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FAQs
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How many hours a week ?
Research shows that it takes as little as 1-2 hours of exposure to another language per week and your child will start using the target language within a few weeks or months.
LCF encourages reinforcement by parents at home by offering access to our unique online learning resource Babelzone, for French, Spanish and Mandarin for all club members.
All Fun Languages club members get a CD and songbook, reward stickers and free access to Babelzone (for French and Spanish) and e-books, songs and electronic activity sheets with Chinese Buddy (for Mandarin) as part of their annual Membership Pack. Other language resources are also available for purchase.
Most children attend LCF Fun language clubs for one hour per week. However, lunchtime Clubs of 30 – 40 minutes are becoming increasingly popular. Also, 2 hour “full immersion” clubs for groups of pre-schoolers in French, Spanish or Mandarin are working very well.
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What age can a child begin at?
The sooner the better! LCF Fun Language Clubs are designed for children from 0 months old.
We run separate clubs for preschoolers and for school age children. Read more about the Fun Languages programs HERE
Kids learn when having fun and as one mum recently said: “I can’t believe how engrossed my 4-year-old was in the classes. She did not even realise she was using the French words!”
Children play and learn together in small groups. The Club’s Methodology is based on informal, fun activities, such as crafts; music and songs; role-play and drama, plenty of lively and popular games.
This interactive and communicative approach is supported by professionally designed materials including flashcards, board games, CDs, songbooks and activity sheets.
The LCF Fun Languages method makes learning fun and stress free. When children play games, sing, role play and interact with each other, they absorb the new language without consciously thinking about it. This all takes place within a carefully structured progressive sequence which enhances learning.
Read more about our teaching methodology HERE
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What if my child already speaks a second language?
Attending LCF Clubs can help your child stay motivated with their language skills, and help them to really see the advantages of their skills. Alternatively – your child may be ready to learn a third language! This is something they would probably have a head start in, as they will already have an increased awareness of different languages and language learning.
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Are parents able to join in with their children at the clubs?
Parents are welcome to attend the pre-school clubs with their children. You can learn the new language alongside your pre-schooler and you can then have fun practising some phrases together between the lessons.
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Do the parents need to know this language?
No – parents do not need to be able to speak the target language already – and you may find that your child will teach you a lot! You may want to join an adult club so that you can keep up with your child’s progress.
We do encourage parents to play the club CD’s at home and in the car, so that your child does get some language re-inforcement between the lessons.
Check our language resources in our ONLINE STORE
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How much does it cost?
Cost: prices can vary but most clubs range from $18-$25 for a 60 minute lesson.
- How do I enrol my child?
You can find, enrol and pay online for your chosen Fun Languages Club.
If you cannot find a club in your area or you are having trouble finding a suitable club, please let us know and we will help you find or start a club for your kids.
- There are no clubs running in my area, so how can I join the LCF Clubs network?
We are always keen to expand into new areas, so contact us if you are interested in establishing a club in your area. It is often a fantastic way for a school to offer an educational before or after-school option for parents. If you think your school might be interested, we will be happy to help!
Parents can find out more about how we can help you get a club started at your school HERE
If you would like to offer a Fun Languages club as part of the curriculum in your school, please send us an enquiry HERE
- I would like to offer LCF Language clubs in my school as a part of the curriculum. Is this possible?
Yes – LCF has a wide range of solutions to help you to offer languages at your school, both in the classroom and before or after school. This is a fantastic, fun and easy way for your school to make languages available to your students.
Send us your enquiry for more details about this
If you are a parent wishing to find out more about starting a Fun Languages club at your child’s school, send us your enqury here.
- I would like to teach in LCF Fun Language Clubs. How can I get involved?
Visit our Recruitment website, Teaching Languages, for more information about becoming an LCF accredited teacher and what we look for in our teachers. There are also still great opportunities for Potential Franchisees in some areas.
- Why learn French ?
