My Bulgarian nephew speaks no English and just enrolled in the first grade of a public school in the United States. He will be staying here until June. So far, he is handling it well and is proactive about learning English. Everyone at home has become a makeshift, round-the-clock ESL tutor and he is constantly provided with opportunities to pick up grammar and vocabulary, but his teachers don't really know what to do with him before he can communicate. What additional resources can we provide for him to help him pick up the language faster? He already has a bunch of library books, so we're looking for apps for iPad, Android, Chrome, Nintendo 3DS and other things a computer-savvy 7-year-old might enjoy. Thanks!
posted by halogen
on Feb 27, 2013 -
12 answers
Now my guess is that it's so they can sell the same thing in both the U.S and Canada but why does this seem to be unique to shampoo and not other products commonly found in the supermarket like detergent?
posted by zeoslap
on Jan 22, 2013 -
15 answers
Baby sign language in a bilingual household research: I'm American, Dad's Italian and we live in Italy. When Lil' Peanut is old enough, should we go with ASL or
LIS? Or am I beanplating this?
posted by romakimmy
on Dec 23, 2012 -
13 answers
What do I need to know to create a bilingual blog that uses left-to-right and right-to-left languages simultaneously?
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posted by bardophile
on Oct 17, 2012 -
3 answers
My search for an ideal job in Japan continues: To go back to America and attend the DISCO Boston Career Fair or to stay in Japan?
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posted by Kamelot123
on Oct 4, 2012 -
11 answers
Does anyone have experience jobhunting as an Anglophone in Montreal? Where should I be looking for English jobs, should I just forget finding one and learn French ASAP, and is this going to be as big a problem as I fear? Et aussi une grand plaque de fèves.
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posted by snorkmaiden
on Aug 3, 2012 -
8 answers
Searching for a job in Japan... Can speak Japanese, but have only gotten job offers from low-paying ALT dispatchers so far. Visa running out. Other venues to search?
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posted by Kamelot123
on Jun 19, 2012 -
10 answers
Is it possible to detect a smartphone user's language settings and serve them web content in their chosen language?
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posted by Uncle Ira
on Dec 13, 2011 -
6 answers
Does there exist free blogging services & templates that enable one to have a bilingual blog, with side-by-side translations?
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posted by aroberge
on May 13, 2011 -
6 answers
A question for translators: How do I convey diplomatically to my monoglot coworkers that translation is not an exact science?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 17, 2011 -
37 answers
[TokyoFilter]: Planning a November honeymoon in Tokyo. Help two non-Japanese speaking USians who have dreamed of visiting Tokyo their entire lives figure out what's worth planning/reserving/paying for and what's not -- arigato in advance!
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posted by Unicorn on the cob
on Aug 2, 2010 -
22 answers
How would I go about finding pre-K programs, elementary, middle or high schools in Brooklyn that teach Russian as part of their daily routine? Looking for public or private, as well as after-school or weekend programs. Interested in programs for both heritage speakers and non-heritage speakers. Also, I know of only one such place so far - Bambi Academy - and am interested in what it is like or if there are similar schools. Ultimate goal is for my future kids to be fully bilingual. I'd be willing to move around the NYC / Long Island area, as well, if there are exceptional schools there that could help make this happen. Also interested in finding education-oriented blogs or forums for NYC, if that might help answer this question.
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posted by lorrer
on Mar 16, 2010 -
3 answers
I think I'm in love. Problem is, my beloved speaks a different language -- a language I can understand much of and speak some of, but with little nuance, sophistication, or precision, thus doing no justice to what I mean, or indeed even to what he means. Yet of my language he speaks far, far less, so we stay with his. And we don't live on the same continent, so phoning/Skyping/emailing -- language-dependent communication -- will have to do for the times we can't rely on the tacit, graceful understandings that happen in person. I can be miserable about this, but my heart is full of ardor and my gut, even, actually feels a strong sense of hope.
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posted by taramosalata
on Feb 9, 2010 -
16 answers
What are the pros and cons of learning more than one language? How can one adapt to a multi-language world?
