Hi Barbara, I am interested in you spanish activity book. However I want to use it for kinder and first grade. Do you think the songs would be too fast for them or is this activity book more for 2nd and 3rd. Anyhelp would be appreciated. I am really struggling with planning for the little ones. Thank you
Norma
Hi Norma!
I actually wrote the activity book for my kindergarten and first grade students. It is particularly meant for beginniners who have limited writing skills. The songs indicated in the book are perfect for those young beginners. Never underestimate your students’ abilities to learn songs. You may have to sing the song more slowly for them before they hear it on the CD, or else stop the CD to explain the lyrics or repeat them, but if you love the songs, they will, too. The youngest students are like wonderful little sponges. I used many of these songs for teaching preschool students as well. You may also be interested in looking at my lesson units for help with lesson planning with your age group. The lesson units were originally written for a series of eight-week after school classes with first and second graders, but can be adapted easily for any young beginning classes.
Enjoy the songs and have fun with your students!
Barbara
Do you have any wholesale options for your audio cds?
Thank you!
Hi Jennifer.
Yes, we do. We sell at wholesale prices to retail stores, and we also offer quantity discounts to teachers who would like to purchase for their students. Please email me at singdanceorder@aol.com if you’d like more information.
Thanks!
Barbara
Hi:
If you want to purchase the three CDs in Spanish with the lyrics, which is the price? Do youhave to pay for shipping during this month?
Can you please let me know?
Thanks,
Laura
Hi Laura!
This month’s special is free shipping, so there isn’t a special on CDs. Three Tacos CDs are $47.85. and the Tacos lyric books are $26.85. Together they are $74.70 - no shipping and handling will be added in March. And the special will continue to celebrate our anniversary and new website through April 30th!
Thanks for asking!
Barbara
do you ever allow people to observe your language classes? where do you teach?
Linda, My most recent teaching was done at a gifted and talented K through 8 school in Madison, WI. However, due to recent health issues, I am not in the classroom at this time. Instead I do one on one tutoring at that school. When I was in the classroom, I always welcomed other teachers to observe. Barbara
Hi Erin! The reason I don’t sell my songs on iTunes is because I believe that those who want my songs also want the lyrics. Every song download, except for instrumental downloads, comes with a pdf lyric file. That isn’t possible on iTunes. Thanks for asking! Barbara
Hi, Barbara! Do you still carry the large man puppet who appears next to you in the photo on your website. I would like to list the URL on mine. Thanks so much for the info.
Hello Kathy!
Thank you for your question. Although the cloth people are no longer for sale on our website, they can be special ordered. If interest increases in them, they could return as they are lots of fun and I received many creative stories over the years of how teachers used Jacquot and Juan and Johann in the classroom. If you are interested in ordering one, please email me at singdanceorder@aol.com and I can give you a price and timeline for getting one to you. I would love to be linked on your site - thanks!
Barbara
do you have materials for infants and/or toddlers?
Yes, I would recommend playing any of the CDs to infants and toddlers as they will enjoy listening to the fun rhythms and melodies. I taught pre-school French for 10 years and in that time I learned that very young children are like little sponges. They listen to everything and learn as they listen. One young girl entered my classroom at age two and didn’t say much for the first 2 years. Her parents assured me that she sang all the songs at home, but I heard nothing. By the time she was 4, she knew lots of French and finally started speaking and singing it. Listening starts at whatever age you choose!
Thanks for asking!
Barbara
I got my CD it was the beginners before tacos 1 and I am sad to say it is all messed up the music is fine but the talking between that introduces the songs is all out of wack the songs being introed are not the ones playing after the intro.
Leslie,
Thank you so much for bringing that to my attention! I went over the songs and found that the wrong tracks had been used in creating the disc. Most CDs are purchased by teachers or students, and I find that they would rather not have the spoken parts on the CD. This is why I have removed the spoken parts on the Learn Spanish CD. If you would like a new CD, Leslie, please email me with your address at barbara@singdancelaugh.com and I will be happy to send one! Thanks again for helping me with “quality control”. I always appreciate feedback from customers, which is why this blog is so helpful.
Barbara
Hi Barbara! I love your CDs and my students really enjoy them. My question is: how would you normally introduce/teach the song? Do you spend days on it (it seems like there is no time) or more like a little time each day…would you have the students have to memorize it? or just certain parts? Thanks!!
Hello Amanda!
Thank you for your compliments! I introduce songs differently for each age group of students. Elementary-aged students often need to learn the lyrics before they hear the song so they can understand the song and feel comfortable with it right away. I teach individual words they don’t know using gestures and pictures. Middle school students and high school students sometimes enjoy more of a challenge so I have allowed them to listen to a song and see how much they can understand before I teach the vocabulary. I have even given them the written lyrics with some words missing to see how much they understand. If a song is a nemonic device or another key to remembering hard-to-learn phrases or verb conjugations, for example, I ask students to memorize it and sing or rap the song. To minimize their anxiety, I allow two students to perform a song together, and I give them the option of using the instrumental version of the song or singing it with no music (which can be slower). In order to assess each student fairly, I ask the duo to sing the song twice so I can listen to one student the first time and the other student the second time. As far as answering how long it takes to teach a song, it varies depending on the song and the age of the student. Repetition is a good thing with songs, as children of all ages love to listen and sing, so going back to review a song is fun and makes more sense than singing it over and over during the same lesson. I like to leave them wanting more. It gives something to look forward to in class.
