French 101: Number Story

In order to retain things in memory, associations are helpful. Mom mom taught me an association story for counting to ten in Japanese when I was ten, and it has always stuck with me. So...I decided to try it with a few key languages I want my kids to learn. 

Create a story...

1. Write foreign numbers 1-10

2. Then translate numbers into an equivalent-sounding English word

3. String them together into a simple story line

...

Deliver story and create memory...

1. Tell the story to your child

2. Tell an abbreviated/simplified story using few words and emphasizing each number in your fingers

3. Then point to each finger one at a time and say the word associated and have your child fill in the parts of the story

4. Next have your child tell you the story as you point to your fingers and ey say the words associated with each one.

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VOCAB: French numbers 1-10

1    un (un-der...1 & 2)

2    deux (see above)

3    trois (the)

4    quatre (cat)

5    cinq (sang)

6    six (cease!)

7    sept (set)

8    huit (wheat)

9    neuf (enough)

10  dix (this... 'dis. My son said it sounded so.)

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Example: The Story... (French Cat: singing-activities)

Under the table there was a cat who sang and sang and sang. At first it was quite lovely and pleased his mother. But the he started to sing louder and louder, just to see if he could bother his sister.

After a while his mother said "cease!"

She asked the cat to stop bothering and instead to be of some help set the table with wheat. So he set the table, but he was sad he had been told to stop singing. So he said to himself, "enough of this bad singing. I'm going to sing again!" So he started singing, but this time he sang soft and lovely again, and this made all his family come gather to listen. And mom was happy to have lovely music, help setting the table and that everyone gathered for a peaceful dinner.