French Bilingual School off to a great start!

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Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Nov 29, 2017 18:58:48 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Nov 29, 2017 18:58:48 GMT 9

Twice now, my daughter has said her French teacher insists she speak French when she does not know how to say something. I completely understand that my daughter must speak French as much as possible, but she's not coming from a French speaking family and has only been in the bilingual school almost one year, so she won't know everything in French. She said she drew a picture of herself at the circus, and she was supposed to explain what she did during term break. But she didn't know how to say circus in French. She speaks in French to the teacher and told me she said in French she doesn't know how to say it. But the teacher kept insisting in French, no you speak French.

I sent the teacher an email asking if she could help guide my daughter and if she doesn't know a word or how to say something, to just say it in French and my daughter will repeat. Otherwise, how would she learn? My daughter said her friend, who has been in French school since the age of 3, (so 2.5 years already) is allowed to speak English to the teacher. Obviously, there might be a miscommunication going on and so if I don't get a response from the teacher, I will bring it up at the teacher meeting next week. And I don't want my daughter speaking English to the teacher at all, I'm glad the teacher insists on French, but I would assume if my daughter isn't sure how to say a word in French, the teacher would tell her how to say the word in French so my daughter can learn it.

On another note, this morning I dropped the kids to school late and one of the teachers said something to my son and I heard him respond "Oui." I was so proud. He is starting to pick up the French and because his sister speaks a lot of French, he has had an easier time feeling comfortable using the French that he knows.

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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Nov 29, 2017 22:27:30 GMT 9

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Post by Raquel on Nov 29, 2017 22:27:30 GMT 9

Marie, if I were you I would ask to speak with that teacher and find out what's going on. I get not wanting the children to speak English during French classes, but what your daughter told you sounds a bit extreme. I hope it's just a misunderstanding between teacher and student, but the best way to find out seems to speak directly with the teacher. Keep us posted!!

And congrats on your son's "oui"!! That's great that he's already using French.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Nov 30, 2017 3:16:27 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Nov 30, 2017 3:16:27 GMT 9

Thanks Raquel. I will keep you guys posted. So far no response via email. So it might have to wait until the teacher meeting next week. It's impossible to have a conversation with the teacher at pick up. The school is so hectic because there are so many kids around. I will definitely bring it up at the meeting.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 4, 2017 21:32:45 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Dec 4, 2017 21:32:45 GMT 9

I am proud of my son's progress in school. I just came back from his first parent-teacher meeting and they had positive things to say about him and his progress. He still speaks mainly English, but makes an effort to point out the things he knows in French (counting, colours, body parts) and he is proud when he tells the teacher. He also gives the basic responses in French (oui and non). We still have a long way to go, but I am very proud of his progress during the first term at the school. He is one of the youngest in the class and I was worried he would be too young, but he is okay and happy at the school. He has made a few friends as well so this makes me happy.

So far no reply from my daughter's French teacher. I am wondering, is this normal? I have the parent-teacher meeting tomorrow so I will bring up my concerns again! I am SO curious what the French teacher will say.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 5, 2017 18:56:26 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Dec 5, 2017 18:56:26 GMT 9

My daughter's French teacher said she makes proper sentences, but still lacks vocabulary...which is normal as she has only been learning French for a year. So we need to encourage more French cartoons. I have been relaxed about this because my son prefers English as he still doesn't understand everything yet. However, I think I need to be more strict and enforce a French-only policy at least during the week. I have also come up with new ideas for the kids to practice their French vocabulary. The teacher said she feels my daughter sometimes knows how to say it and that is why she does not tell her. I completely understand this as she wants my daughter to think. She assured me that if she feels my daughter really does not know she eventually will give her the word.

I have been a bit relaxed with the French vocabulary learning so will go back to my effort of making sure to give tests for the French nanny to complete and vocab to go through weekly.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 19, 2017 17:43:54 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Dec 19, 2017 17:43:54 GMT 9

Slowly but surely my son is speaking French. He asked me using a proper sentence in French "I would like cheese please." He makes an effort to use the words he knows with me and other people. He doesn't know many words yet, but I definitely see progress. As for my daughter, it's hard to tell. But she speaks fluently with the au pair and mentions new words to me sometimes so it seems to be going well. My search for a new au pair is not going that well! Not much selection this time of year. When I started looking in March for just the summer I got 100 applications in the first couple days. Now I only got like 10 in a couple weeks! Hoping we find a good one to start in March!

