For foreign families

Welcome booklet for foreign parents. You have chosen a French school for your child.

Presentation

Logos of the French Ministry of National Education, AEFE and Boule & Billes

French International School Boule & Billes welcomes children from six months old at the nursery, and they continue their education from kindergarten through to elementary school (ages 10-11).

French Kindergarten (Ages 3 to 5)

Our kindergarten accepts children starting at the age of three (sometimes from two years old). Over the next three years, children will acquire knowledge and skills appropriate for their age. Kindergarten plays a vital role in preparing children for Grade 1 (CP), helping them enter the learning process with confidence and success. This is why it’s important to enroll your child from nursery if possible.

French Elementary School (Ages 6 to 11)

  • Grade 1 (CP)
  • Grade 2 (CE1)
  • Grade 3 (CE2)
  • Grade 4 (CM1)
  • Grade 5 (CM2)

All Learning Takes Place in French

Your child learns to speak, read, write and count in French.

With a good command of spoken French, your child will be able to follow all lessons and make new friends.

Why Choose a French School?

  • You are a Francophile.
  • You speak French or plan to learn it.
  • You are drawn to the distinctive aspects of the French education system: fostering self-confidence, well-being, debate, general culture, and creativity.
  • You are planning to move to a French-speaking country.
  • You aim for your child to continue their studies within the French educational system in the future.

What Support is Offered at Our School?

At the start of the school year, your child will be tested, and the results will be analyzed to create a tailored program prioritizing the learning of French.

Most of this support focuses on developing oral skills, as it is essential for your child to communicate effectively and adapt quickly.

The key support programs are:

  • FLSco (French as a Language of Schooling): A specialized French teacher works with small groups during school hours (several times a week) to develop language skills.
  • FLE (French as a Foreign Language): This program teaches the fundamentals of French to master both oral and written comprehension, helping students reach a level that allows self-expression. Students are taught in a dedicated FLE classroom by a FLE teacher.
    • Out-of-Classroom Support: Students are grouped together in a specific classroom to work on targeted skills.
  • French "Fun" Classes (After School Activity): A teacher organizes small groups to work on language skills and comprehension in a relaxed setting.

In addition to all these paid programs organized by our school, each teacher provides differentiated instruction, adapting their teaching to the needs of their students.

PPRE (Pedagogical Project for Educational Success) may be established with a language component. This will be discussed with you during a meeting with the teacher and director. The project will outline your child’s needs and the support required to help them progress. It may also include recommendations for support outside of school.

APC (Complementary Pedagogical Activities): These are free activities during class time where the teacher works with small groups to revisit specific concepts that have not been fully mastered.

School Reports: At the end of each term, you will receive a report outlining your child’s progress. For kindergarten, this is provided twice a year.

How Can You Support Your Child?

  • Show interest in your child’s schooling by asking them daily about their school day—what they did, who they played with, what they ate, etc. It’s important to validate their school life and share these experiences with the family.
  • Encourage exposure to the French language through various activities: play with French-speaking friends, engage in sports in French, watch French cartoons, listen to French podcasts, etc.
  • Register your child at the IDECAF library and take them there regularly.
  • Stay engaged with your child’s progress by consulting the communication notebook, homework assignments, and the Padlet created by the teacher. Also, ensure the school materials are well maintained.
  • Homework: Your child will need to do homework regularly. If needed, you can register them for homework help (an after school activity at school) or in a local homework help center (such as Hexagone, l’Atelier, Bonjour) or hire a tutor.
  • Encourage your child to engage with French at home: they can read or narrate stories in French, even if you don’t speak the language yourself.
  • Register your child for after school activities in French or in French "Fun" Classes (FLE ludique).

It is essential to give importance and attention to learning French.

  • Consider learning French as a family project by enrolling in adult French courses provided by IDECAF.
  • Get in touch with the APE (the Parent Association, available in English, French, and Vietnamese) for support. They can connect you with other parents who share similar concerns.

Thank you for choosing French International School Boule & Billes!

French Support Classes (FLE/FLSCO)

Go to the page dedicated to complete explanations about French Support Classes (FLE/FLSCO)