Learning a new language is an exciting journey, especially for children. As a parent, you might wonder how you can support your child's French learning at home, particularly if you don't speak the language yourself. The good news is, there are plenty of fun and effective ways to engage your child with French right from your living room. Here are some practical tips to help you get started, tailored for children from toddlers to the end of secondary school.
8 Essential Tips for Parents to Support French Learning at Home
1. Create a French Language Environment
Tip: Surround your child with the French language as much as possible.
♥ Ideas ♥
- Label household items in French: Stick labels on common items like “door” (la porte), “table” (la table), and “fridge” (le frigo). This helps build vocabulary naturally. Do it together to make it extra fun!
- Play French music: Albums like “Comptines et berceuses” by Chantal Goya for younger children, Aldebert’s “Enfantillages” series for older kids (and parents… I personally love it!) and French pop music for teens (Soprano, Stromae, Loane…Do not hesitate to ask us for advice!)
- Watch French nursery rhymes and shows on YouTube: Channels like “Comptines et chansons” for younger kids, “Mini TFO” for a wide range of children’s content, “LinguoKids” for educational songs, and “FrenchPod101” for teens.
2. Use French Media
Tip: Incorporate French media into your child’s daily routine.
♥ Ideas ♥
- French Cartoons and Shows: Platforms like Netflix and YouTube offer a variety of French-language programs. Here are some recommendations:
- Netflix:
- “Les Aventures de Chat Noir et Ladybug” (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir): Follow the adventures of two Parisian teens who transform into superheroes.
- “Le Petit Prince et ses amis”: A modern animated series based on the classic story.
- “Totally Spies!”: An action-packed show about teenage spies, available in French.
- YouTube:
- “Mini TFO”: Offers a wide range of educational and entertaining videos for children.
- “LinguoKids”: Educational songs and activities designed to make learning French fun.
- “FrenchPod101”: Engaging content for older children and teens to improve their French.
- Netflix:
- French Audiobooks and Podcasts:
- For Young Children:
- “Audiolib” on platforms like Audible offers a selection of children’s audiobooks in French.
- “Super Julie”: Engaging stories designed for young learners.
- For Older Children and Teens:
- “Salut l’info !” by France Info and Astrapi: A podcast that covers current events and interesting topics for kids.
- “Les P’tites Histoires”: Short, engaging stories that are perfect for children.
- “Une Histoire et… Oli” by France Inter: Creative and enchanting stories for kids
- For Young Children:
- French Films for Kids and Teens:
- For Younger Kids:
- “Ernest et Célestine”: An endearing story about the friendship between a bear and a mouse.
- “Ma vie de Courgette” (My Life as a Zucchini): A touching animated film about a boy’s life in an orphanage.
- For Older Kids and Teens:
- “Le Petit Nicolas”: A comedy based on the beloved children’s books.
- “Les Profs”: A comedy about a group of unconventional teachers.
- “Dilili à Paris”: An animated adventure set in Belle Époque Paris.
- Les Choristes : A heartwarming story about a boys’ choir.
- For Younger Kids:
3. Play Language Games
Tip: Make learning fun with games that incorporate French vocabulary.
♥ Ideas ♥
- Memory: Use cards with pictures and corresponding French words. Children take turns flipping over two cards to find matching pairs.
- Bingo (Loto): Create bingo cards with French words. Call out the words in French, and children mark them on their cards.
- Pictionary: Children draw pictures of French words, and others guess the word in French. Use a set like “Draw Me a Word: French Edition” for inspiration.
- Simon Says (Jacques a dit): Great for younger children to learn action words.
- Charades: Suitable for all ages, helping with vocabulary and expressive skills.
- Do not hesitate to ask us for more ideas!
4. Read Together with French Books
Tip: Introduce French books into your reading routine. Here are two categories of books to consider.
♥ Ideas ♥
Bilingual Books:
- For Young Children:
- “My First Bilingual Book – Colors / Les couleurs” by Milet Publishing: Simple and clear text with vibrant illustrations.
- “First Thousand Words in French” by Usborne: Great for building basic vocabulary.
- For Older Children and Teens:
- “The Little Prince / Le Petit Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: A timeless classic available in a bilingual edition.
