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
- Pimsleur (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 10/01/2002 (Publication Date) - Pimsleur (Publisher)
- Sold as 350/Pack.
- Size: 3 1/2"(H) x 5"(W). In stage one, two identical images are on white backgrounds. Cards are coated with a hi gloss varnish for durability and all images appear horizontally for consistent presentation. 350/pack. The back of each card is numbered and gives a label and category for the image as well as suggested activities appropriate to the card.
- Experts in the developmental and language fields have provided guidance in content and format, and each image has been specially selected for its familiarity and appeal to children, as well as for its place in cognitive development. In stage two, five similar images are in their natural settings. Categories animals, foods, vehicles, furniture, clothing, toys, everyday objects, shapes and colors. Teach key language concepts to preschool age children; children and adults with autism,
- Designed to teach receptive language, expressive language, matching identical cards, matching similar cards sorting into categories, adjectives, functions, story telling and more. Basic stage cards teach matching, labeling and categorization skills. Includes stunning, child pleasing, bright, photographic images from nine basic categories, activity booklet, divider cards, preprinted stickers and a sturdy "work from" box.
- Fifteen images (105 cards) are basic stage cards. Back of each card is numbered, provides a label and category for the image, as well as suggested activities appropriate to the card. For teaching key language concepts to pre-school age children, children and adults with autism, developmental delay, or speech/language delay or to anyone first learning or re learning basic language skills. 350 card set includes stunning, child-pleasing and bright photographic images from nine basic categories:
- 6 Posters: 1) Hiragana Alphabet, 2) Cyrillic Alphabet, 3) Latin Alphabet, 4) Hangul Alphabet, 5) Arabic Alphabet, and 6) Greek Alphabet.
- Manufactured for Classrooms: Each poster is 12 x 18 inches. Printed on high-grade, cover-weight paper for added protection. Made to withstand the rigors of K-12 classrooms.
- Loved by Students: We design our products to inspire and educate, giving students the tools they need for increased performance. Beautiful classrooms make better students.
- Designed for Teachers: Perfect for Spanish teachers who want to reinforce certain verb and vocabulary themes in their classrooms.
- Made in America: We design and/or manufacture our learning tools right here in the USA. Posters ship rolled in heavy duty kraft tubes, making them easy to hang. Quarterhouse prides itself on producing and importing the highest quality learning materials from the United States and Europe.
- 10 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.
- Manufactured for Classrooms: Each poster is 12 x 18 inches. Printed on high-grade, cover-weight paper for added protection. Made to withstand the rigors of K-12 classrooms.
- Loved by Students: We design our products to inspire and educate, giving students the tools they need for increased performance. Beautiful classrooms make better students.
- Designed for Teachers: Perfect for English - Language Arts teachers who want to reinforce certain English vocabulary and thesaurus themes in their classrooms.
- Made in America: We design and/or manufacture our learning tools right here in the USA. Posters ship rolled in heavy duty kraft tubes, making them easy to hang. Quarterhouse prides itself on producing and importing the highest quality learning materials from the United States and Europe.
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Living Language (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 336 Pages - 08/09/2011 (Publication Date) - Living Language (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)
- Academy, Speak Abroad (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 188 Pages - 11/02/2024 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Chu, Madeline (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/12/2021 (Publication Date) - Tuttle Publishing (Publisher)
- 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬: Little Sings Collection offers a comprehensive set of American Sign Language flash cards designed to teach sign language to babies and toddlers aged 1-4. Each flashcard in this collection showcases a written letter, the corresponding sign, and a vibrant picture of an object that starts with that letter. This well-rounded approach makes it easy and engaging for children to learn and practise sign language skills
- 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Experience durability and longevity with our baby sign language book. This book is crafted with thick and sturdy paper and is built to withstand years of use without losing their quality. It is designed to endure frequent handling and maintain their excellent condition throughout extended learning periods. The high-quality construction ensures its longevity so that it remains a valuable and reliable learning resource for many years to come
- 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬: Immerse your child in a world of learning possibilities with our set of baby flash cards. These cards offer more than just teaching sign language. They also contribute to the development of various essential skills in kids and toddlers. By using the flashcards, children can improve their hand-eye coordination, learn colours and shapes recognition, and enhance their fine motor skills. These educational toys provide a well-rounded learning experience for young children
- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The sign language toddler flash cards are thoughtfully designed with a blue closable ring that securely keeps all the cards together in one place. This practical feature eliminates any concerns about misplacing or losing individual cards, ensuring that the entire set is readily accessible whenever needed. The organised design brings peace of mind and convenience for teachers and parents alike, making it effortless to use these flashcards during lessons
- 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧: Delight your little one with our alphabet flash cards designed for toddlers aged 1-4, making them a perfect gift for birthdays or Christmas. Not only will they thoroughly enjoy it, but they will also benefit from the educational value it offers. These baby sign language flash cards make exceptional gifts for newborns, infants, and toddlers, providing an interactive and stimulating way to learn and develop important skills
- Sold as 1 Each.
- The 116 Full-Color photographic cards portray common, everyday activities with a heavy emphasis on self-help skills..
- The cards are also great for understanding what happens next, teaching storytelling or social stories, learning verbs and tenses, or even to use for self-help skills prompts..
- Start students with 3-Card sequences, then let them progress all the way up to 10 cards!.
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.