language with her...I know she'll blow me away though because of her age...I am still looking for a job though so I mind as well pick up a new skill thanks

Your resources are just what I've been looking for.  I have 3 boys - 4 in a few days - that I want to learn Spanish.  I don't know Spanish and we live in a place where there are NO Spanish-speakers.  We have traveled and plan to continue traveling to Mexico and South America, so...

I have been on the hunt.  Thank you for these great resources!

Hi Ana:

I will be teaching your Trois Petit Cochon story to my first-third graders. Do you have suggestion on the best way to use this tool?

Carol