Related Information

Selected Events

Mama Lisa's wonderful collection of German nursery rhymes and songs (including some sung by the GAP children!), with translations and free downloadable tunes and sometimes sheet music
Not just one, but two websites with German stories read aloud for young kids online, and links for teachers of German

German lessons for children online from the Victorian Department of Education in Australia.

The Bilingual Options website has lots of excellent information and support for families raising their children bilingually. It is run by Dr Dopke, a highly regarded German-speaking linguist and speech pathologist, who has a practice in Melbourne.
Bilingual Options publishes a free e-newsletter, called Snippets. Visit the website to subscribe.

The Alphabet Garten in the USA also has an inspirational e-newsletter (visit the website to subscribe). They supply books, readers, CDs and DVDs in German for children, including books for non-native speakers, parent resources, teacher resources, textbooks and workbooks. Depending on the exchange rate, this can sometimes be a better deal than ordering from Europe.

Order German kids books, CDs, DVDs, games and electronic games for kids through Ebay in Germany Remember: You might not like the idea of your kids watching DVDs or playing electronic games, but you might feel it is a bit more acceptable if they are doing this in German (thus getting an education / maintaining their German)!!

Listen to CMS Radio in German. They also have a web-steam so you can listen online. See their website to find out when the German programs are on. Sometimes they air Deutsche Welle, too. Even though kids won't necessarily be able to follow German radio, it nonetheless benefits their internalisation of the feel of the language.

Comprehensive website (in German) for 4-6 year olds (fluent) or older kids (non-fluent), called Schlaumaeuse.

A helpful FAQ about bilingualism and talking to your baby, from the Literacy Trust.

The Enchanted Learning website, a cheap source of excellent printable teaching materials in French, Italian and German - for English speakers.

German games for young learners, reviewing vocabulary for weather, colours, food and greetings.

Get a German aupair. You can even get one with experience, culture and endless traditional stories through an innovative program called Granny Aupair.

Join the ACT Bilingual Education Alliance, and learn more about bilingualism in the ACT, and help lobby the ACT government for more language education and awareness.

Why not head up to Coonabarrabran in NSW and experience a German language farm stay, with animals, pottery, German lessons, cooking, games, horse riding, and more.

There is a lot of information on the internet about this. Here are some particularly pertinent articles and websites.

Bilingualism in Young Children: Separating Fact from Fiction. Find out whether bilingualism is an advantage to a young child, or whether it can cause language difficulties. Should parents speak their native language to their child, or use the 'majority' language?
A really well presented and comprehensive How To Raise Children to be Bilingual guide for parents, with info on the methods, why and how, written and compiled by the lovely owners of the Alphabet Garten in the USA.