- “The Bilingual Fairy Tales” series: Traditional fairy tales presented in both French and English.
- “Harry Potter à l’école des sorciers / Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling: A bilingual edition of the first Harry Potter book.
French Books Adapted to Their Ages:
- For Toddlers and Preschoolers:
- “T’choupi” series by Thierry Courtin: Engaging stories about T’choupi and his adventures.
- “Petit Ours Brun” series by Marie Aubinais: Follow the daily life of Petit Ours Brun.
- “Babar” series by Jean de Brunhoff: Adventures of Babar the elephant.
- For Early Readers (Ages 5-7):
- “Les P’tites Poules” series by Christian Jolibois and Christian Heinrich: Fun and humorous stories.
- “Emilie” series by Domitille de Pressensé: Stories about a little girl named Emilie.
- “Tom-Tom et Nana” series by Jacqueline Cohen and Bernadette Després: Humorous stories about siblings Tom-Tom and Nana.
- “Le Loup qui voulait changer de couleur” by Orianne Lallemand: Part of the popular “Le Loup” series.
- For Older Children and Teens (Ages 8-15):
- “Le Petit Nicolas” by René Goscinny: Classic tales of a young boy’s adventures.
- “Le Petit Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: A timeless classic for all ages.
- “La Rivière à l’envers” by Jean-Claude Mourlevat: A beautifully written adventure novel.
- “Les Colombes du Roi-Soleil” series by Anne-Marie Desplat-Duc: Historical fiction set in the court of Louis XIV.
- “Harry Potter à l’école des sorciers” by J.K. Rowling: The first Harry Potter book in French.
- “Artemis Fowl” by Eoin Colfer (French edition): An exciting fantasy series.
- “Percy Jackson et les Olympiens” by Rick Riordan (French edition): The popular series translated into French.
5. Use Language Learning Apps
Tip: Leverage technology with educational apps.
♥ Ideas ♥
- Duolingo: A popular app with a child-friendly interface that makes language learning fun through gamification.
- Gus on the Go: An app designed specifically for younger kids, offering engaging stories and vocabulary lessons.
- Memrise: Suitable for older children and teens, this app uses spaced repetition and multimedia content to teach vocabulary and phrases.
6. Practice Speaking
Tip: Encourage your child to practice speaking French, even if it’s just a few words.
♥ Ideas ♥
- French Corner: Set up a designated area at home where you and your child can practice speaking French. Use simple phrases like “Bonjour” (Good morning) and “Merci” (Thank you).
- Role-Playing: Act out common scenarios, such as ordering food at a café or shopping, to help your child become more comfortable using French in everyday situations.
- Language Exchange Apps: Apps like “HelloTalk” can connect your child with native French speakers for real-time practice.
7. Celebrate French Culture
Tip: Immerse your child in French culture to make the language more relatable and fun.
♥ Ideas ♥
- Cook French Recipes Together: Learn the names of ingredients and dishes in French. Simple recipes like “crêpes” or “ratatouille” can be fun and educational (We love cooking at Zest so do not hesitate to drop off a line and we’ll happily share a few recipes! We French always have a good occasion to cook something special every month!)
- Celebrate French Holidays: Learn about La Galette de Rois (Wise Men Day/special cake), Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday), Bastille Day (La Fête Nationale, le 14 juillet) – and so many more! – and enjoy related crafts or activities.
- French Day: Dedicate a day to speaking only French, listening to French music, and enjoying French cuisine.
8. Connect with Native Speakers
Tip: Interaction with native speakers can significantly boost language skills.
♥ Ideas ♥
- Video Calls with French Speakers: Arrange for your child to have video calls with French-speaking friends or relatives.
- Language Exchange Groups: Join local or online language exchange groups where your child can practice French with native speakers.
- French Babysitter or Tutor: Consider hiring a French-speaking babysitter or tutor for additional practice and immersion.
In Conclusion…
Supporting your child’s French learning at home doesn’t have to be daunting, even if you don’t speak the language! By creating a fun, immersive environment, by showing that you care and want to learn too, and by using a variety of resources and activities, you can help your child develop a love for French that will last a lifetime. Remember, the key is consistency and making the learning process enjoyable.