I hope I’ve answered all your questions, Amanda. They were good ones!
Barbara
Hi,
I purchased the set of 4 Quiche CDs- which I love! But I have moved classrooms several times and I can’t find the lyrics booklet anymore! How can I get a copy of the lyrics so I can give them to students??
Hi Tara!
You may purchase a new lyric book online. We also have songsheets for Christmas books, and each song download you buy comes with a pdf file of the lyrics as well as the English translation.
Thanks!
Barbara
I recently bought your book of plays (Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and Snow White). I am interested in using it in a class that meets for one hour per week, with students ages 7-12.
How many weeks do you think it will take to prepare a play for performance? I have never done a play with a group of students before. Do you have a suggested breakdown of steps for teaching it?
Any concrete suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Katie
Dear Katie,
I must have missed your post as I’m sorry that it’s taken me so long to respond. The only way to know how long it will take your particular group to be ready to perform is by charging ahead and experiencing it. And by now, you probably have! I hope that my comments in the playbook itself helped you. With students who can read, I make copies of parts to learn for each student, by copying the play and highlighting each role. With non-reading students I make cassettes of each part by speaking the part myself so that the student can learn the proper pronunciation. This is sometimes helpful even with reading students. I try to find assistants to help with plays so that I may work with small groups of students. These can be older students or parents. Each student needs to work at home on lines, and with young students, it’s important to get the support and help of parents for this. I never do a dress rehearsal until the practice right before the actual performance, as costumes and props tend to take all focus away from the play itself. The time it takes to prepare depends on if all focus is on the play, and the age of the students. The younger the student, the more time it takes. With your varied ages, I would imagine that the older students would help the younger ones and it would take at least a month if not two to be ready for a performance. Please write again and tell how the play went!
Barbara
WE ARE YOUR BIGGEST FANS!!! We sing your French songs at least once a week in every class. Our favorites are “Les Gangsters” and “The Dark Town Strutters Ball”, not to mention “Les Bruits”. What are your inspirations for your songs, particularly Dark Town Strutters Ball? (and where is Dark Town? what is a Dark Town Strutter? ) You would make all of our years if you could visit us in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Please let us know if it is a possibility. Also, do you have t-shirts you could sign and we could purchase? Thanks a million for the great times you’ve provided us with and a reply would be greatly appreciated. Merci Beaucoup!!!!
Sincerely,
The 4th yr French class at Grand Rapids Christian High School
Dear Biggest Fans in Grand Rapids,
Thank you for all your wonderful kudos and questions! I checked my calendar, and doubt that I’ll be seeing you in Grand Rapids, but please know that I’m with you in spirit. If you email me your address at barbara@singdancelaugh.com I will see what I have in the way of T-shirts and autographs to send.
As for the “Darktown Strutters Ball”, I can’t take the credit. The words and music were written long before I was born by Shelton Brooks, and published in 1917. The Pacific-Panama Exposition in San Francisco is what inspired him to write it, if that gives you any clue as to what is a “strutter” and where “darktown” is located. I always liked the song, and thought it was a fun way to teach the future tense. You may notice that it’s the only song in English as well as French on a French cd. It’s sometimes easier to simply translate when the lyrics are complicated. An old Mary Tyler Moore tv show once used the song as a knock knock joke. “Knock knock. Who’s there? Maria Alberghetti. Maria Alberghetti who? Maria Alberghetti in a taxi, honey, I’ll be there ’bout half past eight. . . ” (Maria Alberghetti is an Italian singer.)
The Gangsters song was inspired by French friends being so interested in gangsters. Since I grew up in Wisconsin, when I lived in France and someone asked where I’m from, I’d say Chicago. (Wisconsin isn’t very well known to most French people.) When I said Chicago, someone would make their hand into a gun and say, “taka taka taka - les gangsters!” pretending to be a machine gun.
“Les Bruits” was inspired by the interesting ways sounds are said in each language. I love the “Bof! Pan!” for comic books and the little “Plouf” which is different from the English. The little known details of a language are really interesting, I think. It also helps you with pronunciation. Americans say “um” when we don’t know what to say because that’s the way our mouth relaxes. The French say, “euh” because that’s how their mouths relax. Très intéressant!!
Keep on singing in Grand Rapids, and let me know if there are any more questions I can answer for you.
Amitiés,
Barbara
I am trying to purchase a few of your songs but when I click on the vocal it doesn’t allow me to download. It brings me to a site which tells me it is incorrect. Could you help me out please. Gracias.
