Provide a bridge to important topics of discussion for parents and children and bilingual audio books benefits
Audio books advantages – highlight the humor in 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.
Chances are, children who study other languages will also learn about where that language is spoken, what foods are eaten in those countries, and about the history and culture of the places. Ultimately this knowledge could even help them to become more adaptable and flexible in new situations. It makes them brave.
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. See additional information on 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.]
Why a Bilingual AudioBook? The BABook makes learning languages easy, pleasant and interesting. You listen to a sentence or a paragraph in a language, then you listen to the same sentence or paragraph in another language. You learn the easy way, listening to short novels of genres you like. According to the nivel of your students, you choose which language to give them to listen to first: if they are well advanced, play the language they are learning first, and the recording in their mother tongue allows them to check their understanding. For the beginners (or students who are moderately dedicated to their studies!) better to play their mother tongue first. See more information on Language Learning for the Blind.
