"Guten Tag" Slangman - A New GPB Show Makes Language Learning FUN!
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- "Slangman" David Burke performes for the enthusiastic crowd
- (© German Consulate General)
Take the phrase "Guten Tag", add a traditional German tune, sprinkle in a wacky wizard, and finish the whole thing off with some crazy animated friends. Stir well! Now sit back, enjoy and learn a little...
Meet David Burke, aka Slangman - the engaging and bubbly musician and self-proclaimed language nerd who has made it his mission to teach young kids about foreign languages and cultures through animation and song in his brand-new show Slangman's World which will debut on GPB in October.
The Slangman family was introduced to an eager young audience for the first time last Saturday at the GPB studios here in Atlanta. Judging by the enthusiastic reactions, the show will be a big hit with the pre-school and young elementary crowd!
"German is the most popular language and it is actually not that difficult to learn," Burke says. The creator of Slangman's World speaks five languages himself and has experienced first hand how powerful the knowledge of "foreign words" can be. "I want to prepare the children for the world and give them better opportunities to find their place in it," he says.
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- (© German Consulate General)
Slangman, the show's host, is a fun-loving wizard and inventor who lives in a house high on a cloud. His best friend, Wordy, is a young language dictionary on a quest to fill up his pages with words from around the world so he can earn his place in the Great Hall of Books.
The purpose of Slangman's World is not just to teach children a few words in a new language, but to inspire them to want to learn more about the people, languages, and cultures around the world. Fun is the key. Slangman's World is a feast for the senses, giving children more to discover every time they watch it.
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- (© German Consulate Gerneral)
When Slangman appeared on stage last Saturday, he burst into song straight away. It took him not even a minute and the kids were singing the Spanish phrases with him. They jumped, ran, clapped, and cheered as they were taught new words for their arms, legs and hands. And the antics of Slangman's friends on screen made everyone laugh. Learning German, Spanish or one of the other six languages had never been so much fun!
The parents, out of breath by just watching the show and the energetic responses of their children, were clearly delighted about this experience for their kids. Karen Peters, the mother of 5-year-old Ella, couldn't stop smiling as she saw the enthusiasm of her daughter. "I can't believe that teaching kids a foreign language can be so much fun," she said. "I know we will definitely watch this show."
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After the program, Slangman visited the German booth and had a chance to chat with his young fans. Most of them still remembered the phrases they had just learned, like "Guten Tag", and even suggested some others that they already knew.
Clearly Slangman offers his own magic in getting kids involved in the learning process and makes it all seem easy and fun.
And to that we can only say, "Willkommen" and "Bis bald" Slangman. We will see you on television soon!
Find out more about the program on GPB and Slangman's World
Slangman's World is proudly supported by the German Consulate General in Atlanta.