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posted by Knigel
on Oct 27, 2009 -
25 answers
Is it a widespread behavior for multilingual speakers of english to get a more anglicized accent when talking to a native speaker?
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posted by Non Prosequitur
on Aug 22, 2009 -
19 answers
Discrimination filter: Must a company which has both an english and a spanish version of its website have job postings in both languages? Details follow.
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posted by Aleen
on Aug 10, 2009 -
7 answers
Federico García Lorca poems, in side-by-side Spanish and English: where can I read them online? (Websites, Google Books previews, etc.)
posted by kalapierson
on May 24, 2009 -
5 answers
What are some universities which teach in French that a student from the U.S. should consider? (Especially in Quebec.)
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posted by non-kneebiter
on May 19, 2009 -
6 answers
Learn-at-home systems for languages: are they worth it? Could working with one help facilitate encouraging bilingual learning in a child?
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posted by nanojath
on Dec 31, 2008 -
9 answers
To what degree should I moderate my children's use of language at home? I am raising six children aged 10 and below outside the US with my wife who is an non-native English speaker.
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posted by BinGregory
on Nov 11, 2008 -
19 answers
My wife has been a Spanish teacher for 7 years. This year she said "no more" and quit. She wants to find a job where she can use her language or at least be in an environment helping Hispanics. We've done the online thing and are coming up with nothing. What else can we do
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posted by Hands of Manos
on Aug 4, 2008 -
28 answers
I'm a big fan of Dengue Fever, the LA-based band that has songs in both English and Khmer. Can anyone recommend other bi- or multilingual American bands (preferably, but not necessarily, indie)?
posted by chicainthecity
on Jan 10, 2008 -
31 answers
I need to improve my spanish, specifically my listening comprehension. I've done all the Pimsleur and Michel Thomas courses, and I can easily read spanish with very few problems, but I want to get better at understanding native speakers. Anybody have any good resources?
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posted by youthenrage
on Apr 20, 2007 -
11 answers
Polylingualkidsfilter: (Hypothetical) I'm a Fluent English/French speaker and my wife is a fluent English/Mandarin speaker. Living in an English-speaking country (Australia), in what language should we speak to our kids?
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posted by PuGZ
on May 6, 2006 -
31 answers
How do I make a multi-lingual best man's speech at a German wedding?
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posted by ajp
on Apr 3, 2006 -
6 answers
I'm at a stage where I need to memorize vocabulary in a foreign language, and I am looking for advice, tips & useful software.
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posted by anjamu
on Feb 24, 2006 -
19 answers
How can I find someone in Seoul, Korea, who speaks English and Korean and is reasonably tech-literate?
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posted by runkelfinker
on Nov 29, 2005 -
10 answers
Do those of us who started learning our second language after high school have any hope of becoming interpreters?
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posted by dead_
on Oct 24, 2005 -
10 answers
I minored in Spanish in college about 10 years ago, but remember very little of it. Just went to Tijuana to and had the opportunity to be immersed in the language and culture for 5 days. A lot of it came back and I was able to communicate .. now I have a huge desire to be bilingual. I'm back in Tennessee now ( where I live ) and won't be able to go back to Mexico for awhile. Whats the best way to learn to speak fluent Spanish in Tennessee? More classes? Books? Tapes ? I don't have any Spanish-speaking friends.. any ideas ? Is it even possible ?
posted by jason9009
on Mar 2, 2005 -
13 answers
I just bought an
overpriced piece of luggage and as a method to make sure it's easily recognizeable (like all modern luggage it's plain black fabric) and lower it's inherent value i want to place a sticker on it that says "This is not your bag" in as many languages as possible. I just don't trust
babelfish not to make my bag say "bag yours not" so i'm hopeing i can steal some of that bilingual knowledge out there.
posted by NGnerd
on Jul 11, 2004 -
35 answers
Raising a bilingual child. I'd be grateful to hear advice, experiences or recommended resources for raising a child in a dual-language home. [more inside]
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posted by Ljubljana
on Feb 2, 2004 -
16 answers
