Illinois Wesleyan University: Language School for Kids (LSK)
I currently teach French at the Illinois Wesleyan University Language School for Kids. This is a Saturday morning program to teach French and Spanish to students from preschool through 5th grade. We offer three 6-week sessions throughout the school year (Fall, Winter, Spring), as well as week-long camps during the summer. Our focus on target-language immersion exposes children to the language through games, songs, crafts, books, worksheets, and more. My French classes often use curricula from FLE (Français Langue Étrangère) certified ZigZag and Les Loustics. Click here for details and to register.
Many of our students do not get much practice in their target language at home. This can be difficult if no one in the home speaks the target language. YouTube videos are a great resource for kids to hear French while at home. Below are a few songs and videos of French language basics that your children may enjoy, as well as songs I've written on my own to help my students learn.
In-class Songs:
- Bonjour, mes amis
- Je me présente
- En français, we are poli
- Au revoir, mes amis
Click here for a copy of the lyrics.
Winter 2022:
- Les planètes
- Los planetas (in Spanish)
Many of our students do not get much practice in their target language at home. This can be difficult if no one in the home speaks the target language. YouTube videos are a great resource for kids to hear French while at home. Below are a few songs and videos of French language basics that your children may enjoy, as well as songs I've written on my own to help my students learn.
In-class Songs:
- Bonjour, mes amis
- Je me présente
- En français, we are poli
- Au revoir, mes amis
Click here for a copy of the lyrics.
Winter 2022:
- Les planètes
- Los planetas (in Spanish)
YouTube Videos/Songs:
- The alphabet
- Numbers from 1-20
- Numbers from 1-100
- Days of the week
- Introductions (song)
- Introductions (dialogue)
- Family (song)
- Family (spoken)
- Colors
- Weather phrases
- Weather song
- Un kilomètre à pied
Comptines (kid songs)
- Une souris verte (A green mouse)
- Au feu les pompiers (To the fire, firemen)
- Il était un petit homme (There was a little man)
- Fais dodo Colas mon p'tit frère (Go to sleep, Colas my little brother)
- Promenons-nous dans les bois (Let's go for a walk in the woods)
- Tourne tourne petit moulin (Turn, turn little windmill)
- 1, 2, 3 allons dans les bois (1, 2, 3 let's go in the woods)
- Jean Petit qui danse (Little John who dances)
- Une compilation de chansons traditionnelles (A Collection of Traditional French Songs)
Songs with familiar tunes
- La chanson de l'école (The school song)
- Les roues de l'autobus (The wheels on the bus)
- Dans la ferme à Mathurin (Old MacDonald)
- Sur le pont d'Avignon (On the bridge of Avignon)
- Tête, épaules, genoux et pieds (Head, shoulders, knees and toes [feet])
- L'araignée gipsy (Itsy bitsy spider)
Disney songs
- All in one place! (🎵You're welcome🎵)
Books:
If you are interested in purchasing children's books for your child (or yourself!), below are listed a few different series that my children especially enjoy. We usually purchase used books through amazon or abebooks. I have provided Amazon links to just one book in the series to get you started.
- T'choupi by Thierry Courtin
- Trotro by Gabrielle Vincent
- Caillou
- P'tit Loup by Orianne Lallemand
- Le Loup (by the same author as P'tit Loup, Orianne Lallemand, but more advanced)
- Petit Ours Brun by Marie Aubinais
- SamSam (more advanced)
- On YouTube, if you search for "Ma petite histoire du soir" (My Little Evening Story), you should find lots of options for familiar Disney stories, read in 2-3 minutes.
Apps:
I have not had a chance to try out all of these apps with my own kids yet, but I thought I might direct you to several blogs I have found where other parents and educators have reviewed French-language apps for the kids in their own lives. (These blogs are not for apps only, so you may find other French-language/culture inspiration to share with your kids!)
- International Mama
- French Apps for Kids (France)
- French Apps for Kids (Canada)
- Gus on the Go
- Jeux pour lire avec Sami et Julie
- Fun French
My three year old daughter loves T'choupi, and she really enjoys these apps:
- T'choupi: les couleurs
- T'choupi: les lettres
- Nathan Maternelle Petite Section (3-4 ans) (not T'choupi)
- Nathan Maternelle Grande Section (5-6 ans) (not T'choupi)
Tiggly are also for the younger crowd, but you can put them in many languages, including French.
