While kids are fun to be around and quick learners, teaching them can be challenging. Any parent would vouch for that.
So, are you a parent looking for a fun way to get your children to do their French homework?
Or do you want to make them linguistically proficient and learn a second language? There are many benefits of learning an extra language, and there’s no better time to start than when they’re young.
As the saying goes, “Those things you learn without joy you will forget easily.”. Hence, parents need to be conscious of children’s specific needs, behaviors, and abilities while teaching them.
But don’t worry, teaching children can be fun with a few tips and tricks.
Here are some tried-and-true techniques for teaching French to kids.
Factor in the fun
First thing, keep it simple and fun. It’s essential to have a strategy for the topics and vocabulary terms to teach, but always have room for flexibility. There may be days where it doesn’t go according to plan, and that’s okay.
″Strict teaching can impede the ability of kids to learn French. Pay attention to what kids like, and prioritize oral communication (speaking) practice first.″
Before fretting over writing abilities and verb conjugation, teach your child how to introduce themselves and engage in small talk.
A few activities that you can incorporate are:
• Word games
• Eye-spy
• Flashcards
Incorporate objects, colors, and crafts
Teaching must be interactive, but remember that everyone learns differently. A few of your young students may remember more information if they develop a visual relationship with the term they’ve just learned.
Make use of music and videos
″ Music and videos are excellent methods to keep busy learning a new language. Teach your children some French nursery rhymes or songs; you can also sit and watch French shows along with them.″
Do you want to envelop your infant or toddler with the peaceful sounds of French music? Sign in to your Spotify account to listen to the playlist Mes 100 Plus Jolies Berceuses (“My 100 Prettiest Lullabies”), which has a hundred different French lullabies to help your child fall asleep.
You can also watch movies and cartoons along with your children. Immerse yourself in the world of French. There is a wide selection of shows available on Netflix. Put it on and turn on the English subtitle and Voila, perfect fun/learning activity.
Activities and games in French
If you have older children who can play games and solve puzzles on a laptop or tablet, they can engage in self-directed learning.
″ Duolingo is a popular learning app. Duolingo is a fantastic app for improving fundamental vocabulary and grammatical abilities. It’s so simple to use that even a child can enjoy it.″
It doesn’t only test you on a wide range of vocabulary but also detects your weak points, so you recognize which words to practice more frequently.
Another great resource is Curiotory. Curiotory is a language learning website that provides a comprehensive online platform for children to learn French, becoming multilingual and culturally attune. They offer fun courses yet can be customized to suit each child’s needs.
Launch a bilingual French playgroup
You’re probably not the only parent in your neighborhood who wants to give their children a head start in French. Depending on where you live, some other parents may love to expose their children to French outside of the house.
So, how about organizing a French playgroup?
And to make things easier, there are several resources available on the internet for organizing a multilingual playgroup.
″ Bonne chance to your child on their multilingual adventure.″
We hope these tips help you kick-start your French learning journey at home. Remember that even small daily practice sessions will help reinforce what they have learned and make them confident to speak in their new language.