They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and a foreign language is more than just reading and writing. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best foreign language materials to learn a new language. From children’s books to adult fiction and beyond, these books will help you bridge the gap between learning and reading, and will also help you truly grasp the meaning of the words you’re learning.
Read on for the best foreign language materials.
Our Editor’s Best Foreign Language Materials Reviews
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Living Language (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 08/09/2011 (Publication Date) - Living Language (Publisher)
- 10 CLASSROOM POSTERS: 1) How to Say in Italian, 2) How to Say in Arabic, 3) How to Say in Korean, 4) How to Say in Hindi, 5) How to Say in Chinese (Mandarin), 6) How to Say in French, 7) How to Say in Spanish, 8) How to Say in Japanese, 9) How to Say in Russian, and 10) How to Say in German. The ideal Foreign Language classroom decorations for teachers.
- TEACHING POSTERS FOR CLASSROOMS: Each poster is 12 x 18 inches; printed on high-grade, cover-weight satin paper for added protection; made to withstand the rigors of K-12 classrooms
- LOVED BY STUDENTS: We design our Language and Greetings posters to inspire and educate, giving students the tools they need for increased performance; beautiful classrooms make better students
- DESIGNED FOR TEACHERS: The perfect How to Say in Different Languages classroom décor for Foreign Language teachers who want to reinforce certain Multilingual and Communication themes in their classrooms
- MADE IN AMERICA: We design and manufacture our learning resources right here in the USA; posters ship in heavy duty kraft tubes for maximum protection; durability guaranteed
- Barron's Educational Series (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 208 Pages - 09/15/2016 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)
- Provides research-based teaching techniques which have proven effective with English learners at all proficiency levels
- Offers thematic units complete with reproducible forms and worksheets, sample lesson plans, and sample student assignments
- The book's ESL lessons connect to core standards and technology applications
- Ferlazzo, Larry (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Pimsleur (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 11/27/2007 (Publication Date) - Pimsleur (Publisher)
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Living Language (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 08/09/2011 (Publication Date) - Living Language (Publisher)
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Pimsleur (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/01/2002 (Publication Date) - Pimsleur (Publisher)
- Kershul, Kristine K. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 8 Pages - 05/01/2002 (Publication Date) - Bilingual Books (Publisher)
- Learn ASL easily with this 4 pack of American Sign Language posters designed specifically for kids. The posters feature colorful, bold signs for easy visual learning and are perfect for beginners.
- Encourage early learning and stimulate little brains with our educational ASL poster set. These posters are great for classrooms, homeschooling, and playrooms.
- Made from high-quality, thick and sturdy gloss paper, these posters are designed to last. They come with a dry-erase feature which is perfect for illustrating or drawing signs.
- Transform a child's bedroom or classroom with these large 16"x20" UV-gloss laminated posters. Make it an engaging environment that promotes inclusivity in communication.
- Our ASL poster set is not only educational but also fun and decorative. Use them to decorate walls in daycare centers, living rooms, or bedrooms to encourage daily growth of nonverbal communication.
- Kendris Ph.D., Theodore (Author)
- Spanish (Publication Language)
- 412 Pages - 12/24/2019 (Publication Date) - Barrons Educational Services (Publisher)
Best Foreign Language Materials Buying Guide
Before choosing the best foreign language materials you should consider following options:
1. Authenticity: Authentic materials are preferred to learning materials that are not authentic. Authentic materials are those that are written or produced by native speakers of the language. They are rich in cultural insights and language expressions that are used in that country.
In the case of English for example, authentic materials include stories, poems, jokes and anecdotes written by native speakers.
The aim of using authentic materials is to help students learn the language naturally, absorb the culture and be able to express themselves as if they were native speakers.
Non-authentic materials usually consist of simple dialogues and expressions. They do not include cultural insights, and are usually not written by native speakers.
2. Written or spoken: There are two types of foreign language materials: written or spoken. Depending on the language you are learning, you can choose one or the other.
If your aim is to read, write and speak English, you can use materials that are written or read aloud.
Other languages like Chinese, Japanese or Korean are better learned by ear.
3. Complete or partial: When selecting materials you can choose between complete or partial items. A complete item is one that includes everything, from pronunciation to grammar, vocabulary and cultural information.
On the other hand, a partial item includes only one or two of the aspects mentioned above.
A partial item is used when you want to focus on a specific aspect of the language. For example, if you want to improve your writing skills, you can read texts from a complete item and write your own comments.
4. Easy to find or hard to find: There are foreign language materials that are widely available and easily accessible and others that are not.
For example, if you want to learn English, you can find a lot of books, audio lessons, movies, etc.
On the other hand, if you want to learn a language like Chinese, Japanese or Korean, which is not widely spoken, it will be hard to find the materials you need.
5. Cost effective or expensive: Foreign language materials can be expensive or cheap. The price depends on many factors, including the type of material you choose, the quality of the item, the length of the material, and the publisher or the producer.
What else you should know about foreign language materials
1. How effective are foreign language materials in teaching language learners?
There is a great deal of research that has been conducted on the effectiveness of foreign language materials in teaching language learners. The results of this research are mixed, with some studies finding that foreign language materials are effective and others finding that they are not effective. However, the majority of research suggests that foreign language materials can be effective if they are used in conjunction with other teaching methods.
2. Do foreign language materials help language learners to progress?
There is no definitive answer to this question. Some language learners find that studying foreign language materials helps them to progress, while others find that it is more difficult to learn from these materials. Ultimately, it is up to the individual language learner to decide whether or not foreign language materials will be helpful to them in their language learning journey.
3. What are the benefits of using foreign language materials?
There are many benefits to using foreign language materials, including:
– improved communication with people who speak other languages
– greater understanding of other cultures
– increased opportunities to travel and study abroad
– enhanced cognitive abilities
– improved employment prospects
4. Are there any disadvantages to using foreign language materials?
There are some disadvantages to using foreign language materials. First, it can be difficult to find foreign language materials that are appropriate for your level of proficiency. Second, if you are not proficient in the language, you may not be able to understand the materials. Third, you may not be able to find materials that cover the topics you are interested in.
5. What types of foreign language materials are available?
There are many types of foreign language materials available, including books, movies, television shows, and websites.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best foreign language materials. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best foreign language materials will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.