“The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one, the period from birth to the age of six. For that is the time when man’s intelligence itself, his greatest implement, is being formed.” – Dr. Maria Montessori

WHY SHOULD WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN FRENCH?

Home Sweet Home has recently introduced French language lessons into our curriculum.  We believe that learning French is an extremely valuable aspect to any child’s education. Here is why…

• We have the great fortune to live in a bilingual country; our two official languages are English and French. French is offered as a mandatory course in school nation-wide beginning in grade 4 up to grade 9. Many students begin their French education in grade four, and struggle to learn it proficiently throughout the following 6 years. As a result, the trend has been to not continue with French classes.  Students then lose out on a life skill that has the potential to give them an advantage later in life.
• Exposure to French in pre-school can make the transition into conventional French class much easier.  Students gain a solid foundation and familiarity with the language.
• In the traditional school environment, core French classes are not typically taught in an immersion-type setting. English is often the language of instruction.  This can be confusing for students, allowing them a reliance on already established language patterns rather than compelling them to form new ones. Teaching French in French compels both teacher and student to communicate in French, reinforcing vocabulary, self-expression and sentence structure in the new language.
• Learning a new language can be challenging. If it is introduced early on in a child’s cognitive development, this skill is acquired more naturally and with greater ease. Before the age of 6, language is stored in a different part of the brain, where it can leave a permanent imprint similar to that of one’s mother tongue.
• Being bilingual opens doors for young Canadians. Being able to communicate in another language means a more flexible mind, the ability to travel and work abroad (and in Canada!) with greater ease, offers opportunity in careers that depend upon bilingualism. So many professions have room for advancement if one is bilingual: teachers, politicians, government, doctors, lawyers, artists, writers, public speaking, social work, engineers, researchers, actors, sales representatives, consultants…French is spoken all over the world, including North and South America, Africa and Europe.
• Language learning is fun! Children’s minds are hungry for new information. Finding out that there is more than one word for their favourite animal, or learning a familiar song in another language is mentally stimulating and highly interactive. Home Sweet Home’s approach to language instructionaspires to have your child excited and inspired by their new-found language skills.

If you have any questions about our French curriculum at Home Sweet Home, please call us at the school. We are happy to discuss any aspect of your child’s learning with you at any time.

Your support is invaluable to making this program a continuing success. Thank you for being such a wonderful part of the Home Sweet Home family.