How do you maintain your DC(s) written and spoken english if they go to a native school?

[SquidgyMummy]

We are in France, 3.5 yo DS is in the first year of maternelle (pre-school).
he doesn't speak much french (although he was born here in France.) DP and I are both British so outside school DS is in an anglophone environment.

I am not too worried about him picking up French, as he will go at his own pace through school.

However, we met some friends yesterday and their daughter has been the french system since Grande section (age 5) and she cannot read or write in english, (she writes english phonetically as a french person would.)

I read to DS in english and I know he is too young to be reading (and writing) just yet, however, in order to be prepared so that his written English doesn't suffer and of course in later years has the option to study in Anglophone countries should he want to.)

I am probably over thinking it at this early stage, but what should I be introducing DS to at the moment in terms of English early years schooling? TIA!

[ernesttheBavarian]

We are British living in Germany. Our dc all go to local school or kindergarten, ages 5 - 14. They are all bilingual they all speak German fluently and English perfectly. We only ever speak English at home, occasional lapses into German if friends are round, but often the friends want to practise their English anyway.

I taught all of my dc to read English before they started school as learning to read in German is easier and also different, and I didn't want them to then later find English too difficult and be put off. It's worked for us

Ds1 and 2 are avid readers, they prefer to read in English. Ds3 is a bit of a reluctant reader but improving.

Their written work is not as good but the English teaching at school is pretty rigorous so have no worries there.


They do know some British kids who either have 1 German parent or they are both British but nevertheless they, for whatever reason speak German at home and you can always tell. Their accent is a bit 'foreign', as is their grammar and their vocabulary much more limited.

So I would encourage the spoken English and a lot of reading. Depending on the quality of the local education, I wouldn't worry too much about the written. I used to be, as their written English was awful, but as they have had more lessons at school and it's pretty high level now, it has improved a lot. In fact, I bet their knowledge of English and grammar is better than that of a kid educated in UK. We also take ours back to UK most school holidays and they watch English TV so they are also reasonably up to date culturally and re vocabulary, as that changes a lot too.
People are surprised that our dc (apart from eldest) have never lived in UK or spent more than a fortnight there.

[homeanddry]

I agree with what Bonsoir said.

It's not easy to develop reading and writing skills in a language not taught at school. I found an native English student to come to the house for weekly reading and creative writing lessons when my older DC were at primary school and it made a huge difference.

However DD1 is a reluctant reader, and her vocabulary, spelling and general syntax in English is markedly weaker than DD2's, who reads a lot and is more creatively minded. If you can manage to encourage a love of reading it will certainly help.

And when they are older, a school with a bilingual class/section is a godsend if there is one near you. They are required to read and write in English at a level way above that taught in mainstream classes.

But IME the fast-track way to better written English is a year in school in the UK

[Bonsoir]

I'm still waiting for you to come and have a fun day in Paris with me, homeanddry

[SquidgyMummy]

DS watches a lot of ceebeebies and it has really helped his vocabulary. I will start on some phonics over the summer holidays. He has older half siblings in the UK, so I think they will naturally email each other etc, as they get older.
Quite an interesting idea sending him to school for a while in the uk when older. Perhaps a term not a year!!

[LillianGish]

One of the great things about being abroad is that watching TV becomes an educational activity and not something to be discouraged or frowned upon!

[homeanddry]

Oooh lovely, bonsoir! Soon I hope!

[PortofinoRevisited]

Lillian, indeed! Dd's new love of Newsround and Blue Peter is much celebrated in this house. Bob L'Eponge Carre can die a painful death in the Crusty Crab for all I care

[NomDeClavier]

I think German secondary English is of a much higher standard than French, which is dire and in a system which does not encourage creative writing. You have to know the tide you're rowing against.

But working through what is expected of English children - Bond books, 7/11/13+ comprehension and past papers, verbal reasoning etc - will give a thorough grounding as long as the parents are involved.

[LadyInDisguise]

The best is a year in the UK
Actually I agree with that too. Not possible in my case for various reasons but you can organise exchanges etc even for a 2~3weeks at the time with someone back in the uk

Well at least that's my plan to encourage the dcs to read and write in French. (Obviously they would go to France from the uk....)

[NaturalBaby]

I've been told about the lack of creative writing teaching here as well so that's something I'm hoping to work on when my kids are old enough.

[MrTumblesBavarianFanbase]

Sorry, not been on MN on the laptop for the last few days - DD's blog (she started it when she was 7, took a long break, wrote a few more at 8 - she's just turned 8.5). She likes to use my laptop, and is only allowed to to write stories :) She does write stories on paper too (usually in bed...) but those don't make the blog. annaskidsstories.blogspot.de/

[FloppyRagdoll]

We moved to Germany in 1993 when DS was 3; DD1 was 11 months old; DD2 was born here.

We originally expected to stay for two years. Although the contract was extended, there was still a likelihood that we would move back to the UK. Our worst case scenario was that DS would be the age for Y3 in Scotland, but not yet have started school in Germany. I acquired syllabus materials and BBC early learning materials, and we played "school" in the afternoons when kindergarten was finished. DS was reading and writing in English before he began school in Germany, as were his sisters.

Even although by the time DD1 began school, it was clear we were here for the long haul, we kept up with our home-based "English school" for all the children until they went to secondary school. Right through school, we encouraged lots of reading and lots of writing in English. Grandparents and other friends and family helped by sending letters and, as the technology developed, e-mails. All three children are comfortable with both languages. (Or all three languages, if you count Bavarian.)

DS decided that he wanted to study in the UK - he now has a first class honours degree from a Russell Group university. DD1 is studying here in Germany and has a student job translating websites into English for the student services department of her German University. DD2 is training to be a nurse here. She has undertaken work experience in Germany, Hungary, Scotland and Ireland and has drawn up a list of countries where she would like to work when she is qualified.

It was something of a slog at the time, helping the children to keep up with English; but I am glad that we made the effort. The children seem happy about it, too.

[cannotseeanend]

I have a child sitting GCSEs but going to school in another language. Predicted As to A*s. Bright child but not convinced would have done better if had gone to school in English. It's made easier by the child's own preference for reading in English and been given lots of practice in writing English over the last few months whilst preparing for GCSEs. That would have been made much much harder without a natual love for reading. I haven't had to do any interventions at all. Production of writing is highly prized here, so is being able to use commas and full stops, so it's all transferred into English, though if it had been German to English, as their commas go in slightly different places, that might have take a bit of practice!

[alteredimages]

So glad I found this thread! We have almost the same situation here squidgy. I have a 3.5 yr old DD in PS. She is now speaking quite a lot of French but had none except the colours and a couple of songs at the beginning of the year. We are moving back to Egypt next month and have applied to French schools, partly for the sake of continuity because she seems happy and partly because British schools are of variable quality and prohibitively expensive. Sadly there are no good Arabic language international schools. I too would love to hear all your tips for getting her reading and writing English. At the moment we are just reading lots of books but am undecided whether to start phonics with her next year or not. At some point she will also need to learn to read and write in Arabic. I can see arguments on both sides of the sequential vs concurrent debate but the general standard of English amongst French native speakers doesn't inspire confidence, and I am sure it is the same the other way around.

Maybe we can be phonics buddies next year squidgy? How is your DS enjoying maternelle?