Grandparents as Tools for Language Learning (Part II of II)
Jokes, Puzzles, and Rhymes
Jokes and puzzles are also an excellent way to teach language and culture. In the past weeks I’ve written several articles on Norwegian jokes and jokes are available in plenty online for children of different ages – just do a search on “Vitser” at http://www.sol.no if you don’t have any in your own repertoire.
Analytical puzzles can also be very appealing to children. Try this one below, where “G” stands for “Gas,” “L” for “Lys” (lights/electricity) and “V” for “Vann” (water). The objective is to draw lines from each utility so that all houses are connected to each of the three utilities, but none of the lines cross. You can find other similar analytical puzzles online, or translate puzzles on your own from English language puzzle books, of which there are many available.
Another fun thing to do is create refrigerator magnets for your grandchildren. Special magnetic paper can be purchased for use in your laser printer at an office supply store, and can usually be found at your local drugstore. With this paper, you can create a number of engaging magnets on your own. For instance, print and cut-out Norwegian alphabet magnets to teach your grandchildren how to spell and form words in Norwegian ( download word document ). Another possibility is to find Norwegian songs and poetry online, print these out on your magnet sheets, and cut the words into individual magnets that your grandchild can use to form his/her own poetry or reconstruct song wordings. Finally, print out pictures or maps of Norway onto magnetic sheets and cut these into jigsaw puzzle formations.
Rhyming games and off-the-cuff songs can also be amusing to create with your grandchildren. Have them start off with a Norwegian sentence, then you create a second sentence that rhymes with theirs, and so on. This is a little more challenging, and probably requires a slighter higher level Norwegian ability than the other exercises above. It can also be played as an alliteration game, where you try to create complicated tongue twisters by matching sounds into a silly nonsense sentence.
Making traditional crafts and foods
Another great thing to do is send away for Norwegian kits (on sewing, furniture building, painting, etc.) and collaborate with your grandchild on interesting projects. You can also look for patterns and instructions online. Regardless of what activity you choose, the important thing is that you try to decipher the instructions together and that it’s an interesting (and attainable) project for you to do as partners. Norwegian recipes, for instance, are widely available online, are relatively simple to follow, and can be reasonably accomplished in an afternoon.
Latest Articles