Raquel Star Keeper Posts: 1,234 Country (residing now): Spain Country (originally from): Spain Children, Ages: daughter (10) & son (7) Majority Language: Spanish Minority Language(s): English	French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 19, 2017 19:23:14 GMT 9 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Raquel on Dec 19, 2017 19:23:14 GMT 9 Good luck on your au pair search, Marie! Hope you find the right person for your family. I'm also happy to hear about your son's progress.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 22, 2017 21:27:51 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Dec 22, 2017 21:27:51 GMT 9

Thanks Raquel. I think I finally found the au pair! I am excited for when she comes.

My son is now using a lot of his basic French words when we are out and about. Mainly in the park where there are loads of French people. Yesterday, as he biked passed people he would say "au revoir." My friend who knows some French spoke to him yesterday in basic French and he understood and would give simple responses of "oui." I am hoping when the au pair comes he will expand to more sentences. He will say the odd sentence, but that's it. As for my daughter, not much to update, as I have no idea about her progress since she has become fluent. It is difficult for me to know as I do not speak French. I do know she still has a lot to learn, but she seems to learn a lot every day. She often is telling me new words she has learned. She keeps asking if she can switch into the fully French class. I suspect it's because they don't have to wear a uniform, lol. She has mentioned that fact before. But she also said it would be good for her French because in her words "I already know all the English words." lol. If only it were easy to switch her, then I would temporarily put her in the fully French for a year. But I feel it's very important for her to learn in English as well, so I will keep her in Bilingual. So many want the Bilingual spot, so if we left, we would not be able to get it back.

We will be going to a French-speaking ski resort over the holidays, so it will be interesting to see the kids in this environment. They will be taking ski lessons in French. I'm hoping the other kids will be French too. Although, it's very International, so I'm sure there will be English kids and others. But crossing fingers for majority French speakers.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 26, 2017 4:34:18 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Dec 26, 2017 4:34:18 GMT 9

It seems like our ml language is everywhere! It's amazing! We were staying with friends over the weekend and one of the caretakers of the house was French. Our taxi driver on the way home was from a French-speaking country. It seems like for us, French is truly everywhere. This is great and makes me happy because my daughter is able to see and hear lots of different people speaking French. It is a very useful language for her. The French-speaking caretaker was very surprised when my daughter spoke French and I think she was quite surprised by the level of French as well. We are off to go skiing in a French-speaking area in a few days so it will be interesting to see if my daughter speaks or is a little shy.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 28, 2017 17:26:25 GMT 9 via mobile

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Post by Marie on Dec 28, 2017 17:26:25 GMT 9

I forgot to add that while my kids were playing, my daughter decides “let’s play in French.” And my son happily agrees (as he usually does for his big sister). Then my daughter was speaking in French to her brother and he would respond in basic French “oui etc.” And if my daughter felt he didn’t understand she would repeat the sentence in English. It was very sweet. I have been making an effort to do story time with an iPad first because I have an app to buy French stories with audio. It’s great. But I do worry if looking at the iPad for a story before bed is not a good idea (worried it will disrupt their sleeping). But at the moment it’s only the way until we get the au pair. I guess I could find audio to go with some French books we already have. I could use the iPad and the book. Keep the iPad closed and use audio while looking at the book.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Dec 29, 2017 23:37:32 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Dec 29, 2017 23:37:32 GMT 9

We are on holiday and today my daughter had her first interaction with a French speaker. She spoke a little and I encouraged her more, by saying the woman is great to chat to because she speaks French perfectly! Little did I know this wasn’t the case according to my daughter. She quickly said, “No, she doesn't! She speaks French with an English accent!” Luckily, the lady was busy and didn’t hear my daughter say this. I found out from my sister that the lady was indeed not a native French speaker and was from Portugal, but had learned French. I had no idea, because I can't really tell with the accents. But my daughter quickly noticed this. Amazing how good kids ears are. But I’ll have to explain to my daughter not to point out if someone's accent is different. Unless it’s me or her brother so she can help us learn the correct way.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 3, 2018 6:29:25 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Jan 3, 2018 6:29:25 GMT 9

My kids started ski school and I watched while my daughter didn’t notice. I’m proud to report the instructor spoke only in French to her and she responded in French. He would then speak English to another child to give that child instructions. I was happy and proud that my daughter spoke back in French even though she clearly saw him speaking English to another child. The instructor realised I was her mom and came to me speaking French. I had to explain I only speak English. This made me proud, as my daughter must have spoken all in French to him if he assumed I spoke French. My daughter made a friend with an English speaker and the parents later told me she goes to a fully French school. But English is her mother tongue so she speaks English with them. But they told me she had told them that my daughter speaks French. 😀 Of course, my daughter spoke some English to the girl, but they also played in French. I look forward to my son being able to chat in French.

