Want to practice French at home with your child? Make this year even more successful by trying some of the following ideas.
Watch Netflix in French. Many programs that your child may watch from Paw Patrol to Pokemon to A Series of Unfortunate Events, are all available in French. Simply change the language option once you’ve clicked on the program. Many Disney movies are also available in French, although some are listed under their French names.
Ottawa Recreation offers many activities in French, from skating to swimming to camps. Visit Ottawa Rec and click on the appropriate guide.
Duolingo is a great way for students to practice French independently and at their own pace. Visit Duolingo or download the app.
Visit Radio Canada Jeunesse. You can stream many familiar programs, as well as play games and download apps.
Youtube can be a fantastic resource as well. Don’t forget to select restricted mode to allow for a safe search. You can slow down videos under a video’s settings, as well as add subtitles (although some subtitles aren’t always 100% accurate).
Stream French music, or download it. Try Gregg LeRock or Étienne (Edurock), who make music specifically for FSL students, or feel free to explore French artists.
Consider setting aside a time of day when you will only speak French. Dinnertime can be a great time to practice conversations in French. If this seems like too much, try baby steps like having French music playing in the background.
When you’re out and about with your family at museums and tourist attraction, consider taking a tour in French.
When planning daytrips with the family, consider crossing the bridge to Québec to go skiing, to go ziplining, or to indulge in maple syrup at the cabane à sucre.
Attend free local festivals and events in French, such as the bilingual Canada Day or Northern Lights sound and lights show on Parliament Hill, the hot air balloon festival in Gatineau or Winterlude.
When practicing French with your child, don’t be afraid to let them see you struggle. Let your child see you work through the problem: look it up in the dictionary, rewind the video, set the speed on the Youtube video at a slower rate. Seeing you problem-solve will give your child the courage and strategies to do the same.