Lyric Language

Although using video to teach language has often struck me as being a lot like mixing oil and water, this maiden video effort from foreign-language audio specialists Penton Overseas, is both sound in its teaching approach and delightful to boot. Using Bill Keane's popular "Family Circus" characters to introduce 11 live-action music videos subtitled in both English and French, this infectious sing-along alternates French and English with each line. The easily hummable tunes contribute considerably to perking up interest in younger viewers and the alternating lines make it easier for viewers to see the relationship between the two languages. The very nicely done live-action songs include: "At the Zoo" (animals), "The Beach," "The Supermarket" (foods), "Happy Birthday to You," "The Rain," "The Seasons," "The Days of the Week," "The Night," "The Alphabet," and "Jump Rope" (numbers). Inexpensive, and excellent for both native English-speaking children and E.S.L. children, Lyric Language proves that with a little imagination and effort, language and video can mix well. Highly recommended. (Available from: Penton Overseas, Inc., 2901 Las Palmas Drive, Suite A, Carlsbad, CA 92009-1519; (800) 748-5804.)