Want Your Kid to Learn Other Languages?

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I just found out that a kid actually learned how to understand and speak Mandarin watching Chinese version Dora the Explorer DVDs that her mother purchased for $1 at a garage sale. They don't speak Mandarin at home but she was talking to my son in Mandarin on the playground.
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I had an idea years ago for the owners of the rights to popular sitcoms to release them in various languages and sell them as language courses. I used to be a Gilligan's Island freak. I could recite the dialog as it was delivered. If they produced those shows in Spanish, German, Chinese, etc., with English subtitles learning those languages would be mighty easy for fans of that show.

    Think of the shows that would fit the model. Mash, Seinfeld, Friends, Cheers... Many more. They could also do it with shows like Sex In The City, Ally McBeal, X Files...
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      I had an idea years ago for the owners of the rights to popular sitcoms to release them in various languages and sell them as language courses. I used to be a Gilligan's Island freak. I could recite the dialog as it was delivered. If they produced those shows in Spanish, German, Chinese, etc., with English subtitles learning those languages would be mighty easy for fans of that show.

      Think of the shows that would fit the model. Mash, Seinfeld, Friends, Cheers... Many more. They could also do it with shows like Sex In The City, Ally McBeal, X Files...
      That has been put into practice big-time in recent years. For example, Mexican soap operas are a huge in China, lol.

      I like Gilligan's Island, too. It was both light entertainment, yet actually had deeper metaphoric meanings
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    The problem with translations is there are several methods. Most are *****NOT***** geared towards those learning another language.

    I fact, they may drop or add thoughts, and state things differently.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      The problem with translations is there are several methods. Most are *****NOT***** geared towards those learning another language.

      I fact, they may drop or add thoughts, and state things differently.

      Steve
      That would hold more true for shows geared towards adults than those designed for children to learn basic words and concepts that tend to be universal.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

        That would hold more true for shows geared towards adults than those designed for children to learn basic words and concepts that tend to be universal.
        If it is a decent course to LEARN LANGUAGE, GREAT! Adult or child, it will work.

        If it is a subtitled film where in french they say

        fantastique, avec grand plasire.....

        and the ENGLISH subtitle says

        SURE, let's go....

        Or some such, FORGET IT!

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author kenmichaels
    have you ever watched a subtitled show ... where you actually new the language being spoken?

    I have never once seen it match up 100% .... syntax.. inflection, meaning ... is lost.
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill View Post

    Kids can soak up language like a sponge. Why children aren't taught languages in pre-school is beyond me.
    It is incredible how quickly they pick things up. My son picks up snippets of conversation from people walking by (not always words I want him to learn just yet).
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