When I met the man who would eventually become my husband, I honestly didn’t think our relationship would go very far. I had always wanted to marry a French-speaking man. French was incredibly important to me\u2014and it still is. I wanted my future children to speak French fluently, naturally, and proudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As our relationship became more serious, I had to face reality: my future husband was English-speaking. I was going to become one of those women I often met during parent-teacher conferences or community events. These women frequently told me that they were the only ones speaking French at home and that their children often chose to speak English, even though they understood French perfectly well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When my daughter was born, I spent a great deal of time researching what I should and should not do to ensure she would develop strong French-language skills. As someone who takes pride in proper language use, I wanted my children to master French even better than I had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Raising a child who will love and speak French in a predominantly English-speaking environment, such as most of Canada outside Quebec, is no small task. I understood that bilingualism came with many advantages: access to multiple cultures, broader career opportunities later in life, and more. Yet I struggled to convince myself that these benefits were always realized in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had seen too many students graduate from French-language schools with bilingual certificates but awkward French skills. English remained the dominant language in their daily lives. In many cases, they only truly heard French at school. And even then, it was often spoken primarily by teachers who could not compete with the influence of the dominant language. Many of these students finished their education speaking French poorly, feeling uncomfortable using it, and never truly developing a meaningful connection to the language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The one undeniable benefit I observed was increased cognitive flexibility. Students from French-language schools often demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt their thinking, attention, and behavior to new, changing, or unexpected situations. They could consider multiple perspectives and solve problems creatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, I was determined to do everything possible to lay the foundations of a strong French linguistic and cultural education\u2014one that could withstand the ever-growing pressure of English-language assimilation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I married my wonderful English-speaking husband. We had children. And I put my plan into action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Start Early and Adopt a Family Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From the moment my children were born, I committed to speaking only French with them. The earlier a child is exposed to a language, the more naturally they acquire it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They speak English with their father and with most people around them. But with me and with my side of the family, everything happens in French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most of the time, my children answer me in English. Yet I continue speaking French to them. Thankfully, it has become second nature. Wherever we are, French is the language I use with my children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also made the necessary efforts to ensure they could attend a French-language school\u2014not a French immersion school. French-language schools teach French as a first language and strive to pass on Francophone culture, whereas French immersion programs teach French as a second language to children whose first language is typically English (or another language).<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Read Every Day and Prioritize French Activities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We all know that reading is one of the most powerful tools for learning, culture, knowledge, and connection. That is why I make a point of including French reading time with my children every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, to be honest, I do not always succeed reading with them everyday. But I understand the positive impact it can have, and I dedicate a great deal of effort to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to reading, we learn and sing French nursery rhymes, watch cartoons in French, and attend community activities that take place in French, such as festivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another highly effective strategy is to create opportunities where children find themselves in authentic situations that require them to communicate in French. When they spend time with other native French-speaking children or visit their French-speaking grandparents (my parents), I see them actively using both the language and the culture. And when that initiative comes from them naturally, it is priceless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Don’t Translate Every Sentence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When my children answer me in English, I do not insist that they speak French. I do not want them to associate French with pressure, correction, or stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, I strive to ensure that their natural language learning is rooted in enjoyment, communication, and emotional security. I simply continue speaking French and naturally rephrase English words and expressions in French, providing them with the vocabulary they need to communicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes my efforts are rewarded when I hear them spontaneously speaking French with me or with each other\u2014after a make-believe game where we spoke French, after watching a French cartoon, or after coming home from school. In those moments, I feel proud and happy to hear their sweet childhood accents and expressive intonations that sound so beautiful in French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, I do not try to correct them when they mix the two languages. When my little girl shouts, “Mommy, can I have pain avec beurre d’arachide?” I know that this is perfectly normal. This mixing of languages naturally decreases over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal is to build linguistic confidence, not perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What truly matters is that children hear the language regularly and have natural opportunities to speak and read it. I trust that they will carry French with them throughout their lives and associate it with the warm, loving moments they shared with their mother and family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I met the man who would eventually become my husband, I honestly didn’t think our relationship would go very far. I had always wanted to marry a French-speaking man. 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