Thank you so much for letting me know that you’re having a problem. We’re checking into the shopping cart which seems to be the problem at this time. In the meantime, if you’d like to email me at singdanceorder.com I’d be happy to send you the downloads you need. As a teacher myself, I know how important it is to have songs when you need them.
de nada,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I’m a student at Saint Francis University and we use your series in class for presenations and examples. I am currently working a presentation on your 1st French book for 6-8 yr olds. The premise is that the children have no prior experience with French but I will be teaching a song using your material. I also want to speak a little about you as the author, so I have a few questions: firstly, do you have any suggestions on which song would be most appropriate for 6-8 yr olds; and secondly, where did you learn your lanugage skills, was it from traveling or classes or multilingual parents, or some other avenue?
Thanks!
Tanya
Hi Tanya!
Any of the songs from “Mon Premier Livre” would be appropriate for 6 to 8 year olds. For a presentation, I would use one with physical actions as they like those best. The “Je m’appelle” song lends itself to solos if you want to showcase your students, the “Mimi” song is a fun game to start and stop, and the “Samedi” song is one with lots of activity as is “Jacquot Dit”.
I learned my French through studying it in college and spending my junior year in France.
Good luck with your presentation!
Barbara
I was so happy to find you again! I thought your company had been eaten by another (unnamed) company.
What happened to your Russian language materials?
I am now using your materials in my high school ESL classroom, to great success, as usual!
Kathy,
Thank you for letting me know that you’re using my ESL materials. I don’t have a huge following in ESL, and as a language teacher, I know that materials developed for teaching are the best to use. All the bingo games are still available in Russian, and we have a Russian Cultural Bingo as well.
Thanks for asking!
Hi Barbara,
I want to purchase mp3s but I’m not sure how. Is there an option to do so on your website?
Yes, you may purchase mp3s on the site by clicking on “buy” either the vocal or instrumental version next to each song. Each mp3 also comes with a pdf lyric file.
Barbara
How are you! We met at the UFT-NYCAFLT Conference in NYC, I don’t know if you remember me, we were talking at a round table for some time… anyway, I have a question for you: I am looking to get a how-to video for salsa, merengue or some other dance for my Spanish classes. Is there a particular dance that you would recommend? How about a DVD? Thanks.
Julie Weilgart
Hello Julie!
Thank you for remembering me - it’s a great compliment. Were we having lunch or just resting in the lobby/restaurant area at the time we talked? If so, I remember. As I’m behind on my Ask Barbara responses, I thought I’d answer you directly as well as on the message board. The link to my dances is: http://www.singdancelaugh.com/spanish/matindex.htm and I’m sure you have songs and books, so I wanted to remind you of what you have. It really depends on the age of your students. For elementary-aged students I would teach “La Vibora de la Mar” or “Juan Dice”, “En la Purenta de Sevilla” or “El Payaso Baila”. Although I have taught 3 year olds “El Baile des Caracol”, it would be fun for older students through high school as it’s simple, but fun to spiral into a snail and all be jammed together. For middle or high school students I would tackle “Las Chiapanecas” or “El Jarabe Tapatío”. Whatever you choose will sure to delight your students as it’s physical and out of the ordinary. Have fun yourself, and your students will love it!
Enjoy!
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I love your Sing, Dance, Laugh and Eat Quiche CD’s. I especially like the fourth one because it really helps my students remember the grammar. Is there a possibility that you will create a fifth CD of grammar-related songs? Songs that teach verb tenses and conjugations would be absolutely fantastic.
Thank you for all you have done for our students.
Brad
Thank you for your compliments, Brad. I’m very happy that the songs are helping your students remember grammar conjugations. I have three more verb songs which will be on the Quiche 5 cd which I am happy to share with you. I don’t have a date of distribution at this time for the cd.
Enjoy and much success to you and your students!
Barbara
The lyrics are: dire - to say
(to the tune of Frère Jacques)
Je dis, tu dis, je dis, tu dis
Il dit, elle dit, il dit, elle dit,
Nous disons, vous dites,
Nous disons, vous dites,
Ils disent, elles disent,
Ils disent, elles disent.
faire - to make or to do
(I’ve been Working on the Railroad)
Je fais, tu fais, il fait, elle fait,
Nous faisons, vous faites,
Ils font, elles font du travail sur
“Faire”, un verbe très bête.
Je fais, tu fais, il fait, elle fait,
Nous faisons, vous faites.
Ils font, elles font du travail sur
“Faire”, un verbe très bête.
(I argue with my students over whether the ending word should be “bête” or “chouette.”)
aller - to go
(William Tell Overature)
Je vais, tu vas, il va, elle va,
Nous allons, vous allez, ils vont, elles vont.
Je vais, tu vas, il va, elle va,
Nous allons, vous allez, ils vont, elles vont.
