This post is mostly just sharing links to the materials I use when I’m starting out in a new language, all of which are drawn by Angela Thomson, except my bad picture dictionaries. Those are all me! (I am editing this post as coaching clients interact with these materials and tell me what they need, so do keep checking back!)
Many of my ideas and most of the good ones come from my mentors, Greg and Angela Thomson. Their written manuals are here. Helpful demonstration and explanation videos they’ve made are here.
Specifically, this video talks about the materials that you may want to use for beginners. One caveat- I take photos of the actual objects I use, and sketches that I make on the spot for the phrases, instead of using the dictionaries that Angela talks about in this video. Samples are below.
As you can see, I am quite an artist. The person in the first picture is sneezing, in case you didn’t get that.
Here are links to other materials that I print out and use. These are all excerpted from the Thomsons’ graphics packet found at this link.
Meeting 2 Game 2 People Doing Things
Patterns for making a house and furniture
Making dolls from pipe cleaners
You should also get some play money, or print some out for the country you’ll be living in, this is helpful for learning numbers. Print it out in color, fronts and backs (although 2 sided is not needed), and have several of each denomination of bills, and 10 of each coin.
In addition to the maps linked above, you’ll want some simple outline maps of the region you’re working in, and color pictures of the flags from the surrounding countries, as well as your country of origin and any other country that people are likely to talk about with you.
What have you used? I’d love to see pictures of what’s working for you!
Thank you so much for this! I got my husband Moms to be my language parent!