How to support your child in learning English?

English is an almost universal passport today for discovering the world and communicating. Whether for travel, study, watching films in their original version, or later, for work, the language of Shakespeare is becoming almost essential. To learn it easily, it's certainly important to start as early as possible, but also to know the right approach.

Whether at home or out and about, online or while traveling, here's an overview of the possibilities we've identified at école M. You can choose based on your child's age, and of course, your budget and available time.

Play in English (as much as you like)

What better way to learn English than through play? Even if you're not perfectly bilingual, there are many games (whose French equivalents you likely know) that you can play with your children. Here are four examples, fully detailed on the family activities website Ribambel.

• James Says (like "Simon Says"): A great game for learning action verbs. The rules are the same as Simon Says. First, name ten actions while miming them so children can understand what each verb means in English. Then, have fun!
• Crossword puzzle (crosswords): On one sheet of paper, arrange words to create a crossword puzzle. On a second sheet, draw the same grid, but leave it empty, assigning a number to each word's position. Provide a definition for each number, form two teams, and the first team to find all the words wins.
• Imitator (charades): On fifteen pieces of paper, write professions (teacher / maitresse), objects (book / livre), and so on, in both French and English. Place the papers in a hat, form two teams, and one team member must guess the word based on their teammate's mime.
• What do you see? (What do you see?): Place several objects on a table. Before you begin, tell your children the English name for each object. Then, ask them what they see.

Listen to music (and sing)

It's well known that music benefits mood and health. It encourages learning and also develops cognitive skills. There are many nursery rhymes available for learning English. Some combine gestures with words and are performed by native English speakers, which are highly recommended. Indeed, at this age, children are like sponges and learn through imitation, as Claude Hagège explains in his book L’enfant aux deux langues: 'The capacity for language learning is at its maximum between 3-4 years old. This is when the abilities for mimicry, which form the basis of most language acquisition, are at their peak.'

• The Conseilseducatifs website lists about ten nursery rhymes, notably 'Row your boat,' which is the equivalent of 'Bateau sur l’eau.' Their advice explains how to learn them and emphasizes one key point: no translation, only gestures!

Visit websites (reputable ones)

While there are countless English resources available online, a good tip is to prioritize reputable websites. These might include:

• The British Council offers numerous resources for children to learn English. These websites are inviting, colorful, intuitive, and fun. Children learn without even realizing it as they play.
• National Geographic has developed a 'kids' version, featuring educational videos (for example: 'a dolphin is not a fish' or 'un dauphin n’est pas un poisson') and quizzes to learn vocabulary ('Ice cream flavor' or 'parfum des glaces'). You can also subscribe to their magazine and share these discoveries with your children.

Use applications (reputable ones)

Supporting children in learning English can also happen on digital devices. Apps are an excellent tool. It's best to choose those that offer numerous activities, encourage speaking, sound recognition, and have instructions in English.

• Pilipop English brings together these features. To practice speaking, children must pronounce words correctly to earn points and advance in the game. This way, children can learn to count, identify clothes, colors, or even fruits and vegetables. Their motivation will be rewarded!
• Timmy’s First English Words (ages 3-6) and Timmy’s Learning New Skills (ages 3-6) are also excellent quality applications created by the British English Council.

Hiring an English-speaking babysitter

A new option for learning English has been rapidly developing in recent years: English-speaking babysitters. Organizations offer the services of bilingual babysitters from as early as 9 months old! The idea is simple: to support your child in learning English in a familiar and caring environment, without using French.

Doing activities (weekly)

Mini-schools aim to introduce children to English from the age of three in small groups. Sessions typically last one hour per week on Wednesdays. Their advantages include being financially affordable in Paris and the surrounding region, and providing a group learning environment for children. Elle magazine has listed some options in this article.

Learn more about the activities offered by école m

And going on a language immersion trip (later)

These trips offer a wonderful opportunity for total immersion in an English-speaking country, with English-speaking chaperones. Since they are suitable for ages 8-9 and up to adulthood, we will keep this option in mind for later.

Please don't hesitate to give us other ideas; we have surely missed some.

Now it's your turn, let's go!

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