www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
I;think;there;are;a;number;of;good;rea-sons why people should consider adding
French to their homeschool. Number
one: French is one of only two languages
spoken on all the continents of the
world, with the other being obviously,
English.;French;is;spoken;in;more;than
twenty-nine countries, and again the
only;language;spoken;in;more;countries
is;English.;In;total,;French;is;spoken;by
over;200;million;people.;The;only;other
language;that;is;actually;spoken;by;more
people is English.
Additionally, learning French will im-prove;a;student’s;English;vocabulary,;as
an;estimated;30-40%;of;English;words
have a French origin.
There is a really well-done video on
You Tube that covers all the good reasons
to consider learning French: www.youtube
.com/watch?v=k548146ym4g.
TOS: One important aspect for home-schoolers;is;whether;they;need;to;make;a
purchase for each child or just each family. If a family has multiple children who
want to learn French, do they need to
purchase one set of curriculum or multiple units?
Greg:;It’s;a;one-time;purchase.;Once
the family has the lessons they can be
used for as many children as that family
has. The only restrictions that we have on
the website are the time that is allotted
to download the downloadable material.
Depending on the purchase, the download window is between ninety days and
one year.
TOS: Once they download, do they retain access to everything they need for
those;lessons;indefinitely?
Greg: Yes, even the online features.
There is a renewal, but there is no charge
at this point. So if they have a child who
isn’t;ready;and;they;have;to;wait;a;year,
they would just begin where they left off.
TOS:;What;kinds;of;job;opportunities
does French help prepare a student for?
What;kind;of;doors;might;it;open?
Greg:;France;is;the;fifth-largest;econo-
my in the world. More and more because
of globalization, French is considered
an;asset;in;the;global;workplace.;There
are also opportunities in the world of
diplomacy. For example, French is the
official;language;of;the;United;Nations,
UNESCO, the International Olympic
Committee, and the International Red
Cross, as well as a number of other or-
ganizations.;French;is;considered;a;huge
asset in terms of what potential employ-
ers;or;other;non-business;organizations
are;looking;for.
Another aspect that needs to be mentioned is the ministry opportunities that
open up when you can communicate in
French.;Just;in;Africa,;there;are;over;115
million French speakers spread across
31 countries. Most of these countries
require;people;working;in;ministry;and
non-governmental;organizations;to;have
a;working;knowledge;of;French;in;order
to be issued a visa.
TOS: Can you tell me a little bit more
about how French Essentials came to be?
Greg: Creating a French program
for homeschool wasn’t something we
thought of on our own. Originally, we
were approached by homeschooling
friends from church to help their children with their French lessons. This developed into a small tutoring service as
word got out. From there, people began
asking;us;if;we;had;any;kind;of;material
they could use on their own, and it just
grew. We came out many years ago with
a;workbook;and;cassettes.;From;cassette
we went to CD, and from CD we added
video;and;offered;a;manual;workbook
and;DVD;(in;Canada;only).;We;realized
that in order for it to be accessible and as
inexpensive as possible for homeschoolers that the best option was to have a
downloadable program with online features. So we moved it in that direction
about two years ago.
TOS: You mention online placement on
your website. So, if a student has already
begun learning some French then they
can enter the course at the appropriate
level and save purchasing the entire pro-
gram, is that right?
Greg:;Yes.;We;find;probably;90%;of;the
time;that;people;who;are;seeking;out;a
French;program;haven’t;done;French;be-fore.;But;there;are;some;people;who;are
either coming from public school or who
have used another French program that
are;looking;for;something;else.
TOS:;Thank;you;for;taking;the;time;to
talk;with;us;today.
There are many different ways your
student can try to bridge the gaps they
encounter, whether in personal interactions or international business. They can
choose;to;try;a;shaky;rope;bridge;and
hope they reach the other side without a
tragic fall, or they can use the sturdy, steel
suspension;bridge;of;Greg;Shone’s;French
Essentials curriculum.
Greg Shone holds a BA History, BA French,
and is a certified teacher. He started his
teaching career as a French teacher in both
public and Christian schools and later
combined his love for History and French
by teaching French and Social Studies in a
French immersion school. His relationship
with the homeschool community began in
1994 as a private French tutor and culminated in August 2012 with the launch
of French Essentials, a downloadable
French program for the homeschool. He
and his wife, also a teacher and coauthor
of French Essentials, have two children
and have live in beautiful, historic Quebec
City. For additional info regarding learning French with French Essentials, please
visit us at www.frenchessentials.com.
There are many different
ways your student can try
to bridge the gaps they
encounter, whether in
personal interactions or
international business.