¿Cuántos años tienes tú? It’s part of the lyrics in the ¡FÉLIZ CUMPLEAÑOS! song from my Sing, Dance, Laugh and Eat Tacos album.
Thanks for asking!
Barbara
Thanks so much for answering my earlier question about teaching plays. My December production of Goldilocks went really well and now we’re going to work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I’m writing because I’m missing the second page of “Suggestions for the Seven Dwarfs,” in my copy of the book. The page that I have says that it is continued on the back, but the back of the page is blank. Can you please send me the document via e-mail? I’ve been a big fan of yours for several years. Thanks so much for your wonderful materials!
I teach French to chilren from 4 up to 11 in a school in England. I would like to buy some of your resources but wondered if you would mail to the UK?
I know I can download the songs but for a whole album that would work out a bit expensive.
Thank you!
Hello Rebekah!
Yes, we mail to the UK and all over the world. We use the least expensive air method and charge for shipping after we have shipped and know the exact amount. We only add a $3. handling fee. Although we have sent downloads to other countries, if you want an entire cd, it is more cost effective to order it shipped along with a lyric book. It would pay to order everything you want at once, to reduce shipping. To download the Quiche 1 album, for example, it would cost $52.65. The Quiche 1 cd and book cost only $24.95. I would recommend buying the lyric books at the same time as you purchase a cd, as many customers order the cds only and then realize they want the lyrics later and need to order again.
Thanks for writing and we look forward to your order.
Sincerely,
Barbara
I noticed you have your songs available for download individually, but I wondered if you had them for sale by download in entire albums. For example, the Taco CD with 24 songs, works out to around $47.10, I think, much more than the CD version. I would possibly be interested in downloading (for convenience since school is coming so fast) if I could have it at the CD price.
Dear Carla,
Thank you for your question. I ask more for individual songs, as the downloads include pdf lyric sheets as well as mp3 music downloads. I recommend buying the CD and downloading the songs to your mp3 player.
Enjoy the songs!
Barbara
Your music was recommended by Susan Gross; however, I would like to listen to samples before spending the districts money. Do you have samples to listen to?
Thank you for the question, Charla! Many of the songs have samples to listen to on the site. Above each album it reads: (Click on songs in blue to hear samples or click the buttons next to them to purchase vocal or instrumental downloads!)
Barbara
I purchased your Sing, Laugh, Dance and Eat Tacos CDs years ago and have used them so much and with great student retention and success. My question is that my students have requested that I put a link to whatever song we are currently practicing on my individual teaching webpage via my school campus webpage for their at home study. Would this be imposing on your copyright policy?
Thanks so much,
Dana
Thanks for asking, Dana.
Linking to songs is a great way for students to listen to the songs. As I teacher, I do it myself. The only thing that I ask is that you make sure your school site is secure. Those who belong to the school have a password to get into the teacher pages, right? If not, there could be people googling my songs and finding the whole songs on your site.
Have a wonderful school year!
Barbara
I am wondering if you have the Country rap song for Central America and South America Countries and their capitals?
“Los Países Hispanos”,found on “Sing, Dance, Laugh and Eat Tacos 2″, includes names of countries where Spanish is spoken. It does not include names of capitals.
Thanks for asking!
Barbara
DEAR Barbara I am a toddler teacher I have my CDA. I have been making up songs for my students and found that I have a real talent for it. I have written 15 or so songs , now I would like to get them published but dont know how to about it can you help me
thank you charlotte
Thank you for writing, Charlotte.
If you want to self-publish, as I did, you find a printer, and copyright with the Library of Congress. Your public library can help you with copyright. If you want someone else to publish you, I would recommend finding a company who sells teaching materials. Choose a company you respect and use now. Talk to the company and send them a sample of your work. Some companies won’t deal with you unless they can own the copyright. If that’s the way you choose, it won’t cost you much, but you won’t earn much either. It all depends on what you want from your songs. This is a simple explanation, so feel free to email me with further questions or for more information.
Good luck!
Barbara
Bonjour Barbara! At our school we used to use “Sing, Dance, Laugh, and Eat Quiche” on cassette. A few years back we “upgraded” and we now have them on CD. My students were OBSESSED with “Bifteck” on the cassette but we noticed that the song is not as quick on the CD and it sounds different than on the cassette. In addition to the CD, I had bought the MP3 awhile back hoping that it would be the cassette version and it was not.
Is it my imagination or are these two different versions? If so, can I get a hold of the cassette version in digital (MP3 or CD) format?
Merci in advance for any info you can throw my way. I love using this song to go along with “Discovering French Bleu” chapter 3A and “Discovering French Blanc” chapter 9.
Thank you for writing, Amy. The original “Sing, Dance, Laugh and Eat Quiche” cassette was published in 1986, and a second version was released in 1993. Perhaps you had the original version? I’m sorry that you don’t like it as well.
Barbara
P.S. The “Ask a Question” form on does not seem to like e-mail addresses with apostrophes in them–my school e-mail is o’donoghueaj@unit5.org but kept telling me it’s an invalid address…so in my question above, I had to use my personal address!
