Help Save French Pour Les Enfants!
We know that there are many Francophones or those interested in teaching their wee ones French. Stephanie recently wrote to us in a plea to help rescue a Saturday morning French class for 3 to 5 year olds. She writes:
Last spring there was a discussion on the Urban Mamas site about French classes/playgroups for preschoolers:
http://urbanmamas.typepad.com/
/urbanmamas/2007/04/parlez _vous_fra.html Since then, the Matt Dishman Community Center has started offering a French class on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. It's called French Pour Les Enfants and it combines songs, games and vocabulary to introduce children ages 3 - 5 to the French language. My daughter took the class last term and loved it. Unfortunately, it is now in danger of being canceled because only four children have signed up this term. It really is a nice class, and it would be a shame if it was canceled. I thought perhaps some other Urban kiddos might be interested.
A class description can be found here:
http://www.portlandparks.org
/register/Activities/Activities CourseDetails.asp?aid=92&cid =255918
I'm potentially interested in this class and should just call Dishman to see if I can observe one lesson, but perhaps the original poster can answer my question: is the class conducted all in French? Is it intended for children who already know some French, encouraging them to speak lots? Or is it more for kids without any French experience?
Posted by: Emily | January 20, 2008 at 12:51 PM
We took this class last session and didn't sign up again as we're just busy with other stuff right now. BUT, I loved, loved the teachers and although my son was shy in class he always told me what a good time he had. To answer Emily's questions, it's not conducted all in French, nor do I think it's intended for kids who already speak lots (this was my son's first introduction to the language). If it's in danger of being cancelled, perhaps we'll have to make some time to sign up again.
Posted by: Christine | January 21, 2008 at 08:44 AM
I'm signing up, though it looks like we've already missed a class?
Posted by: Blair | January 21, 2008 at 08:50 AM
This past Saturday was the first class for this term, but the class runs for eight weeks, ending March 15th. (There's no class February 2nd.) The class is 45 minutes long.
Like Christine's son, my daughter always enjoys herself in the class. She was especially excited about the last class because they discussed "les licornes" and what preschool girl doesn't love unicorns? :-)
Posted by: Stephanie | January 21, 2008 at 10:40 AM
My daughter's a few months shy of 3, but I'd love to sign her up for a summer session. I hope it's still available then!
Posted by: Julie | January 21, 2008 at 11:44 AM
This is the same french class that was commented on previously. There is a new series of classes coming up in late april. They are very well done....
Here are our Spring classes in NE at Matt Dishman Community Center and more!
Act in French!
Age 11-15 for intermediate, advanced or bilingual French language speakers
Wednesdays from 5pm to 6pm in the Auditorium!
April 9th to June 11th
Cost : $120 for resident / $156 for non-resident
# course for registration : 261759
http://www.portlandparks.org/register/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?cid=267055
Monsieur Moustache - French introduction for children
Age 3 - 5
Saturdays at 10 am (45 minutes session) - continuing students in Room A (# course for registration 261749)
Saturdays at 11 am (45 minutes session) - beginning students in Room A (# course for registration 261750)
April 26th to June 14th
Cost : $60 for resident / $78 for non-resident
http://www.portlandparks.org/register/Activities/ActivitiesDetails.asp?ProcessWait=N&aid=92
Posted by: Dishman French classes for 3-5 year olds and 11-15 year olds | March 27, 2008 at 06:30 PM
La Crèche Nursery hosts two Saturday morning French Language Multi-Cultural Social Clubs:
Mon Parent et Moi: a parent and child discussion and play group for families with children between the ages of 3-months and 5-years
Le Samedi Francais: a co-operative educational and social club for children between the ages of 3 and 8 years old (volunteer parent participation encouraged)
For more information, contact Anna-Gaelle at (503) 234-0861 or email lesamedi@lacrechenursery.com
Posted by: Anna-Gaelle | May 01, 2008 at 02:22 PM