So what happens during a summer French lesson for a K-12 student in North Vancouver?

Families generally come to me for summer lessons for two different reasons:

1. They have concerns about weak marks at the end of the previous school year, and want to address this before September. For these students, I do a lot of work around their confidence levels and finding ways to make French fun and engaging (or at least somewhat more appealing). I also do a deep dive into foundational grammar — because some students are actually YEARS behind in this department. Digging into grammar gives these students the skills they need to catch up, and then STAY caught up. There are a lot of bandaid fixes that can temporarily improve grades, but a deep understanding of grammar is the best way to make sure that those positive changes are permanent. Most classroom teachers are managing so many students that they aren't able to provide the personalized support that is needed. Working with a private teacher is the most effective way to close this gap.

2. Other parents want to avoid summer learning loss, and make sure their child feels confident and is ready to do well on those first few quizzes and tests when school starts again. I see this as "preventative care" — these students need to have the French educational equivalent of a teeth cleaning, not a cavity filling. So we focus on fun, interactive activities like writing their own picture books in French, or having conversations about their summer activities (summer camp friends, travelling, etc). The goal is to maintain a good level without putting too much stress or pressure on the kids, which can be detrimental.

My approach always depends on the student and the family's goals.

Everything is tailored for your child's individual needs and preferences: If they're a Swiftie, we can read a fun article from a French-language tween magazine. If they're terrified of speaking French and participating in class, we can slowly build up their self-confidence and work on their pronunciation. If they love legos, you can bring their legos to the lesson and we'll use the blocks to practice colours… You get the idea!

Click here to book summer French lessons for your child today!