Hi Barbara,
I’m a Spanish teacher at Four Points Middle School, and I have really liked your instructional videos. I wanted to know if I could have your permission to embed your videos on my website for students to access from home. I talked to the librarian not knowing about all these copyright laws with embedded videos, but she wanted me to contact you directly and get your okay.
I hope to hear from you. Thank you for your great work. My students have
really enjoyed your videos.
Jessia Gutierrez
Thank you for your email requesting permission to link my songs to your school website. It is an excellent way for your students to practice the songs and do their homework. I used to give each student a cd to take home, but then linked my school site to songs, as well. As long as your school has a secure site, and not everyone, but only school students or parents may access the site via a password, you have my permission to link the songs. Otherwise it would be a copyright infringement. Please write to me through the singdanceorder@aol.com email address and send me links to the songs you are referencing. Again, thank you for your request, and good luck with your students!
I am looking for the song “Avoir, etre, faire, aller.” I am pretty sure it is one of yours. It has a rap format to practice the four irregular verbs. It starts out: Avoir, etre, faire, aller sont des verbes irreguliers. Conjugez-les au present, ah, comme ils sont differents…”
If you can help, please e-mail me at the address above.
Merci!
Dear Elaine,
Thank you for your question. I have 4 different songs for the irregular verbs you mentioned, and not one song with those lyrics. Etre, avoir, pouvoir and faire are all songs on my Quiche 4 album. Aller is as yet unpublished, but is sung to the tune of the William Tell Overature to conjugate the verb in the present tense.
I hope that helps you. I haven’t heard the song with four verbs in one.
Sincerely,
Barbara
I have an old bingo game of yours. It has Roman Culture pictures–Fasces, Templum, 3 types of columns, etc. We have loved it and used it well. Is there any chance I could order a new copy of the set, as mine is worn?
Yes, we still have the Latin Cultural Bingo available. It comes as all our Bingo games do, with the vocabulary sheet, 30 bingo game cards and a full set of picture cards with each vocabulary word represented on a 5 1/2 ” X 8″ flash card. A tub of 300 bingo chips is also included. The entire set is $19.95 plus shipping and handling of $8.95. Just an FYI - we also have Spanish, French, Russian and Italian Cultural Bingos available! Since there are currently no click and buy buttons on our website to buy the Latin, Russian, or Italian bingo games, you may order any other bingo game (which will be at the same price), and in the message section on the bottom of the order form, write that you want the Latin Bingo game. That way you can enter your credit card on our secure site along with all the needed information, and we’ll get you the one you want.
Thanks so much for asking!
Barbara
A number of yrs. ago I bought several different Russian bingo games. Do you have any more? Topics? Thanks.
Jim M
Thanks for asking, Jim! I still have a Russian Cultural bingo game available. It includes a vocabulary word sheet with 25 drawings of St. Basil’s cathedral, troika, kopeck, painted Easter eggs, samovar, pirogi, etc. There is a flashcard for each drawing as well as 30 bingo cards for playing the game and a tub of 300 bingo chips. A description of each vocabulary word is written out on the vocabulary sheet, which you can copy and give to students. As there is no button for the Russian Cultural bingo game, you may click on any other bingo game (They are all $19.95), to order on the website. Then add in the message/comment at the bottom of your order that you want the Russian bingo game.
It’s good to hear from a Russian teacher!
Barbara
I would like to purchase just alphabet song in spanish for my pre-schoolers. Are they available on itunes or availible for individual download or sale anywhere?
Yes, Ericka! You can purchase a download of the Alphabet song in Spanish on the website. Click on the Spanish balloon, then on songs, and the Alphabet song is the third song in the Tacos 2 album. Click on the “vocal” button for the download with voice, and the “instrumental” button for the “karaoke” download that your students can sing to by themselves for a program. Each download comes with a pdf lyric sheet and costs $1.95 for the pdf and mp3.
Thanks for writing!
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I purchased all of your CD’s and we LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I tried to put them on my itunes and my Tacos 1 and 3 loaded no problem. For some reason itunes can’t find the song names for the Tacos 2 disc. Any suggestions to fix this would be greatly appreciated.
Gracias,
Amy
Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Amy. I’ll work on making sure the song titles come up in Tacos 2.
Barbara
Hi Barbara! I want to tell you how much I love your products. I have many of your bingo games as well as the cassette tapes. My problem is that I can’t find the sheet that explains the pictures featured on the French Christmas bingo cards. Is there any way that I can get a copy of that emailed to me. I am willing to pay for the information but don’t want to order a second complete set and I was hoping to use the bingo next week before break.
Thank you for your time!
Kelly
Thanks for writing, Kelly!
Thank you for the kind remarks. I know how exasperating it is to have part of what you need to teach with effectively. Before break times it is crucial to use every song and game at your disposal, so I will make an exception, and email you the vocabulary sheet you need.
Happy Holidays!
