Fluency in a second language is not the main goal of an early immersion program!  Most importantly, children who are given this opportunity develop neurological pathways that are unique to this experience.  In a way, they become “smarter”.  The added bonus of speaking another language is icing on the cake.  This said...

Although Spanish is widely spoken in the U.S. today, there are some great advantages to learning French.  Here are a few of my favorite:   * Unlike Spanish, Modern English is a direct descendant of French;  after the battle of Hastings, in 1066, French was the language  spoken at the court in England for several generations.  A blending  of French and English ensued.  As you child progresses in his  education, knowing the meaning of some common French words will  shed some light on some obscure English terms.  Is that an  advantage on standardized tests?      * French is spoken on all continents of the planet!   * French is beautiful!

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you do not.  Young children learn to discriminate between languages and their speakers (or non-speakers) very early on.  A bilingual child as young as two will only address a speaker of one language in that language.  However, you might seize this opportunity to brush up on your high school French or begin learning it yourself.

Do I need to be able to speak French in order for my child to enroll?

Shouldn’t my child learn Spanish instead of French?

Research shows that the best method of learning a second (or even a third) language is if either the same person always speaks the same language to the child or if a certain language is always used in the same context (for example: “when we go for a walk, we speak French”).  When the first method is used at home, it is referred to as the “one-parent one-language” method.  Since French is used almost exclusively at school, the answer is no.  Unlike adults, children are not put off or stressed out about this at all.  They can easily compartmentalize the two languages.

Aside from the children enrolled in the Toddler Program, the answer is No.  Though I understand that this may be a more suitable schedule for some families, it is absolutely important that the children in the Preschool and Pre-K/K programs be exposed to the second language daily for immersion to work.  Furthermore, children adjust more easily to “going to school” if this is a daily experience.      They tend to be more confused when attending programs where they are left to wonder each day: “am I going to school today?”

Will my child forget the French once out of preschool?

Research shows that it will be much easier for him or her to continue learning French in the future.  Furthermore, acquiring a third or fourth language will be greatly facilitated.  Also, the long lasting effects of the newly developed neurological pathways will help your child learn in all other academic areas.  This is the greatest benefit of early immersion!

Please, submit your questions via email(quoirinj@hotmail.com).  

We are very open to the idea of offering classes for elementary school aged children.  If the need and demand is there, we will most likely consider offering a first grade class (maybe as early as fall of 2009)

Will La Petite Ecole offer an elementary program?