Learning French Classes for Kids in the Chicago IL area

The French School, Illinois:
Located in Winnetka in the heart of Chicago’s North Shore (Lake Michigan), just 30 km north of Chicago, The French School, is a total French immersion preschool/kindergarten. We welcome children when they are at the optimal age to learn French, giving them the opportunity to develop a high level of language proficiency and fluency. The French School’s comprehensive curriculum is based on France’s internationally renowned école maternelle. Set forth by the French Ministry of Education, this program is revered as one of the world’s best and gives your child a solid academic foundation while providing a warm, nurturing environment where learning is fun and age appropriate.

The French School's mission is to empower children to learn the French language using an engaging, stimulating curriculum that provides a superior education, builds a solid foundation for future academic achievement, fosters intellectual curiosity, and instills an appreciation of French culture and awareness of our multicultural world in a nurturing, child-focused environment.

What We Offer:
- Learn French when it’s easiest and most natural
- Comprehensive curriculum
- Begins for children prior to age 3
- Native French-speaking teachers
- Half-day program, 5 days a week
- French continuing education for elementary school students
- Summer camp

The benefits of learning a second language at an early age are monumental. Below are just a few of the many reasons to learn a language:

- Sparks intellectual growth
- Enhances verbal and mathematical problem solving
- Stimulates creativity
- Augments understanding of one's language
- Facilitates learning additional languages
- Fosters international friendships
- Promotes cultural awareness and acceptance
- Expedites language requirements for school
- Increases career opportunities

Learning Languages at an Early Age:
Early childhood research has shown that the ability to learn languages is at its peak between birth and 6 years of age. Shortly after, the ability to learn a language quickly diminishes. This is largely due to neurological changes occurring during this critical period.

The brain of a young child has twice as many connections, called synapses, than an adult. If these synapses are not refined and strengthened, they disappear through a process called pruning and can never be reestablished. Therefore, a young child's mind figuratively "soaks up" information and can easily learn not only one, but several languages.

Our teachers are native French speakers participating in a teacher exchange program. Their academic preparation is very extensive as preschool/kindergarten teachers in France undergo rigorous schooling before obtaining the equivalent of a Bachelor's degree and finally attending graduate school for Early Childhood Education and specializing in teaching children from ages two through ten.

Our teachers nurture children into becoming life-long learners, instilling in them a love for reading and self-confidence while encouraging exploration and curiosity of their environment and our multi-cultural world. Additionally, they share their rich history, culture and language with them.

French Kindergarten / Pre-School Program: 

Our course consists of five general domains:
1. Socialization
2. Language (Spoken and Written)
3. Environment Discovery
4. Motor Skills
5. Creative Arts

These five domains are incorporated into thematic units, which explore a variety of stimulating topics consisting of age-appropriate, engaging activities.

Cercle des Parents:
Through our parent association, Le Cercle des Parents (Circle of Parents), we invite all parents to come together and organize fun activities and events for the entire school. Parent are encouraged to participate and bring ideas.

Room Parents:
At the beginning of the school year, parents from all classes are encouraged to volunteer as a room parent. Room parents assist administration and teachers in coordinating special school celebrations and projects.