French in reception class

[peso]

Ds 4.6 has french at school once a week. On his school report this week it says he should be practicing the vocabularly at home. No sheets have been sent home so would have no idea what he is sopposed to know.

TBH I couldn't care less whether he learns french at this stage or not.

Is it really that important?

Some people consider it extremely important (not me!) but that's probably why it is taught in the first place.

I would probably ask for the vocab and go over it at home, but not spend too much time on it. I wouldn't like my DS to sit in a class knowing that he had not done the homework etc. Just for that reason, not for the actual French .

The most I get him to do at home is his reading.

TBH it's really silly to expect parents to help with foreign languages unless the school knows they have at least basic knowledge

mrz I agree. My french is very a bit rusty.

I prefer spanish myself.

We teach Spanish in nursery and reception but it is very basic = hello /goodbye ... colours etc

They do offer spanish at lunch club but ds would rarther be out playing.

IMO, it is absolutely pointless to teach foreign languages in primary unless it is taught by someone with a real knowledge of the language and for more than an hour a week.

All my nephews and nieces "learn" French in primary schools in the UK, but the very most they can do is ream off "lundi, mardi, mercredi...." and "un, deux, trois, quatre....".

when my French DH sees them and says the most simple thing ("Bonjour, comment ca va?" or "est-ce que tu as faim?" etc) all the DNs are completely lost and look at him with a slightly petrified blank look :)

I just don't get it.

so, my advice is not to worry too much about it.

I Have slightly same problem.My Ds is 5 and in reception.He likes French,but all what he can say is;Bonjour ,aurevoir,oui,No.He didn't learned it at school,but from when i go back home in the summer holiday,he can hear my neices speaking french.
I learned French since the age of 8 till i left school in coledge,and Frensh is the second language in my country.The thing is i do understund everything said in French ,but it takes me ages to put my sentenses together to actualy speak it.And i would like to pass my frensh knowldge to my DS,but i really don't know how?Will it confuse him or not?Also my first language is Arabic,and i would like my DC to speak/understund both,but really don't know how or what to start with?Any idea please?
thanks.

Preciousmum, loads of advice, questions and anecdotes here.