For slightly older French learners, I think the Classic Fairy Tales Collection (we got for iPad) is great. It allows you to listen and follow along in French with well known fairy tales, and there are interactive pages throughout the books. We have done Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, The Jungle Book, Thumbelina, and Red Riding Hood!
Netflix:
** OUR NEW FAVORITE: OCTONAUTS!** - This is actually a very cute, educational show, and you can put it in French (or Spanish). It's a group of animals who live underwater, go on adventures, help sea creatures, and education our children in the process. My 3.5 year old and 6.5 year old both love this show.
These are currently available in French, but they don't all have subtitles. I have seen very few, so you'll want to check things out with or before your kiddos.
SPIRIT - About a girl and her friends who love horses. We have actually seen this one, and it's alright!
MASHA AND THE BEAR - There really isn't a lot of talking in this one, but it's okay. My three year old loves it.
POCOYO - This is cute, but it's for very young children.
**UPDATE** - My kids are now 9.5 and 6.5 and still love both Octonauts and Masha and the Bear in French. My 6.5 year old also likes Puffin' Rock, which we put in French.
From frenchculture.org:
POWER RANGERS - This series for kids is full of action and contains some quick-on-your-feet language tactics for conflict resolution. It’s great for beginners for the purpose of learning basic French vocabulary and action verbs!
THE LONG LONG HOLIDAY (LES GRANDES GRANDES VACANCES) - Young siblings learn about country life and surviving Nazi occupation when World War II breaks out while they're visiting grandparents in Normandy. At the age of 5-7.
MIRACULOUS: TALES OF LADYBUG & CAT NOIR (MIRACULOUS, LES AVENTURES DE LADYBUG & CHAT NOIR) - Set in modern-day Paris, the series focuses on teenagers Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste. When evil arises, Marinette transforms into her secret superhero persona Ladybug, while Adrien transforms into his superhero persona Cat Noir, using powerful objects known as the Miraculous. Oblivious to each other's true identities, the two work together to protect Paris from the mysterious villain Hawk Moth, who covets and attempts to steal their powers by using his akuma, butterflies infused with black energy, to transform everyday citizens into supervillains.
WAKFU - In a fantasy world, a mysterious figure leaves a baby boy with a retired bounty hunter in a small village with instructions to raise him until the time is right for him to find his biological family. Years later, that boy named Yugo discovers he has powerful magic abilities using the power of Wakfu even as his village is threatened. Working with a bunch of newfound friends, Yugo is able to help save his home and discover his quest. However, there are villains who know about the boy too and are determined to gain his power for their own ends. At the age of 11-12.
YouTube TV Shows:
Some French/Canadian/American (dubbed) TV shows can be found on YouTube.
- SamSam
- TroTro
- T'choupi
- Caillou
- Sam le Pompier
- Charlotte aux Fraises
YouTube Videos/Songs:
- The alphabet
- Numbers from 1-20
- Numbers from 1-100
- Days of the week
- Introductions (song)
- Introductions (dialogue)
- Family (song)
- Family (spoken)
- Colors
- Weather phrases
- Weather song
- Un kilomètre à pied
Comptines (kid songs)
- Une souris verte (A green mouse)
- Au feu les pompiers (To the fire, firemen)
- Il était un petit homme (There was a little man)
- Fais dodo Colas mon p'tit frère (Go to sleep, Colas my little brother)
- Promenons-nous dans les bois (Let's go for a walk in the woods)
- Tourne tourne petit moulin (Turn, turn little windmill)
- 1, 2, 3 allons dans les bois (1, 2, 3 let's go in the woods)
- Jean Petit qui danse (Little John who dances)
- Une compilation de chansons traditionnelles (A Collection of Traditional French Songs)
Songs with familiar tunes
- La chanson de l'école (The school song)
- Les roues de l'autobus (The wheels on the bus)
- Dans la ferme à Mathurin (Old MacDonald)
- Sur le pont d'Avignon (On the bridge of Avignon)
- Tête, épaules, genoux et pieds (Head, shoulders, knees and toes [feet])
- L'araignée gipsy (Itsy bitsy spider)
Disney songs
- All in one place! (🎵You're welcome🎵)
Books:
If you are interested in purchasing children's books for your child (or yourself!), below are listed a few different series that my children especially enjoy. We usually purchase used books through amazon or abebooks. I have provided Amazon links to just one book in the series to get you started.
