Isabella and Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures™ is an innovative Spanish language learning program for children in the Washington DC area that seeks to give students both linguistic and cultural fluency – providing them with advantages in our growing bilingual society. Founded by two accomplished Latina mothers who were looking for high-quality Spanish classes for their own young children, Isabella and Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures™ has grown into a dedicated team of language teaching professionals who have created a dynamic and effective curriculum - immersing children in high-caliber Spanish, while learning about the art, literature, music and culture of Spain and Latin America.
Upon entering the language program, every student is taught La Canción de Isabel and Fernando (“The Isabella & Ferdinand Song"). Produced by GRAMMY & Multiple LATIN GRAMMY award winner Andres Castro (music director for Latin superstar Carlos Vives) and sung by Latin Grammy-nominated Colombian vocalist Adriana Lucia, the song details the joys of learning Spanish, reinforces the ability to count to 10 and encourages students to write “like Gabriel García Márquez". Inspired by the high demand from families seeking copies of this theme and other original songs composed for Isabella & Ferdinand by its gifted music director, Fran Revert, the school has created the special children’s album “Olé and Play! Songs from Isabella and Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures.”
In order to share this wonderful teaching tool with parents and educators nationwide who are looking to further the bilingual interest and ability of their children, the thirteen-track “Olé and Play!” album will be released digitally on Tuesday, April 19th in advance celebration of Cervantes Day (April 23rd – the birthday of Miguel de Cervantes). Akin to the impact of Shakespeare on English, or Dante on Italian, the famed Spanish novelist/poet/playwright’s influence is so strong that Spanish is often referred to as la lengua de Cervantes (“the language of Cervantes”).
In addition to the participation of Andres Castro and Adriana Lucia, “Olé and Play!” sees several other prominent young talents performing alongside the students of Isabella & Ferdinand. A certain standout is Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno. The Guatemalan-born artist won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006 and has had songs featured on television shows such as CBS’ "The Ghost Whisperer
,” ABC's "Lincoln Heights
," MTV's "The Hills
" and multiple programs on Nickelodeon. Moreno’s current Emmy nomination honors her composition of the theme song for NBC's "Parks and Recreation
". Multiple songs on the album also feature Carlos Barroso from Madrid – first prize winner at the city’s Teen Pop festival and famed Festival de Benidorm. In keeping with the celebration of Cervantes Day, the school produced the special feature track "Don Quijote" with both Gaby Moreno and Carlos Barroso joining Isabella & Ferdinand students in an ode to the classic novel. Look for the YouTube video shortly. Visit Isabella & Ferdinand Spanish Language Adventures at: http://www.isabellaandferdinand.com/ My Take on the CDThis CD was an amazing multi-cultural experience! My wife taught elementary spanish for many years so I am always a huge advocate for immersion of children early in learning of a foreign language. I loved the idea of this foreign language center and the CD itself. In listening to this CD, I have to say that it is a fun, light, toe-tapping adventure. Even if you do not speak spanish (yet) this CD will come to a better appreciation for the language and the music!
I loved the fact that (as you might notice in the video above) in the making of this CD, they utilized kids from the language school as well as professional artists. This partnership allows the listener to again hear the amazing power of being multi-lingual!
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