Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be able to speak French to attend?
No; whilst French speakers are more than welcome (and encouraged!) to attend, the group is open to all levels, including complete novices. In fact, the premise of our groups targeted at younger children is for caregivers to learn along with their child, so you can delight in a new learning experience together. As such, no prior French language is required. We do, however, help parents along their journey of learning the language by displaying English translations on posters next to all of the French songs that we sing. We also have a supporting guide and playlist to help you on your plight between classes
Do the children actually learn French from attending just one Bonjour Babies class per week?
Yes, in our experience, children who have started the group at a pre-verbal age, have readily joined in saying words in French and singing the songs once they became verbal. Even pre-verbal babies begin to demonstrate comprehension of instructions in French; for example, they will place the puppets away when instructed, or put their hands on their head when asked, without even being able to talk yet.
Older children demonstrate a particularly fast ability to understand directions and instructions in French, and soon become confident enough to mimic what the teacher says and experiment with things independently in French. Obviously, the more exposure the better, hence we have take-home resources to promote this; however, the classes on their own are sufficient to forge the pathways in the brain that enable and encourage foreign language readiness and retention.
Will introducing my child to a second language confuse them?
No, this myth has now been dispelled by scientific research showing that children are incredibly capable of absorbing up to three different languages simultaneously without any confusion between languages. In fact, bodies of research continue to show that bilinguals actually develop greater vocabularies in their mother tongue, and demonstrate superior reading, writing, analytical and even social skills compared to their monolingual counterparts.
What age groups do you cater for?
We have classes for kids from 6 months to 10 years.
We have crafted our programs around four age-specific groups, ensuring every child’s experience is tailored to their developmental stage.
- Bonjour Babies – for babies 6 months to 2 years
- Bonjour Toddlers – for toddlers 2 to 3 years
- Bonjour Big Kids – for kids aged 3 to 5 years
- Bonjour French Club – For kids aged 6 to 12 years
How long is each class?
Our Babies and Todllers classes are 40 minutes long. Big Kids class is 45 minutes long and our French clubs are either 1 hour or 2 hours depending on the location.
What resources are available for at-home learning?
We believe the best way to learn is through fun, laughter and interactive experiences. That’s why we provide a parent guide packed with keywords for you to substitute the English word with the French equivalent, we encourage you to blend and mix words into your daily lives. Additionally, you’ll have access to our playlist so you can sing and dance together at home too!
Where are the classes held?
We have classes in
Sydney: Rozelle, Paddington, Manly, Cronulla, Castle Hill and Artarmon. See Sydney timetable.
Brisbane: Paddington, Bulimba and Wynnum. See Brisbane timetable.
Melbourne: Carlton, Glen Iris and Port Melbourne. See Melbourne timetable.
To register to attend our classes simply click on the ‘Enrol Now’ button.
Do you offer gift vouchers?
Yes! We offer gift vouchers that can be used for any of our French classes, including private tutoring & French Club classes. They make the perfect gift!
To purchase a gift voucher, simply email us at [email protected] and we will be happy to help.
How much are classes?
The Babies, Toddlers and Big Kids classes are $280 for a 10-week term.
French Club is $380 for a 10-week term.
How do I enrol in a class?
Click ‘Enrol Now’, then choose your city.
Under Choose Your Adventure, pick Family Classes for 6 months to 5 years, or French Club for school-age children. Some cities also run a Holiday Program. If we only offer one of these in your city, that is all you will see.
Use the search bar to filter by suburb and find your class based on your child’s age. Babies is 6 months to 2 years, Toddlers is 2 to 3, and Big Kids is 3 to 5.
Click Book Now on your class, then Book Event. You will see the ticket options: a trial class, the full term, or a shorter option if you are joining mid-term. Pick the one that matches your start date.
Fill in the form, make your payment, and you will get a confirmation email with everything you need for your first class.
If at any time you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact us either by email or phone.
Is there a trial lesson?
Yes! We offer stand alone trial classes for new participants. Simply click on ‘Enrol Now’ button choose your class and choose “Trial class” or get in touch if you’d like a hand.
Can I join if the term has already started?
Yes! Our classes are designed so you can join at any stage throughout the term.
When you book, simply choose the option that matches the date you’re starting. Each option is already priced for the weeks remaining, so there’s no need to contact us first.
If you’d like to join in the last week or two of term, please get in touch via our Contact tab and we’ll sort something out for you.
Do we offer siblings discount?
Yes we do! We offer a 10% discount per child when enrolling 2 or more children.
Please get in touch via our Contact tab to apply the discount.
What happens if we miss a class?
We know life happens! If you can’t make a class, you’re welcome to attend a make-up class at any of our other venues, subject to availability. Just email us at [email protected] and we’ll find you a spot.
Make-up classes need to be taken within the same term, and unfortunately we aren’t able to carry them over, refund or credit them. If your child is unwell and a make-up isn’t possible, we can often send you a video so the learning continues at home.
What happens if Bonjour Babies cancels a class?
If we ever need to cancel a class, we’ll arrange a make-up session at the end of term, usually in the first week of the school holidays. If you can’t attend that session, we’ll issue a credit.
For French Club, we aren’t able to use the school classrooms during the holidays, so a cancelled session is refunded instead.
Please note that if your regular teacher is away and another teacher covers the class, the class runs as planned and isn’t counted as a cancellation.
What do I need to bring with me to class?
All you need to bring each week is your child and you!
For the Bigkids class the teacher often instructs the children to bring in an item from home associated with the following weeks theme, however this is not mandatory.
Do I need to stay with my child in the ‘Big Kids’ class?
Yes, and it is recommended to join in the class as parents need the ability to support the child at home so learning some keywords is important.
Are parents/carers required to participate in class?
Babies & toddlers – Yes, parents/carers are encouraged to join in the fun! Our classes are designed for both adults and children to participate and learn together. When kids see their safe person joining in, trying, and even making mistakes, it builds their confidence and creates a safe space for them to try it too!
Big kids classes – Parents and carers are welcome to join in or you’re welcome to sit back and let us handle all the fun
Can I bring a sibling?
Yes, any Sibling under 9 months of age is welcome to attend classes with a paying participant under parental supervision; however, once they reach 9 months of age, fees will be applicable. We offer A sibling discount.
Can children from other schools attend the French club?
Yes, all children are welcome! Whether your child attends a different school or is home-schooled, they can join the French club as long as they are primary school-aged.
All the classes are booked. Can I join the waitlist?
Yes you can! Sign up to our waitlist to be notified when an opening is available. Join the waitlist now
Do you offer French incursions for Early Learning Centres?
Yes, our French experience is designed for children from 3 to 5 years old and a maximum group size of around 15-20 children is recommended to achieve maximum engagement. The experience is highly engaging – with a focus on positive, interactive presentations and hands-on activities for children to explore French culture.
All our facilitators hold a valid WWCC.
For more information please get in touch via our Contact tab.