- T'choupi by Thierry Courtin
- Trotro by Gabrielle Vincent
- Caillou
- P'tit Loup by Orianne Lallemand
- Le Loup (by the same author as P'tit Loup, Orianne Lallemand, but more advanced)
- Petit Ours Brun by Marie Aubinais
- SamSam (more advanced)
- On YouTube, if you search for "Ma petite histoire du soir" (My Little Evening Story), you should find lots of options for familiar Disney stories, read in 2-3 minutes.
Apps:
I have not had a chance to try out all of these apps with my own kids yet, but I thought I might direct you to several blogs I have found where other parents and educators have reviewed French-language apps for the kids in their own lives. (These blogs are not for apps only, so you may find other French-language/culture inspiration to share with your kids!)
- International Mama
- French Apps for Kids (France)
- French Apps for Kids (Canada)
- Gus on the Go
- Jeux pour lire avec Sami et Julie
- Fun French
My three year old daughter loves T'choupi, and she really enjoys these apps:
- T'choupi: les couleurs
- T'choupi: les lettres
- Nathan Maternelle Petite Section (3-4 ans) (not T'choupi)
- Nathan Maternelle Grande Section (5-6 ans) (not T'choupi)
Tiggly are also for the younger crowd, but you can put them in many languages, including French.
For slightly older French learners, I think the Classic Fairy Tales Collection (we got for iPad) is great. It allows you to listen and follow along in French with well known fairy tales, and there are interactive pages throughout the books. We have done Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, Hansel and Gretel, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, The Jungle Book, Thumbelina, and Red Riding Hood!
Netflix:
** OUR NEW FAVORITE: OCTONAUTS!** - This is actually a very cute, educational show, and you can put it in French (or Spanish). It's a group of animals who live underwater, go on adventures, help sea creatures, and education our children in the process. My 3.5 year old and 6.5 year old both love this show.
These are currently available in French, but they don't all have subtitles. I have seen very few, so you'll want to check things out with or before your kiddos.
SPIRIT - About a girl and her friends who love horses. We have actually seen this one, and it's alright!
MASHA AND THE BEAR - There really isn't a lot of talking in this one, but it's okay. My three year old loves it.
POCOYO - This is cute, but it's for very young children.
**UPDATE** - My kids are now 9.5 and 6.5 and still love both Octonauts and Masha and the Bear in French. My 6.5 year old also likes Puffin' Rock, which we put in French.
From frenchculture.org:
POWER RANGERS - This series for kids is full of action and contains some quick-on-your-feet language tactics for conflict resolution. It’s great for beginners for the purpose of learning basic French vocabulary and action verbs!
THE LONG LONG HOLIDAY (LES GRANDES GRANDES VACANCES) - Young siblings learn about country life and surviving Nazi occupation when World War II breaks out while they're visiting grandparents in Normandy. At the age of 5-7.
MIRACULOUS: TALES OF LADYBUG & CAT NOIR (MIRACULOUS, LES AVENTURES DE LADYBUG & CHAT NOIR) - Set in modern-day Paris, the series focuses on teenagers Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste. When evil arises, Marinette transforms into her secret superhero persona Ladybug, while Adrien transforms into his superhero persona Cat Noir, using powerful objects known as the Miraculous. Oblivious to each other's true identities, the two work together to protect Paris from the mysterious villain Hawk Moth, who covets and attempts to steal their powers by using his akuma, butterflies infused with black energy, to transform everyday citizens into supervillains.
WAKFU - In a fantasy world, a mysterious figure leaves a baby boy with a retired bounty hunter in a small village with instructions to raise him until the time is right for him to find his biological family. Years later, that boy named Yugo discovers he has powerful magic abilities using the power of Wakfu even as his village is threatened. Working with a bunch of newfound friends, Yugo is able to help save his home and discover his quest. However, there are villains who know about the boy too and are determined to gain his power for their own ends. At the age of 11-12.
YouTube TV Shows:
Some French/Canadian/American (dubbed) TV shows can be found on YouTube.
- SamSam
- TroTro
- T'choupi
- Caillou
- Sam le Pompier
- Charlotte aux Fraises