French Classes
for Toddlers, Kids, and Teens
L’Alliance New York’s French classes for kids and teens take an immersive, playful approach to language learning, and are designed to spark enthusiasm and awaken imagination. Led by native French speaking teachers, classes offer age-appropriate and hands-on activities like stories, games, and crafts for younger students, and role-playing everyday tasks with children and young teens.
Classroom environments are designed to be warm, creative, collaborative, interactive, and fun while following a rigorous French curriculum enhanced through positive reinforcement. We have course options for both non-native and native French speakers, and we offer preparation for fluency certification exams at all levels. L’Alliance New York is the only school to provide this fully immersive program, which sets children up for success as they continue in French or American education systems.
We pride ourselves on our native French-speaking instructors, our flexible and functional curriculum, and a fun, community-centered atmosphere. Kids deserve instruction that offers age-appropriate activities to capture their interest and provides high-level support from instructors–and we offer both at L’Alliance. Bienvenue!
A Class for Every Age and Stage
L’Alliance New York offers French classes for children from toddlers to teenagers, plus two preschool locations in Manhattan and Montclair, NJ.
We offer French classes for kids that cover every level of experience, with programs that take non-French speakers all the way from introductory level to full, conversational use of the language. Depending on the age group, the class structure will look a bit different, with classes divided into the following age groups:
- à petits pas (Toddlers Ages 1-5)
- Benjamins (Grades K-1)
- Minimes (Grades 2-5)
- Cadets (Grades 6-8)
- Juniors (Grades 9-12)
À petits pas (Ages 1-5): Toddlers laugh, learn, and play en français in our à petits pas program. This gentle, small-group experience has an emphasis on daily life, and lets kids explore language via games, songs, and arts & crafts. Children explore topics such as introducing yourself, family, animals, and seasons. There are à petits pas courses for children who are brand-new to French, as well as those growing up in a French-speaking family. Courses for children up to age three require the presence of an adult to help the children interact with the teacher and with the group.
à petits pas Age 1
- Introduce your 12 to 24-month-old toddler to the sounds of French!
- In this à petits pas class, your child will be immersed in fun activities for the eyes and ears while learning to recognize new sounds and familiar objects in a French-language environment. All activities are designed especially for very young children and include greetings, songs, movement, stories, art & crafts, and more.
- One parent or caregiver must attend class with the child.
à petits pas Preschool, Ages 2-3
- In this à petits pas class, your child will pick up new words and language structures, using them in a variety of stimulating activities such as fun arts & crafts projects, dancing, games, and stories. Through the repetition of vocabulary and basic language structures, as well as the interaction between their teacher and classmates, your child’s fluency and confidence in the language will grow.
- à petits pas Age 1 is not required to take à petits pas Ages 2–3.
- One parent or caregiver must attend class with the child.
à petits pas Pre-K, Ages 3-5
- In this à petits pas class for toddlers currently in Pre-K (ages 3-5), your child will be exposed to more vocabulary and language structures. They will learn to make very simple sentences while being introduced to written French. Toddlers will act out stories, play games, sing, and dance, all centered around a picture book that will serve as the central theme of the session.
- à petits pas Ages 2-3 is not required to take à petits pas Pre-K, Ages 3-5
- This is a drop-off class. We can only accept children who are toilet-trained and accustomed to separation.
à petits pas Native French Speakers, Ages 2-5
- Designed especially for children already immersed in French through their parents or caregiver, these classes are perfect for further developing a child’s French language skills while nurturing their multiculturalism.
- At ages 2-3, à petits pas for native French speakers will give children the opportunity to interact and start speaking in French with other children of their age. Through arts & crafts projects, songs, stories, and movement, children will become more and more confident expressing themselves in French. One parent or caregiver must attend class with the child.
- At ages 3–5, children will be exposed to more French culture while improving their ability to express themselves in French. With a curriculum based on children’s books, children enjoy classical “literature” and have the chance to practice the vocabulary they learn from the readings, as well as be introduced to written language. Classes will also include engaging activities such as songs, arts & crafts projects, theater, games, and physical activities. This is a drop-off class. We can only accept children who are toilet-trained and accustomed to separation.
- à petits pas (age 2–3) is not required to take à petits pas (age 3–5).
Benjamins (Grades K-1): Our Benjamins class for kindergarteners and first graders has a joyful, multi-sensory curriculum featuring arts & crafts, songs, games and movement. Based on colorful and imaginative storybooks, the Benjamins classes are structured to help children improve their French quickly and effectively.
