How to Teach a Toddler French

Whether you have dreams of moving to France, are planning an extended trip to certain areas of Canada or simply want to give your children an academic edge, helping them to learn French as well as English might not be as complicated as you imagine. The benefits of fluency in a second language are numerous and far-reaching; as a teenager, second language skills can affect the college admissions process and play a role in determining what schools she’s accepted to. In adulthood, a strong command of both English and French can help her land a job, to advance in that profession and even enjoy a vacation to a predominantly French-speaking locale. As the world seems to get smaller with every passing year, here are a few tips to help your toddler grasp the language.

• Improve Your Own Fluency – It’s not impossible for parents that have no grasp of French to help their children become fluent, but it is very difficult. Improving your grasp of the French language, becoming confident with pronunciation and understanding basic rules of grammar will make it much easier for you to help your little one, and to correct any mistakes she makes in these areas as she gets older and her ability to grasp languages develops. You don’t have to be able to watch Amelie with the subtitles turned off, but it will help to have at least rudimentary skills.
• Make Playtime and Entertainment Time Count – Toddlers spend a significant portion of their day playing and, much to many parents chagrin, watching television. Directing your child to toys and books that help to develop her blossoming French vocabulary is a great way of channeling some of her boundless energy in an academically productive way, while investing in DVD’s that are designed to boost bilingualism with a focus on French can turn screen time into something a bit more productive. Video courses like MUZZY have proven very effective over the years, and are still marketed as the premier way of helping little ones learn French.
• Become Good Friends With Frere Jacques – Kids learn to count, recite their alphabet and develop other essential early childhood skills through music; building their French vocabulary is no different. Beloved children’s songs like Frere Jacques have been mainstays for generations; compact discs and MP3 downloads of classic French children’s songs are effective and infectious tools in your second-language arsenal.
• Be Reasonable – Toddlers are still learning the basics of language as a whole, and aren’t likely to be fluent in even their primary language. Don’t expect your little one to start quoting Proust and sighing about her ennui before preschool; she’ll be doing plenty of that as she becomes a teenager.
• Skip the Formal French Lessons – For most toddlers, a classroom setting with rigid rules and minimal stimulation is not likely to be effective. There may be pre-preschool language classes available in some cities, but unless the curriculum has a heavy emphasis on explorative play rather than restricting a toddler to a desk, it’s almost certain to be a waste of your money and time. As she gets older and is more accustomed to classroom-style learning, however, formal French lessons can help your child hammer out more complicated concepts, refine her pronunciation and boost her ability to easily read and write in French.
• Immersion is Key – Teaching a toddler any new skill is done best through repetition and continued exposure; second language skills are no exception. The effectiveness of immersion in a second language is one of the biggest reasons why parents opt for Au Pairs and childcare providers whose primary language is French, as being spoken to in conversational French on a daily basis is one of the best ways for your child to absorb the language and begin to understand the concepts. Instead of designating one part of the day as “French practice time,” try to integrate French words into everyday life; if you’re trying to boost your own French-speaking ability, this method will benefit both you and your child.

If you’re using flashcards and other educational tools to help your toddler learn English concepts, supplementing with French-language flashcards can seamlessly integrate French education with that of your child’s primary language. Alternating between French and English bedtime stories can also be effective; the illustrations in a French children’s book offer a visual representation of the language just as they do in English books. As your toddler’s ability to understand and speak in both of her languages grows, adapting your teaching approach to her individual learning style is essential for her continued development and success.

Taken From Become a Nanny