Language Learning not up to scratch?

The Uk's National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) is conducting research on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills to assess the nature and extent of language learning provision at Key Stage 2, it reported in 2006 that:-

• Only 70 per cent of schools were providing primary languages within class time, and 36 per cent as extracurricular activities.
• For each year group, just under half of schools were providing the national entitlement; 34 per cent of schools were providing it for all year groups.

Secondary or tertiary language learning should be provided at an age when the child is learning the equivalent vocabulary and structure of English.

Start Young

These bi-lingual books contain a clear, concise present-tense narrative introducing a simple vocabulary for familiar nouns and simple verbs. There are few books available in either the UK or France that provide such an engaging start to learning a new language at a time when a child's language learning skills are still flexible.

Sample vocabulary

Each book has a 4 page vocabulary list in both French and English containing some of the following words and phrases.

La Famille	The Family
la mère	the mother
le Père	the father
la soeur	the sister
le frère	the brother
la tante	the aunt
l'oncle	the uncle