This is what some of the parents have to say about Un Petit Bonjour classes...
“Eve enjoys the songs, games and activities. She likes being able to identify things from a picture.”
(Dad to Eve, aged 4)
“Leo and Lola are progressing well. They enjoy the songs and the repetition helps cement what they are learning. Both Leo and Lola enjoy the classes and look forward to them every week.”
(Dad to Leo and Lola, aged 3)
“Arabella really enjoys the songs and sings them at home all the time.”
(Mum to Arabella, aged 5)
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions parents have asked us. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kay.
Why learn French at a young age?
- Research has shown that children under the age of 7 are able to hear and perfectly reproduce new sounds meaning that they find it easier to imitate a speaker of a foreign language. If you surround young children with new sounds they will copy what they hear and therefore effortlessly learn a new language.
- Young children are naturally eager to learn and are curious about the world around them so why not capture this enthusiasm and let them learn through having fun?
- Learning a foreign language will be an important part of every child’s future education so why not give your child a headstart by providing the opportunity to start learning French now?
- You may find this website of interest to discover why you should encourage your child to learn a new language.
What are the educational benefits of Un Petit Bonjour French classes?
Un Petit Bonjour Fun French classes will not only improve children’s language and communication skills in both English and French but will also help to:
- Improve concentration and memory skills
- Boost confidence and self-esteem
- Develop awareness of the wider world
- Encourage social skills with other children and adults
- Develop positive attitudes towards language learning
- Find out ten fantastic reasons to begin language learning early.
At what age can my child start Un Petit Bonjour classes?
As a rule, children can start our classes in the term of their third birthday. Often parents contact us and are very keen for their child to start classes at an earlier age than this. You can introduce your baby or toddler to the sounds of a foreign language from a very early age just by playing them CDs/DVDs or singing/talking to them. However, Un Petit Bonjour classes require the children to understand concepts such as counting, recognising written forms of numbers, recognising colours, sitting still to listen to stories, etc. Therefore we have found that around their third birthday is usually a good time to start. Children any younger than this find it very difficult to concentrate for 30 minutes so may not benefit fully from the classes. It varies from one child to another – the best thing to do is to bring your child along to a FREE trial class between the age of 2½ and 3 to see how they get on.
Do I need to stay with my child in the classes?
This depends very much on the preference of the child and the parent. Parents are very welcome to stay in the class and even take part if they wish to but this is not compulsory! As a general rule, parents of the very young children (3 year olds) do tend to stay in the room but there is no requirement for you to do so. Parents of slightly older children tend to wait outside but once again you are welcome to come in if you wish! If you leave your child we ask that you provide us with a contact number and details of any medical conditions just in case an emergency situation should arise. We prefer that siblings who are not part of the class wait outside so that they do not cause any disruption. There is not much room to bring babies in buggies/car seats, etc. There is a comfortable lobby area just outside the classroom.
Can I take part in the classes and learn with my child?
You are welcome to join in and it would be a good way for you to learn the songs that your child is singing so that you can reinforce the vocabulary we are learning by singing the songs at home. However, please note that the content of the classes is not intended for adult learners so we would not recommend that you rely on these classes to learn French conversation for your own purposes!
What resources are available to help my child to learn French at home?
Members of Un Petit Bonjour have access to a members’ webpage which gives tips for practising new language with little learners, including our vocabulary lists and also to the lyrics of the songs that we sing in class.
There are many resources available which you may find useful to help your child to learn French. The following links may be of interest to you.
- FREE games, songs and printable worksheets on basic topics such as numbers, colours and pets
- FREE games and activities to practise numbers in French
- Advice on making language learning fun and easy
- Books at discount prices
- Practise vocabulary through games for FREE
- For colourful and affordable French workbooks ideal for young learners
- An extensive range of language books, DVDs, songs, posters and games
- French Books, CDs and DVDs at competitive prices
