Teaching kids French gives them a head start in so many ways

Teaching Kids French

Kids french

Language is one of the greatest gifts
we give our children.

Teaching kids French at an early age will give them a huge head start in not just languages but in all their school subjects.

Learning an additional language stimulates parts of the brain that affect all areas of a child's cognitive development.

* My Top 3 Courses/Programmes for Teaching Kids French
*Why Teach Kids to Learn French?
* Questions To Think About When Choosing a Method
* Courses for Teenagers in France/Europe
* Online French Language Games
* French Language Home Schooling
* French Homework Help

Recommended courses/programmes for teaching kids French

This is one of the newest methods for teaching kids French and is proving to be extremely popular. Their major selling point which I really like is the tools they give you which allows you to retain vocabulary and to learn ultra fast. It works on the principal of visualisation and word association. So for example the French for THE RABBIT is LE LAPIN - therefore imagine a RABBIT LAPPING at a bowl of water.

These courses are being used by schools and are receiving excellent feedback. They are more suited to kids who can read and write.

The French courses are available in a choice of SOFTWARE CD-ROM, AUDIO CD, or MP3 AUDIO formats. The whole course coves all the major grammar points you need for effective communication, including all major grammar points for GCSE. Learn more about Linkword Languages

KidSpeak is a fun interactive way of teaching kids French. It comes as computer software so you will need a computer. The emphasis is on fun learning so there is animation, fun activities, and interactive games, puzzles and songs. It covers every day vocabulary and simple grammar plus there are some printable activity sheets. Good for beginners and young kids. They have worldwide stores. Learn more about KidSpeak

This is aimed at learners from 4th-6th grade. The French Junior Course aims to excite kids by using lots of different activities plus there is an adventure story which helps the kids progress through the program. The complete course includes a workbook, audio CD's and an interactive CD Rom so you will need a computer.

What I like about this teaching kids French program is that they do not limit themselves to one type of learning strategy and the variety of learning activities and approaches make it easy for all types of learners to absorb the language faster than with traditional methods. Power Glide is based in Utah, USA. Learn more about Power Glide for juniors

French for Pre K - 3rd grade
French for 7th - 12th grade and adults

Kids courses in France

Paris - Junior There is nothing quite like learning French in Paris!!

The Paris- Junior schools are run by the Accord language schools and they have ane excellent reputation. Accord caters for all ages but has a special French summer camp which has been especially designed for teenagers (13 to 17 year-olds.

ACCORD Language is a member of SOUFFLE (professional organization for quality language training centers teaching French as a foreign language) and ELITE (European federation of mother tongue associations).

Atoll is another highly respected language school which caters for teenagers aged 9 - 17 years old.

They have study centers located in Biarritz, Cannes, Antibes, Paris and Hyeres. Their emphasis is on teaching kids French in a fun environment and in keeping the kids safe. There is a high level of adult supervision.

Cactus Junior courses
Cactus schools have a teaching kids French programme which is highly respected and popular. They have French courses for kids and teens aged 4 - 18 years of age and courses run during school Easter and Summer holidays, from 2 weeks upwards - all fully supervised by qualified, on-site staff.

You can choose from French courses in France, Canada and Switzerland in some fabulous cities. The aim of the courses is to give students a valuable insight into the local culture and cuisine and, most importantly, give them renewed incentive to practise the language back home - and hopefully breeze through their exams!

Why teach kids to learn French

Learning a second language at an early age opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries.

Kids in England don't have to start learning a modern foreign language until the age of 11 and then they can stop at the age 0f 14.

The United States has no official language learning policy. Responsibility for schooling rests with states and not the national government although the majority of states have secondary school foreign language programmes.

My top courses/programmes for kids French

sad face The BAD news :

The Brits are the worst speakers of foreign languages in Europe. Students in other European countries are becoming fluent in three or four languages.

Almost two in three Britons (62%) are unable to speak a language other than English, a survey for the European Commission showed. This compared with an average of 44% across the EU and just 1% in Luxembourg, the top-ranking country.

Only 44% of high school students in the US are studying any foreign language and less than 1% percent study a critical-need language. (nvtc.gov)

Only 9% of Americans can speak their native language plus another language fluently, as opposed to 53% of Europeans. (2000 decennial census of the population)

My top courses/programmes for kids French

The GOOD news:

* Kids who learn a second foreign language generally do better at all their other subjects than their non linguistic peers.

* There is a correlation between secondary/high school foreign language study and higher academic performance at college/University level.

* Learning a second language improves reading skills.

* Language learners develop a more positive attitude toward the target language and/or the speakers of that language.

* Language study increases a child's cognitive and critical thinking abilities.

* Foreign language study increases a child's ability to compare and contrast cultural concepts

* The UK government plans to start introducing French in primary schools at the age of 7. The target is for all 7 � 11 year-olds "to be entitled to" learn at least one foreign language by 2010.

My top courses/programmes for kids

Questions to think about when choosing a "Teaching kids French" learning method

Studies have shown that children who learn a language before the onset of adolescence are much more likely to have native-like pronunciation.

Many parents wish to give their kids a head start or a helping hand in French and luckily for you there are a lot of great tools out there to help you in teaching kids French.

Questions to think about :

Can my child read and write? Younger children might benefit more from visual, action and listening tools such as films, songs, stories and games. Older kids might also enjoy software, activity books and group learning.

If it is a local course - How many kids are there in a session? How much does it cost? Does the teacher have experience/qualifications in teaching kids French? Is it fun?

Is my child willing? Don't force your child to progress when s/he is not ready or willing.

Is it exciting and stimulating for my child? E.g. If your child is very computer savvy, they might prefer software as opposed to books.

Will my child need my constant supervision and how much time can I afford to give them?

Is the method suitable for all my kids and for all ages? Can I borrow or share learning tools with other families?

How can I monitor their progress?

Will my child have enough time to learn or will they have to give up another activity? Older kids often have quite a busy schedule!

My top courses/programmes for kids

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