FAQs about French classes for 7 to 9 year olds
Can my child start at 8 or 9 with zero French?
Yes. Beginners have their own groups, with a maximum of 4 children, and the class is 100% in French with the Total Physical Response method: everything the teacher says comes with pictures, objects and gestures, so children understand from the very first day without anything being translated. At this age they also read confidently at school, which helps new French words stick even faster.
How is this different from French at school?
Groups of maximum 6 children instead of a class of 25, 100% immersion in French and speaking from minute one. The goal here is not to pass an exam or fill in a worksheet: it is to hold a conversation, so almost all the class time is time your child spends talking.
How are the groups organised?
By age and by level. A maximum of 6 children per group, and a maximum of 4 in beginner groups, so every child speaks several times in each class. If your child already understands some French, they join children who are at the same point, never a group starting from zero again.
My child understands French but answers in English. Is this for them?
Yes, and it is the most common case at this age. They do not need to start again: they need reasons to speak and children their age to speak to. Our French for heritage speakers classes are built exactly for that, and the small group makes answering in French feel safe.
Is there any homework?
No compulsory homework. Some weeks there is a voluntary mini-mission, like labelling things around the house or preparing a small project to show the group. Most children do it because they want to show it, not because they have to.
How long are the classes, and what about time zones?
Classes last 30 or 45 minutes depending on age and level, once a week. We have classes from Monday to Sunday and cover every time zone, so families in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania all find a slot that works.
À moi !
Pourquoi ?
Moi je crois que oui !