Find out more about the LCF Course Structure for our Le Club Français French for Kids clubs
- French is the ninth most widely spoken language in the world with more than 200 million speakers on five continents, from Europe to Africa to our neighbours in the South Pacific.
- It is the second most widely learned foreign language after English and is the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world.
- The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, more commonly known as “La Francophonie”, comprises over 50 member states and governments. It is both the diplomatic language and an official working language for many international organisations, including: the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts.
- French is a good base for learning other languages, especially the Romance languages like Spanish and Italian as well as English. Around 50% of current English vocabulary is derived from French.
- Since French is also an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking, knowledge of French provides a valuable skill for discussions and negotiations.
- Why learn Spanish ?
- Find out more about the LCF Course Structure for our El Club Espagñol Spanish for Kids clubs
- The language of Spain and Latin America is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world (after Mandarin, English and Hindustani) with over 400 million speakers. It is the world’s No. 2 language in terms of how many people speak it as their first language (after Mandarin), is spoken in 21 countries and is the official language on 4 continents.
- Since much of the English vocabulary has Latin origins, students who study Spanish find that they have a better understanding of their native English vocabulary. Similarly, both Spanish and English share Indo-European roots, so their grammars are similar.
- Spanish is one of the easiest foreign languages to learn with written Spanish being almost completely phonetic. And basic grammar is straightforward enough that it is possible to have meaningful communication after only a few lessons.
- Why learn Mandarin?
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- Mandarin Chinese is the most commonly spoken language in the world, with over 1 billion native speakers, and the importance of the language is rapidly increasing – particularly so in the Australasian countries. In 2008 there were 66,000 Chinese nationals studying in Australia, the largest contingent to date of Australia’s international student population.
- With China being the world’s fastest growing economy, and playing an increasingly important role in world affairs, employment opportunities in all areas are greatly improved for people who can speak Mandarin Chinese and operate successfully in a Chinese cultural context.
- Although Mandarin Chinese is considered as a difficult language to learn, it has a relatively uncomplicated grammar and, unlike French, German or English, has no verb conjugation and no noun declension (e.g. gender and number distinctions).
- Students of Mandarin Chinese gain unique insights into the culture of one of the world’s oldest civilisations. Learning Mandarin opens doors to thousands of years of history and culture, from Confucianism to cuisine or martial arts to music and is the best way to bridge cultural differences.
- Mandarin is the language of the future and is fast becoming a fundamental skill for those wishing to compete on a global stage.
- Why learn German ?
- German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe and approximately 55 million people speak German as a foreign language (it is the 3rd most popular foreign language taught worldwide).
- Germany’s contributions to human progress have been numerous and exceptional. In fields like the sciences and technology, classical music, literature, philosophy and human thought they have been nothing short of profound. From Albert Einstein, Karl Marx and Nietzsche to Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, German speakers’ strong contributions in such a broad array of fields makes the language a valuable asset in many disciplines and its importance within a liberal arts setting is indisputable.
- Having English as your native language, or if you already know English, already gives you an advantage when it comes to learning German as both modern German and modern English have evolved from a common ancestor language – Germanic. The two languages share many similarities in both vocabulary and grammar.
- Why learn Italian?
- The language of the “dolce vita”, Italian is relatively easy to learn and is a handy gateway to the other Romance languages.
- It is widely spoken in a number of countries and there are large Italian immigrant communities across Australia.
- Italian is a “musical language that is considered ideal for singing, with its gently rhythmical intonation and clear-cut vowels. Italy’s contribution to western classical music is also hugely significant and the Italian language is still used as a kind of musical lingua franca today for musicians all over the world.
- All students of art history need Italian. According to UNESCO, Italy is host to over 60% of the world’s art treasures and more historical sights than any other country.
- Students of the classics, music, linguistics, international relations, design and the culinary arts would also find knowledge of Italian particularly beneficial.
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