Five year old wants to learn French!

[BBeep]

My DD (in Reception, she's five and a half) has been asking for ages to learn French. I think it's a brilliant idea, so we downloaded Duolingo to the iPad and she was super excited to get started.
But, I feel Duolingo is a bit too advanced for her - it focuses on reading the words, and she's obviously only just started learning to read English, let alone learning new rules and sounds for French.

Can anyone recommend an app for young children that focuses mainly on verbal learning? I've had a quick Google but nothing is jumping out!

She doesn't want to go to a class or anything, and ideally I won't have to pay for the app ha ha! But of course if it's a good one and she uses it, I'd definitely consider having a monthly subscription.

Thanks!

This may be controversial seeing as your child has specifically mentioned French but consider which language your child will use most in the future. I did French to A level standard and barely ever used it as only spent 3 days in France in my life. Spanish wasn’t an option at my schools but it would have been a much better option for me and proving more difficult to learn as an adult (although I am trying).

@Retiredearly61 French is spoken in many countries and not just France. Our dc are fluent (me and dh are not) and we have travelled to a few countries outside of France where the language is used. Our dc get the opportunity to speak French when we travel even just bumping into people that speak French.

@BBeep my dd was keen to learn French as well (and I was keen to support her). What we did at the start was find a French nanny/au pair to speak to her in French/do flash cards with her (if you are in London you can find many who are looking for part time work via baby sittor app). Youtube has MANY French songs and cartoons such as trotro, Petite ours brun, peppa pig in French etc. Do Flash cards with her for basic words. It takes a lot of effort though and repetition for a dc to learn a second language.

@SamPoodle123 all I meant was for me Spanish would have been preferable considering I go at least 4 times a year! I just wish that had been my option as a child cos it’s so hard learning it as an adult

Does your school do languages? Ours started French in Y1, my daughter loves it so also following for anything i can download/buy to assist.
It is aimed at toddlers but my daughter has this (bought when she was a toddler) but as it can be switched to French it helps her with basic words
https://www.amazon.co.uk/LeapFrog-601503-Educational-Interactive-Multi-Colour/dp/B07CSXPJRN/ref=asc_df_B07CSXPJRN/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309952791721&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11204827555727823865&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007266&hvtargid=pla-563188452374&psc=1&mcid=e0fa2f46cb5030de962622aada9786c2&th=1&psc=1

I would look at general immersion rather than an occasional app. Buy some bilingual picture books The Book People (they trade under a different name now I think) used to sell a great range and Usbourne had a good range of vocabulary books for young children, a bit like a Where's Wally page with all the names for the items around the outside.

The lingo show on Cbeebies (or YouTube if it's not longer on) was great for introducing new languages.

Learning French songs and nursery rhymes from YouTube and there's bound to be children's language tutorial videos on there.

Watching favourite films and TV shows either in French or as she grows with French subtitles.

Ah yes. Of course, it would be best to be able to choose the option that suits you. Unfortunately, it is hard to know at a young age. Also, you never know where life will take you and how useful the language would be. For example, yes Spanish is more widely used....but for us we seem to encounter a lot more French (I guess by chance where we travel!). And yes, it is much more difficult to learn a language when older. However, when you know one, learning a second one is easier. DD is now learning Spanish in secondary and she said because she knows French that Spanish comes easily for her. I took Spanish in school growing up and wish I had taken French lol.

My toddler is learning Italian (it's my second language but my dad is Italian). We watched Muzzy which has been great and my older stepsons have been picking the language up from it as well. It has various language options which includes French and basically consists of short cartoons in the language and you can get an app with games as well that's all included in the subscription. I also read lots of books to her.

I bought a bbc video course (showing my age) for my dc 20 years ago, it may still exist in another format. Both picked up lots then did after school classes from year 3

dinolingo.com/learn-french-for-kids

www.muzzybbc.co.uk/pages/bbc-french-new?shpxid=ed3295a5-183a-45bb-a62d-b463196d41d2

It's the second one I had videos for, seems it's online now.

This would probably be suitable for her.

https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/french-ages-5-7/collins-easy-learning/9780008159467

I've made a point of adding a link to Foyles because it's where Grant and Cutler, the languages specialist, moved to and became the Languages section at Foyles.

I read Languages at Uni and used to buy my books at Grant and Cutler.

They have staff who can advise on further suitable products for young language learners, if you would like to ask about what else is suitable.

https://www.foyles.co.uk/help/contact-us

Thank you for your suggestions everyone!

No personal experience of it but someone I was at Cambridge with attended this from being tiny and she had excellent French. I’m early 50s now as she will be so it’s been around a long time.
She was brought up in Kensington so had a local group. It wasn’t an option in the East Yorkshire of my childhood but I’m sure they’ll have good online resources these days if you aren’t near a club she can physically attend.
https://www.lajolieronde.co.uk/

Muzzy is fab. Its all based on speaking

Does she have a favourite film? Put the French version on and if she knows the english script inside out she will pick up French quite quickly. You can also put French subtitles on at the same time and the French speaking.

@BBeep

What do you think prompted her to want to learn French, OP?

Youtube shows. Find her favourite ones (Peppa pig, Bluey and the like all exist in loads of languages) and switch all/most of her screen time to french, then you will feel good about the screen time because it's 'educational', and she will be motivated to engage with it. Of course if she wants to actually speak it then she'll need something with more active engagement, but this is a good beginning to make the other language accessible and fun.

A few of her friends speak another language at home (she doesn't know what!) and I have often commented that a colleague of mine is from India and speaks a few languages, but French more fluently than English. Possibly a combination of those things!

Not an app but look at little pim which are videos and also one third stories.

You can watch Peppa Pig in French, which will get her used to hearing it. I don’t know what the French kids channel is, but they will probably have a YouTube channel.

There’s a matching game app called LinguPinguin which helps with common vocab (food, transport, animals etc). Or various flash card apps (look on the App Store).

Look up “apprendre à lire” on the App Store to find apps aimed at teaching French children to read - there should be a fair few.

How much are people paying for after school language classes in Primary school?

Coffee Break French - they’re on podcast (free) and have supporting materials online

My son has done French since being in p1 it’s part of his curriculum he’s now p5 is very fluent

Are you sure its not taught each week at school? My son is in mainstream primary in a very rural area and had had weekly lessons since 5.

My son as well, it’s part of the cirruculum in scotland