Baby Liesel Elizabeth was born July 8 and we're all doing great! She's baby #5, and the other four (age 6, 4, 3, 19 months) adore her. Especially big sister, the three year old. The boys are thrilled as well.

So we took about two weeks off from... everything, and we're getting back into a schedule with a new addition. When you have a change in your household, as big as a new member, or as small as a garage sale, life seems to take on a new challenge level. So this week, we'll discuss ways to get back in the swing with foreign languages, if you've not been consistent in recent history.

Review! Find out what you all remember? Pull out the last book or set of flash cards you remember using, and flip through the last few pages. Speak the words aloud, "Quizzing" yourself and your family on what they can pull from the dregs of their memory with no prep whatsoever. If you've only just started and can say please, thank you, hello and goodbye, then SAY them! Act out the words, and write them down, or hand out index cards with the words written on them. Do something tangible as you make a note of how much you remember... or not!

Try hard NOT to dive back into the text or DVD program, or CD's with a new renewed gusto. That's right, DON'T be a fanatic. Instead, set a timer for 20 minutes, and see what you can accomplish. Foreign language is not unlike dieting - it's better to set a standard that is easily attainable and then slowly improve rather than do a crash of epic proportions, only to fail again in a few days. Set yourself up for success!

Why did you stop learning? Was it unavoidable like a hospital stay, or something unforeseen? Or did you just get bored? (When I say you, I mean your whole family.) Whatever the reason, try the old method for a small amount of time: a few minutes or days, but then make a change of some sort, big or small. 

Do you use CDs all the time? Pull out a picture dictionary form the library instead. Do you always watch a DVD? Keep the TV off and see if you can pull food out of the fridge and name it in the target language instead, or play a game of charades using the nouns you know. Are you mostly a book learner so far? Sing a song, play a game, get out flash cards, or listen to a fun CD.

Begin preparing NOW for a meal this week you will only speak in the target language. Dessert is m&m's - or something else that comes in small pieces. Before dinner begins, place dessert in the bowls for each member. If English is spoken by brother, sister, mom or dad, remove one candy piece or dessert piece from his or her bowl. It will prove to be a quiet meal, but if you've prepared, and learned the words for "May I have?" "More?" and all the food items, it will be a good time, and you'll be thinking in the target language for at least 20 minutes or more!

I'd love to read how the experiment turns out!