Figure 1.--British prep schools introduce children to French at a very young age. Unlike other European children, British children do not normally come in contact with other languages. The average prep school student will finish with a solid basic grounding in French. Notice the lesson on the greenboard about clothing. |
French is the major modern foreign language taught in prep schools. Many schools have native French teachers as instructors. The schools vary as to the facilities devoted to fireign language. We saw few schools with language labs, but we are not sure how effective such facilities are. Most schools begin introdudcing French to the children at a very young ge. It is normally done in the pre-prep. One school has the French teacher work with the younger pre-prep children once a week, using puppets and songs to both entertain the children and introduce them to French. Other schools have different methods for introduing French to the younger children in an intertaining way. The French lessons gradually begin introducing the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Even in the actual preparatory school the teachers tend to use games and fun activities for the younger children. The children are encouraged to form simple sentences and talk in class about themselves, their family, their pets and favorite activities. The older children might concentrate on vicabulary phrases that will be needed on a trip to France. They will also work on grammar to prepare them for secondary-level work in their senior school. They concenrate on the Common Entrance syllabus. Normally there will be 2-3 classes weekly. Most schools will have an dvanced or scholarship group. The average prep school studen when he finishes the program t age 13 will have a solid basic grounding in the French language. The language program often includes an excirsion to France. Interestingly as close as France is, British families often do not venture accross the Channel. It is more common for affluent families, but not as common as one might thinkk. A few schools may offer options for older children such as Spanish or German. May British children take holidays in Spain. Travel to Germany is more limited.