Barbara
Hi, Barbara! I used the Spanish and French audio tapes (pre CD!) in teaching basics to high school kids, who found it a great change of pace from the textbook. I am planning to teach ESL for a month to Spanish speaking kids in Honduras who are MUCH younger (5-7 year olds) and wonder how useful the “Cheeseburger” items might be. If memory serves, it would be great!
Yes, Sue, the “Cheeseburger” songs would be lots of fun for younger hispanic students. The “Cheeseburger” songs parallel the “Taco 1″ songs, so you will know them already, too! Enjoy ESL!
Barbara
Hi Barbara! I love your songs and have been using many of them over the years. This year I’m teaching Spanish in addition to my typical French classes for 6th and 7th grade. I created a few PowerPoint presentations to accompany your songs as I play them on the CDs. However, I would like to include them in the actual presentations if possible. Would I have your permission to do so if I cite the song’s name and author? I plan to use these presentations only in class and on my school website. The website is public, but I will talk to our tech specialist and ask if we are able to have certain pages password protected for student use only before I post them on the website. Thanks for offering your songs to be downloaded individually; that’s a huge help to building up my collection.
Hello Amber, and I’m so happy that you are using my songs!
I would be happy to give you permission to use the songs in your power point presentations in the classroom, however, you must have the web pages password protected before posting them on the school’s public website in order for me to grant that permission. I’m glad that you’re taking advantage of the downloads. As a teacher myself, I love that you can have an idea of teaching something through a song, and then implement it in your classroom the next day by ordering a download. I can imagine that your collection will get larger now that you’re teaching Spanish as well as French. The most economical way to purchase them all is still by ordering them on CDs, as there are 20 to 30 songs per album. Good luck with your classes!
Barbara
Norma :
Date: March 9, 2008 @ 3:46 am
Hi Barbara, I am interested in you spanish activity book. However I want to use it for kinder and first grade. Do you think the songs would be too fast for them or is this activity book more for 2nd and 3rd. Anyhelp would be appreciated. I am really struggling with planning for the little ones. Thank you
Norma
Jennifer :
Date: March 9, 2008 @ 11:52 am
Hi Barbara,
Do you have any wholesale options for your audio cds?
Thank you!
Laura Meischenguiser :
Date: March 27, 2008 @ 11:30 am
Hi:
If you want to purchase the three CDs in Spanish with the lyrics, which is the price? Do youhave to pay for shipping during this month?
Can you please let me know?
Thanks,
Laura
Linda :
Date: March 27, 2008 @ 3:44 pm
do you ever allow people to observe your language classes? where do you teach?
Erin Meilhon :
Date: March 28, 2008 @ 2:43 pm
Hi,
Do you sell any of your songs on iTunes?
Kathy Siddons :
Date: June 18, 2008 @ 2:56 pm
Hi, Barbara! Do you still carry the large man puppet who appears next to you in the photo on your website. I would like to list the URL on mine. Thanks so much for the info.
barbara :
Date: August 2, 2008 @ 2:22 am
Hi, how many different languages do you teach. Thanks
phil sampson :
Date: August 11, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
do you have materials for infants and/or toddlers?
leslie Forthman :
Date: August 29, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
I got my CD it was the beginners before tacos 1 and I am sad to say it is all messed up the music is fine but the talking between that introduces the songs is all out of wack the songs being introed are not the ones playing after the intro.
Amanda Stefanik :
Date: October 2, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Hi Barbara! I love your CDs and my students really enjoy them. My question is: how would you normally introduce/teach the song? Do you spend days on it (it seems like there is no time) or more like a little time each day…would you have the students have to memorize it? or just certain parts? Thanks!!
Tara :
Date: October 16, 2008 @ 6:28 pm
Hi,
I purchased the set of 4 Quiche CDs- which I love! But I have moved classrooms several times and I can’t find the lyrics booklet anymore! How can I get a copy of the lyrics so I can give them to students??
Katie Zukof :
Date: October 28, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
Hi Barbara,
I recently bought your book of plays (Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and Snow White). I am interested in using it in a class that meets for one hour per week, with students ages 7-12.
How many weeks do you think it will take to prepare a play for performance? I have never done a play with a group of students before. Do you have a suggested breakdown of steps for teaching it?
Any concrete suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Katie
GRCHS French Class 4th Year :
Date: November 7, 2008 @ 7:22 pm
Dear Barbara:
WE ARE YOUR BIGGEST FANS!!! We sing your French songs at least once a week in every class. Our favorites are “Les Gangsters” and “The Dark Town Strutters Ball”, not to mention “Les Bruits”. What are your inspirations for your songs, particularly Dark Town Strutters Ball? (and where is Dark Town? what is a Dark Town Strutter?
) You would make all of our years if you could visit us in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Please let us know if it is a possibility. Also, do you have t-shirts you could sign and we could purchase? Thanks a million for the great times you’ve provided us with and a reply would be greatly appreciated. Merci Beaucoup!!!!
