Play songs and encourage children to focus on the rhythm of a foreign language. Learning songs from different countries is an engaging activity that promotes memory for new words and helps children to learn the correct language pronunciation. Use movements such as a circle dance to reinforce the rhythm and use actions to illustrate the meaning of the words. Play CDs to expose children to how the language sounds when spoken. Stop the CD, repeat the words and explain the meaning. Find CDs where children can hear the same story told in different languages; for example, listen to Spanish and French version of "Goldilocks."
Saying "hello" to each other helps students learn about a new language. Demonstrate how you say "hello" in different languages by role-playing greetings using puppets. Let children work in pairs and practice saying "hello" in different languages. Art activities help teach the names of colors. Repeat the colors in different languages when you are talking about children's drawings and encourage children to describe their paintings by using color names in another language.
Learning to count is an important part of preschool curriculum. Developing an understanding of the relationship between language and math learning is crucial. Linking numbers words and counting activities such as number sequences promotes the development of a solid math foundation. Use number books and teach the number sequences in other languages. Count the number of objects on each page in one language and then reread the book and count the number of object on each page in a different language.
Food ingredients are a fun way to increase preschooler's vocabulary and to learn about other cultures. Have a French or Chinese week where you try different types of foods. Talk about different dishes and learn words for fruits and beverages. Use fruit templates or let children draw their own fruits. Play a game where children work in pairs and they have to ask for a fruit. The partner has to find the matching drawing. Prompt children to ask for fruits using words in another language.