Tips to support your child in French

 

Showing interest in what your child is doing at school and providing encouragement and support is of the utmost importance. Your attitude will influence how your child sees him/herself as a learner and, in turn, will influence success. Success in school is strongly influenced by activities in the home and community which stimulate a child’s imagination and intellect, enhance self-esteem, teach good work habits and provide motivation to learn and succeed as well as provide a good foundation for academic learning. Good development of oral and listening skills in your child’s first language will be a good foundation for learning a second language. Here are some suggestions to help support your child/children:

  

1. Children need many opportunities to experience language at home. He/she needs to practice expressing his/her thoughts, ideas and feelings. Sharing your thoughts by “thinking aloud” as you go about completing routine tasks helps develop your child’s listening skills as well as exposes your child to new ideas and information.

2. Parents can help by reading with their child in English, visiting the public library, going on family outings, ensuring homework is completed, and communicating regularly with the teacher

3. Enroll your child in music lessons. Music will enhance listening skills and help develop the brain areas involved in language and reasoning.

4. Your child should be free to read for pleasure in French or in English and be encouraged to talk about his/her experiences at school.

5. Encourage your child to read French books, watch French television, listen to French radio and;

6. Expose your child to French outside of school through participation in the French arts and French cultural events in the community.

7. Consider taking a French course for adults. 

8. At any age, watching a TV program together and then discussing it can help to develop analytical and debating skills.

9. Playing games of all kinds, at all ages can develop hand-eye coordination, observation and reasoning skills, memory, vocabulary and math skills.

10. While a trip to the zoo or museum is a wonderful educational opportunity, your child can learn as much during a shopping trip.

(From the FSL ToolBox Resource for parents-- link available on my class website under “Helpful links & Resources")

A few Good Tips:

Listening:

-French music (e.g, Annie brocoli, Carmen Campagne, Jacquot, Alain le lait, Gregg LeRock)

-French radio (e.g., 104.1, 90.7, 94.9)

-French television (e.g., Radio-Canada, TFO, VrakTV, Télétoon français)

-French books on CD

Speaking:

-Play board games using the French version

-Go to a restaurant or shopping in Quebec (Gatineau)

-Talk with a family member or a friend that speaks French

-Encourage your children to listen in class and ask questions when necessary.

Reading/Writing

-Choose a good French book at the school or public library

-Write labels for things in the home (e.g., une chaise, une porte)

-Use a French/English dictionary

-Create their own dictionary or create word searches with the theme vocabulary.