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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 4, 2018 0:14:20 GMT 9

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Post by Patricia on Jan 4, 2018 0:14:20 GMT 9

So nice to read about your daughter helping out your son. I'm still waiting to see my youngest start to speak German. I don't get to see her with her teachers in kindergarten but I suspect she is beginning to understand them a little, and she has been singing some German songs to herself. We were at a party over the holidays and the son of the hosts was a few years older than my daughters. He talked to them in German and my oldest spoke back without being shy at all...and then I watched her translate what he was saying to her younger sister. I'll have to tell her to start helping her sister with German rather than translating.

Adam Beck Head Keeper Author of "Maximize Your Child's Bilingual Ability" and "Bilingual Success Stories Around the World" Posts: 2,176 Country (residing now): Japan Country (originally from): USA Children, Ages: Girl, 19 and Boy, 16 Majority Language: Japanese Minority Language(s): English, Spanish	French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 4, 2018 7:08:18 GMT 9 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Adam Beck on Jan 4, 2018 7:08:18 GMT 9 Marie, I'm happy to hear that things continue to go well for you and your kids. I'm sure you'll experience a lot of satisfying progress in 2018, too. (And best of luck with your own French!)
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Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 4, 2018 19:04:51 GMT 9

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Post by Marie on Jan 4, 2018 19:04:51 GMT 9

Hi Patricia, if your youngest is 2.5 that is still young. It might not be until she's a little older when she starts speaking in the ml language. My daughter also does the translating for my son and sometimes I worry it will make it take longer for him to speak French as he doesn’t have as much of a need with a translator there, lol. But at least in school he is in a different class.

Thanks Adam! Wishing you a great 2018!

We have found our au pair and she starts in March. I’m excited for this as I know how beneficial it is.

Raquel Star Keeper Posts: 1,234 Country (residing now): Spain Country (originally from): Spain Children, Ages: daughter (10) & son (7) Majority Language: Spanish Minority Language(s): English	French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 8, 2018 19:01:34 GMT 9 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Raquel on Jan 8, 2018 19:01:34 GMT 9 Glad you finally found an au pair, Marie!! It looks like you didn't waste your time during the holidays, spending time in French-speaking places and all. Glad to hear it went so well!

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 9, 2018 3:04:42 GMT 9 via mobile

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Post by Marie on Jan 9, 2018 3:04:42 GMT 9

I am very lucky that my sister and husband decided to buy a house in a French-speaking town in the mountains so when we go the kids will always be exposed to French when at the shops and at ski school or summer camp. We will probably go twice a year. I am also lucky my husband's mother studied French and is able to speak it with my daughter when we visit them (although with a strong accent, but it’s okay as it doesn’t affect my daughter and she likes to chat with her grandma in French). Now I just have to think of how to get French exposure when we visit my parents during the summer. We will only go a week. But if I found a French babysitter I would go much longer. But we can get by with French cartoons and audio books.

Marie
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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 9, 2018 3:16:28 GMT 9 via mobile

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Post by Marie on Jan 9, 2018 3:16:28 GMT 9

Forgot to add that my kids were super happy to return to school. I am so glad I went ahead with my instinct to transfer my daughter to bilingual school. I realise that tomorrow it was one year since we made the move. I have no regrets. I was a little worried pulling her from a school she was happy at. Also, a couple of people had negative views. One mom who came from an English-speaking family said her daughter shut down when she tried to send her to French nursery in the area and strongly advised not to do it. I’m so glad I went with my gut and decided to take a chance. My husband was a little worried, but I’m so happy he agreed to send the kids. They are both doing well and happy. Over the weekend I heard my son speak basic French with nanny. So he can speak some French!

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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 9, 2018 18:43:08 GMT 9 via mobile

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Post by Nellie on Jan 9, 2018 18:43:08 GMT 9

Marie, I love reading your positive updates! You definitely did the right thing. I think also that one difference between you and many other people with kids in bilingual schools (and maybe the woman who warned you against it) is that you are actively seeking to reinforce their language outside of school too. That is the way to go for sure!

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French Bilingual School off to a great start! Jan 9, 2018 19:18:19 GMT 9

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Post by Raquel on Jan 9, 2018 19:18:19 GMT 9

That's great that you have a French-speaking place to go to on vacation, Marie!!

I agree with Nellie. Taking your children to a bilingual school, or one where a minority language is spoken, and expecting the school to do all the work isn't realistic; you have to get involved too. You did, and so you increased your chances of success. Good for you, Marie!!

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