Sincerely,
The 4th yr French class at Grand Rapids Christian High School
Norma Singleterry :
Date: November 11, 2008 @ 4:10 am
I am trying to purchase a few of your songs but when I click on the vocal it doesn’t allow me to download. It brings me to a site which tells me it is incorrect. Could you help me out please. Gracias.
Tanya :
Date: November 12, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
Hi Barbara,
I’m a student at Saint Francis University and we use your series in class for presenations and examples. I am currently working a presentation on your 1st French book for 6-8 yr olds. The premise is that the children have no prior experience with French but I will be teaching a song using your material. I also want to speak a little about you as the author, so I have a few questions: firstly, do you have any suggestions on which song would be most appropriate for 6-8 yr olds; and secondly, where did you learn your lanugage skills, was it from traveling or classes or multilingual parents, or some other avenue?
Thanks!
Tanya
Meriam :
Date: November 12, 2008 @ 6:29 pm
I just ordered a song and paid for it but it didn’t dwnload
Kathy :
Date: November 16, 2008 @ 8:14 pm
I was so happy to find you again! I thought your company had been eaten by another (unnamed) company.
What happened to your Russian language materials?
I am now using your materials in my high school ESL classroom, to great success, as usual!
Barbara
Yolanda :
Date: December 2, 2008 @ 12:37 am
Hi Barbara,
I want to purchase mp3s but I’m not sure how. Is there an option to do so on your website?
Annie G :
Date: December 2, 2008 @ 2:13 pm
From where does the song “gatatumba” originate and in which countries is it sung the most?
Julie Weilgart :
Date: December 20, 2008 @ 1:35 am
Hi Barbara,
How are you! We met at the UFT-NYCAFLT Conference in NYC, I don’t know if you remember me, we were talking at a round table for some time… anyway, I have a question for you: I am looking to get a how-to video for salsa, merengue or some other dance for my Spanish classes. Is there a particular dance that you would recommend? How about a DVD? Thanks.
Julie Weilgart
Brad :
Date: February 12, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
Hi Barbara,
I love your Sing, Dance, Laugh and Eat Quiche CD’s. I especially like the fourth one because it really helps my students remember the grammar. Is there a possibility that you will create a fifth CD of grammar-related songs? Songs that teach verb tenses and conjugations would be absolutely fantastic.
Thank you for all you have done for our students.
Brad
hdZDDDDF :
Date: March 8, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
how do u say how old are you in spanish
Katie Zukof :
Date: April 29, 2009 @ 2:07 am
Hi Barbara,
Thanks so much for answering my earlier question about teaching plays. My December production of Goldilocks went really well and now we’re going to work on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I’m writing because I’m missing the second page of “Suggestions for the Seven Dwarfs,” in my copy of the book. The page that I have says that it is continued on the back, but the back of the page is blank. Can you please send me the document via e-mail? I’ve been a big fan of yours for several years. Thanks so much for your wonderful materials!
Katie
Rebekah :
Date: May 5, 2009 @ 11:04 am
HI Barbara,
I have just found your website.
I teach French to chilren from 4 up to 11 in a school in England. I would like to buy some of your resources but wondered if you would mail to the UK?
I know I can download the songs but for a whole album that would work out a bit expensive.
Thank you!
Carla :
Date: August 14, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
I noticed you have your songs available for download individually, but I wondered if you had them for sale by download in entire albums. For example, the Taco CD with 24 songs, works out to around $47.10, I think, much more than the CD version. I would possibly be interested in downloading (for convenience since school is coming so fast) if I could have it at the CD price.
Dear Carla,
Thank you for your question. I ask more for individual songs, as the downloads include pdf lyric sheets as well as mp3 music downloads. I recommend buying the CD and downloading the songs to your mp3 player.
Enjoy the songs!
Barbara
charla carlat :
Date: August 21, 2009 @ 3:18 pm
Your music was recommended by Susan Gross; however, I would like to listen to samples before spending the districts money. Do you have samples to listen to?
Dana :
Date: September 1, 2009 @ 1:43 am
I purchased your Sing, Laugh, Dance and Eat Tacos CDs years ago and have used them so much and with great student retention and success. My question is that my students have requested that I put a link to whatever song we are currently practicing on my individual teaching webpage via my school campus webpage for their at home study. Would this be imposing on your copyright policy?
Thanks so much,
Dana
Kara Delaney :
Date: September 14, 2009 @ 1:00 pm
I am wondering if you have the Country rap song for Central America and South America Countries and their capitals?
charlotte :
Date: November 25, 2009 @ 1:20 am
DEAR Barbara I am a toddler teacher I have my CDA. I have been making up songs for my students and found that I have a real talent for it. I have written 15 or so songs , now I would like to get them published but dont know how to about it can you help me
thank you charlotte
Amy :
Date: February 17, 2010 @ 2:14 pm
Bonjour Barbara! At our school we used to use “Sing, Dance, Laugh, and Eat Quiche” on cassette. A few years back we “upgraded” and we now have them on CD. My students were OBSESSED with “Bifteck” on the cassette but we noticed that the song is not as quick on the CD and it sounds different than on the cassette. In addition to the CD, I had bought the MP3 awhile back hoping that it would be the cassette version and it was not.