Minimes (Grades 2-5): The Minimes program for second through fifth graders is a dynamic learning approach that promotes attention and reflection through group and individual activities. Singing, educational games, and readings help reinforce vocabulary and language structures. Our curriculum consists of twelve consecutive tiers from Beginner to Intermediate level: 101 to 103, 201 to 204, and 301 to 304. Each level can be covered over one 11-week or 10-week class.
Benjamin Level 1
- Benjamin Level 1 is for children with no previous exposure to French language.
- Through a variety of themes, kids will learn to understand and use basic vocabulary and sentences, as well as to follow simple instructions. Children are encouraged to interact with French words and memorized phrases during the class through numerous activities including stories, mini-projects, songs and educational games.
Benjamin Level 2
- Benjamin Level 2 is for children with a minimum of one year of French at L’Alliance or in an equivalent program during the previous months.
- In this level, children will begin to discover written French while continuing to improve their oral comprehension and expand their vocabulary. They will start using short sentences to talk about themselves, their tastes and feelings or to make a simple description.
Minimes Advanced Beginner
- Upon completion of levels 201 to 204, students will be capable of expressing feelings and wishes and describing their daily activities. They will know how to describe someone physically in detail, as well as ask and give directions and addresses. Children will acquire the vocabulary and expressions relating to their house and meals.
Benjamin Native Speakers Level 1
- In Benjamin Native French Speakers Level 1, classes are structured around two French picture books to help introduce children to reading and writing in French while also growing their vocabulary. They will understand stories read by the teacher, be able to retell them in their own words, and share their thoughts on them. This class is designed for children who have not yet started to read in French and English.
Benjamin Native Speakers Level 2
- In Benjamin Native French Speakers Level 2, class is structured around two French picture books to help children continue to develop their reading and writing skills in French. They will specifically learn how to use proper sentence structures, ask questions correctly, and clearly report events or simple information. This class is designed for children who have started reading in French.
Minimes Beginner
- L’Alliance’s Minimes program sends your child on a journey in French with Felix, Lila and their friends from Zig Zag, méthode de français.
- Upon completion of levels 101 to 103, children will be able to introduce and talk about themselves and their families, express their likes and dislikes, and share emotions. They will understand and use common classroom instructions. Children will study vocabulary related to food, sports, school supplies and subjects, and body parts.
Minimes Intermediate
- Upon completion of levels 301 to 304, children will easily understand instructions and will know how to describe the personality traits of another person. Students will understand and give information about countries, order in a restaurant, and describe past events. At the end of this level, children will also understand information from an audio guide, a radio interview, and small written documentaries.
Minimes Native French Speakers Level 1
- This curriculum follows the main goals of the French first elementary class level (CE1). Kids will enrich their vocabulary and grammar skills, including conjugating basic verbs and understanding the different tenses. They will improve their speaking and writing skills by working on a short project and reading short French books.
Minimes Native French Speakers Level 2
- In this course, the teacher will follow the French second elementary class (CE2) objectives and spend more time dedicated to studying French literature. Kids will improve their ability to express themselves fluently while working on a longer project to improve both spoken and written French. Conjugation and usage of basic and irregular verbs in the present tense and some in the past tense will be covered.
Cadets (Grades 6-8) & Juniors (Grades 9-12): The Cadets program for sixth through eighth graders, and the Juniors program ninth through twelfth graders encourages interactions in French with role playing everyday tasks to awaken young teens’ interests and imaginations.
Our multidisciplinary program focuses on developing oral communication skills, including speaking and listening comprehension. Teens will additionally build a solid foundation in reading and writing in French at a beginner, intermediate, and advanced level while learning strategies to become a more independent foreign language learner. These courses also integrate preparation for the DELF JUNIOR exam.
The Cadets curriculum consists of sixteen consecutive tiers from Beginner to Advanced level: 101 to 104, 201 to 204, 301 to 304, and 401 to 404. The Juniors curriculum consists of ten consecutive tiers from Beginner to Intermediate levels: 101 to 103, 201 to 203, and 301 to 304.
Cadets Beginner
- Upon completion of levels 101 to 104, students will know salutations and introductions, how to describe a person and members of their families, and talk about their city/neighborhood. They will be proficient in discussing their immediate environment, having a conversation about sports, and making vacation plans. Children will learn how to have a conversation on the phone. In grammar, teens will learn the verbs être (to be), avoir (to have), aller (to go) and faire (to do) and all verbs ending in “er”. Negative sentences and simple question structures will be studied, as well as reflexive verbs (se lever, s’habiller…). The imperative form will also be covered.
