Winter 2021 - Toddlers Classes

Description:

Upcoming Classes

100% Online: starting on January 4th , two 30mn lessons per week, Monday 10am and Saturday 12.30pm

100% in person, in Larchmont: starting on January 7th, 1 lesson per week (60mn), Thursday from 1.15pm to 2.15pm

Not available on those days? More groups will be scheduled soon, contact us to find out more

Learning French from a young age? C'est possible !

Have you always wanted to raise your child in a bilingual environment? In this case, learning French from a young age is the best way to make sure your child will develop language skills similar to those of a child growing up in a Francophone country. Young children have a better ability to mimic sounds they hear, so gaining exposure to another language before the age of 6 is best if you would like your child to speak French with confidence and with a natural pronunciation. For children who are 6 and older, other programs will then be available depending on their age and depending on the learning goals which are most important to you.

For young children and toddlers, Alliance Française of Westchester is organising French immersion lessons throughout the school year, starting from one hour per week, for a total of 30 lessons (or 60 lessons lasting 30mn each if you choose online lessons). When you register to our Toddlers classes on this page, your registration is for a total of 10 lessons lasting 60mn, or 20 lessons lasting 30mn, all taking place during our Winter term.

Our pedagogy is based on providing a fully immersive learning environment adapted to children and their developmental needs, so at this stage lessons primarily involve songs, toys, games, stories, and repetition of key words and expressions which will help your child discover the joy of speaking a new language. Teachers also focus on making sure children can learn and understand basic instructions, and learn to build positive relationships with their peers. If your family is already bilingual, your child will be matched with other children of a similar level and our teacher will focus more on an active acquisition of language, boosting your child's confidence in speaking French and providing a safe learning environment to help him or her embrace a multi-cultural identity. An informal interview will be arranged before the first day of class in order for our team to assess your child's level, as well as to gain a better understanding of goals which are most important to you.

When are lessons taking place?

Lessons will start from September 10th onward, and will finish no later than June 27th. Our school year is organized following 3 terms of 10 lessons each. However, if you're choosing online lessons, those are normally scheduled twice a week, for 30mn each instead of once a week for 60mn.

Autumn term : September 10th - December 18th (no class during Thanksgiving break) - Registration for this session is now closed
Winter term : January 7th - March 28th (no class during Presidents week) - Registration for this session is now open
Spring term : April 5th - June 27th (no class during Memorial Day weekend)

Children will be grouped by ages as well as depending on their level.

And what about older children?

For children 7 years old and older, please check this page.

Are there extra costs involved when joining this class?

Yes, it is necessary to have a valid membership before the start of the school year. Books are also required for most classes, and the total cost of the books might vary from $50 to $60 per child, depending on their age and level. In some classes, CDs might be available, however their purchase is optional. Normally, each child will need to have only one set of books per school year, although in some rare cases your child might have to purchase a second set of books in April or in September, if they're joining a group which has already started working on a specific book earlier in 2020 and are carrying on studying with the same book.

Please note that if you want your child to attend classes during our Winter and Spring term, registration will have to be paid in full one month before the start of the next session. Because of the strict limit on the number of children in all our classes, we won't be able to automatically reserve a seat for your child. For children who want to carry on learning French all year round, shorter Summer packages can also be purchased separately. Summer lessons will be taking place between July 1st and August 29th, 2021.

Anything else I should be aware of?

Due to the pandemic, we cannot fully guarantee that all lessons will be conducted on-site as the NY government may order a new shutdown. However, we will work with families on a case by case basis in order to propose the best tailor-made solutions depending on your child's learning needs.

Please note that by signing up for this Winter term French package, you are also accepting our general terms and conditions. During the pandemic, masks are required at all times, and you must strictly follow NY state guidelines. Hand washing is also required before and after each lesson, so please insure you arrive early, or your child may miss the start of their lesson. There will be no exception possible, and parents are expected to insure their child is following social distancing rules at all time. If your child is too young to understand these rules, you will of course be able to stay with them during the lesson to make sure they comply with safety rules.

What if my child can't join in-person group classes on a regular basis?

For families who would rather organise private individual or group lessons in the safety of their own home, or who are looking for a more intensive learning pace, please contact us. We may also be able to offer lessons at a discounted rate, for example if you're looking for daily French lessons or French language pods organized within your own home. Although in this case, please note our teachers are there to teach French only, they cannot be responsible for any other duties and an adult should be present in your home at all time. This option might be suitable if for example you're expecting to be working from home during your child's lesson, in which case our team will work with you to establish clear guidelines so a regular routine can be implemented. If you child is home-schooled and already following a specific curriculum, our teacher will of course work with you in order to respect learning objectives which will be agreed in advance. Please note that for lessons organized at home, you must be able to guarantee a safe social-distance protocol, in order to keep both your family and our teachers safe.

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