Is it my imagination or are these two different versions? If so, can I get a hold of the cassette version in digital (MP3 or CD) format?
Merci in advance for any info you can throw my way. I love using this song to go along with “Discovering French Bleu” chapter 3A and “Discovering French Blanc” chapter 9.
Amy :
Date: February 17, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
P.S. The “Ask a Question” form on does not seem to like e-mail addresses with apostrophes in them–my school e-mail is o’donoghueaj@unit5.org but kept telling me it’s an invalid address…so in my question above, I had to use my personal address!
Jess Gutierrez :
Date: September 10, 2010 @ 1:58 am
Hi Barbara,
I’m a Spanish teacher at Four Points Middle School, and I have really liked your instructional videos. I wanted to know if I could have your permission to embed your videos on my website for students to access from home. I talked to the librarian not knowing about all these copyright laws with embedded videos, but she wanted me to contact you directly and get your okay.
I hope to hear from you. Thank you for your great work. My students have
really enjoyed your videos.
Jessia Gutierrez
Thank you for your email requesting permission to link my songs to your school website. It is an excellent way for your students to practice the songs and do their homework. I used to give each student a cd to take home, but then linked my school site to songs, as well. As long as your school has a secure site, and not everyone, but only school students or parents may access the site via a password, you have my permission to link the songs. Otherwise it would be a copyright infringement. Please write to me through the singdanceorder@aol.com email address and send me links to the songs you are referencing. Again, thank you for your request, and good luck with your students!
Barbara
Elaine Berard :
Date: October 19, 2010 @ 2:40 pm
Dear Elaine,
Thank you for your question. I have 4 different songs for the irregular verbs you mentioned, and not one song with those lyrics. Etre, avoir, pouvoir and faire are all songs on my Quiche 4 album. Aller is as yet unpublished, but is sung to the tune of the William Tell Overature to conjugate the verb in the present tense.
I hope that helps you. I haven’t heard the song with four verbs in one.
Sincerely,
Barbara
margaret brantley :
Date: November 5, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
I have an old bingo game of yours. It has Roman Culture pictures–Fasces, Templum, 3 types of columns, etc. We have loved it and used it well. Is there any chance I could order a new copy of the set, as mine is worn?
Jim Michael :
Date: November 17, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
A number of yrs. ago I bought several different Russian bingo games. Do you have any more? Topics? Thanks.
Jim M
Ericka :
Date: November 18, 2010 @ 3:22 pm
I would like to purchase just alphabet song in spanish for my pre-schoolers. Are they available on itunes or availible for individual download or sale anywhere?
Amy :
Date: November 23, 2010 @ 1:15 am
Hi Barbara,
I purchased all of your CD’s and we LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I tried to put them on my itunes and my Tacos 1 and 3 loaded no problem. For some reason itunes can’t find the song names for the Tacos 2 disc. Any suggestions to fix this would be greatly appreciated.
Gracias,
Amy
Kelly Kina :
Date: December 10, 2010 @ 2:00 am
Hi Barbara! I want to tell you how much I love your products. I have many of your bingo games as well as the cassette tapes. My problem is that I can’t find the sheet that explains the pictures featured on the French Christmas bingo cards. Is there any way that I can get a copy of that emailed to me. I am willing to pay for the information but don’t want to order a second complete set and I was hoping to use the bingo next week before break.
Thank you for your time!
Kelly
Sue Yurick :
Date: April 14, 2011 @ 8:45 pm
Hi, Barbara! I used the Spanish and French audio tapes (pre CD!) in teaching basics to high school kids, who found it a great change of pace from the textbook. I am planning to teach ESL for a month to Spanish speaking kids in Honduras who are MUCH younger (5-7 year olds) and wonder how useful the “Cheeseburger” items might be. If memory serves, it would be great!
Yes, Sue, the “Cheeseburger” songs would be lots of fun for younger hispanic students. The “Cheeseburger” songs parallel the “Taco 1″ songs, so you will know them already, too! Enjoy ESL!
Barbara
Amber Burks :
Date: September 10, 2011 @ 5:04 pm
Hi Barbara! I love your songs and have been using many of them over the years. This year I’m teaching Spanish in addition to my typical French classes for 6th and 7th grade. I created a few PowerPoint presentations to accompany your songs as I play them on the CDs. However, I would like to include them in the actual presentations if possible. Would I have your permission to do so if I cite the song’s name and author? I plan to use these presentations only in class and on my school website. The website is public, but I will talk to our tech specialist and ask if we are able to have certain pages password protected for student use only before I post them on the website. Thanks for offering your songs to be downloaded individually; that’s a huge help to building up my collection.