Learning in French
The best time to learn a new language is when you’re young.
Children at Teddy Bear Club have a natural advantage in absorbing sound and syntax with ease. Here, language is lived and played, not just studied.
Since all of our teachers are bilingual, French is part of the fabric of our daily routine. On campus, you’ll hear French being woven into day-to-day moments. For instance, a teacher might describe colors in French during an art project or name snacks in French during our daily goûter.
Our Daily Routines
Circle Time
Every day, the children gather at circle with their classmates. Each child has their daily job, and many involve standing up and practicing French in front of the group. We may be counting, singing about the weather, or formally greeting our classmates. French songs are incorporated into our daily circle routine as well. It's often the case that the first French you will hear at home will be sung!
Immersion Through Habit
French is woven into the everyday routines of the school day, since the repetition is a key component to language learning. For instance, teachers can consistently reinforce vocabulary about clothing as we get dressed to go out to the playground, and we practice asking and answering questions about our meals during snack and lunch.
What Does a French Lesson Look Like?
In addition to immersing our daily routines in French and practicing at circle, our teachers lead French activities using targeted monthly vocabulary.
We use immersive games, rhythmic songs, and physical props to make French tangible. When a child learns the French word for “jump” while they’re actually jumping, the language sticks in a way text on a board never could.
The following is an example of how we bring a story to life, and then have the children practice by leading the activity.
Language Is Culture
Learning French at TBC is a jumping-off point for exploring French culture! Many of our teachers hail from France, and we are all excited to share aspects of the country's rich traditions, arts, monuments, cuisine and history with the children. We learn to bake tarte aux pommes, try painting like Monet, or build our Eiffel Towers. Students in Grand Jardin and Jardin Maternel become experts on specific regions of France and then present their research to parents at a special event.
A Bilingual Environment
While French is central to our identity at TBC, core subjects like literacy are taught in English, ensuring children are well prepared for their elementary school experience. In French, basic conversational skills are emphasized for practical use and as a foundation for future foreign language learning.