Songs to Teach Children French

If your children love songs as much as my children do, then using songs is a great approach to help your children learn French. I found this site, Mama Lisa's World, that has a lot of great songs. It has the MP3 of the songs, plus English and French versions of both. Some even have game instructions. This one is my daughter's favorite and the original text and MP3 can be found at this link:

À cheval sur mon bidet

Riding My Horsey

Chanson pour sauter sur les genoux

(French)

Children's Song

(English)

À cheval sur mon bidet*(1)
Quand il trotte, il est parfait
Au pas, au pas, au pas, (2)
Au trot, au trot, au trot (3)
Au galop, au galop, au galop !(4)

Riding my horsey,
When he trots, he is perfect,
At a walk, at a walk, at a walk,
At a trot, at a trot, at a trot,
At a gallop, at a gallop, at a gallop.

Game Instructions

(1) Sit the child on your lap, holding his/her hands
and make him/her bounce as if riding a horse.

(2) Make a slow beat with your legs,

(3) Speed up the rhythm,

(4) End by a gallop!

Frère Jacques

Songs are always a good way to teach children a foreign language and Frère Jacques is a classic song that you can teach in both languages. I found this website where I got the lyrics and it has a video of the song as well.

Frère Jacques,
Frère Jacques,
Dormez vous?
Dormez vous?
Sonnez les matines,
Sonnez les matines,
Din, din, don!
Din, din, don!

English Version:

Are you sleeping,
Are you sleeping?
Brother John?
Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing,
Morning bells are ringing,
Ding ding dong,
Ding ding dong.