Cadets Advanced Beginner
- Upon completion of levels 201 to 204, children will know how to express their needs and feelings, talk about food, describe their schedule and the personality traits of a person. They will be able to present an overview of their home, make a purchase, and talk about their eating habits. In grammar, they will study irregular verbs and their usage. They will also learn how to use the passé compose and imparfait tenses (the past tenses), as well as the future tenses.
Cadets Intermediate
- Upon completion of levels 301 to 304, young teens will have learnt how to express their opinions in numerous contexts such as music, movies, food and sports. They will also express more complex feelings, describe personal goals and desires. In grammar, the program will cover the imparfait, passé composé (past tenses), and conditionnel tenses along with the imperative form and their usage. They will also learn idiomatic expressions, as well as refine their pronunciation, in order to be able to communicate and express more complex ideas and thoughts.
Cadets Expert
- Upon completion of levels 401 to 404, teens will have learned how to organize their thoughts, express their opinion, and give structure to their oral and written speech. The topics they will cover are generation conflict, migrations, as well as social life, the arts, and the planet. They will also express more complex feelings, describe personal thoughts, and work on their persuasive writing and critical thinking skills. In grammar, the program will cover the passive, plus-que-parfait, and conditionnel tenses (both present and past), along with working on all the tenses previously studied.
Cadets Native Speakers Level 1
- Teens will work to accomplish the first French intermediate primary class (CM1) goals. Over the course of the class, they will improve their ability to express themselves fluently while working on a central group project that encourages both spoken and written French skills. All students will be capable of constructing both negative and interrogative sentences correctly.
Cadets Native Speakers Level 2
- The focus in this course is on the goals of the second French intermediate primary class (CM2). Teens will begin to voice their opinions in French and learn to debate. The curriculum encourages a command of abstract words and expressions (emotions, feelings, rights and duties) and an ability to articulate more complex and nuanced thoughts. Teens will also improve their grammar through a central group project to encourage their spoken and written French.
Juniors Beginner
- Upon completion of levels 101 to 103, teens will know how to greet someone, introduce themselves and others, describe a person, and express emotions. They will be able to talk proficiently about jobs, housing, and meals. Students will also learn how to have a conversation over the phone in French and make vacation plans. In grammar, frequently used verbs and irregular verbs will be covered. The imperative form, the present tense, the future tense, the passé composé and imparfait past tenses, will be introduced along with reflexive verbs and their usage.
Juniors Advanced Beginner
- Upon completion of levels 201 to 203, teens will be able to talk about someone’s physical traits and character, describe their interests and environment. Vocabulary relating to tourism, hobbies, health, transportation, nature, and city life will be studied. The future, recent past, and continuous present tenses will be covered. The conditional tense and difference between imparfait and passé composé past tenses will be learned, and the subjonctif form will also be taught.
Juniors Intermediate
- Upon completion of levels 301 to 304, teens will be able to talk about the media, the environment, the world of work, and the arts. In grammar, the present and past conditional tense, as well as the plus-que-parfait will be taught, in addition to the imperative and gerundive. Teens will be able to give a critique, express a wish or a possibility, talk about positive and negative emotions and explain projects.
For more information on class structures and available times, see our Course Catalog. Kids who have received some level of French instruction should take our placement test so we can match them with the right class to meet their individual needs.
- For L’Alliance students from 1-3 years, we require that a guardian accompany the child, with drop-off classes available for ages 3+.
- For children ages 5+, we offer in-person and online (via Zoom) instruction to ensure that your kids have flexible options that work with their schedules.
- We even offer flexible private lessons for students ages 7+.
- All kids’ classes will include engaging, age-appropriate activities to keep them excited about going to French class.
For more information, please visit our policies page and frequently asked questions.
French-Immersion Preschools
Now celebrating 10 years of success! L’Alliance New York’s Preschool provides an immersive and joyful entry into French language and culture, combining the best of French and American teaching methods within a rich, multicultural environment. Our full-time preschools are now located in both Manhattan and in Montclair, NJ.
Starting in September 2024 L’Alliance New York is partnering with Cned, or Centre national d’enseignement à distance, on a year-long (30 week) program specifically designed for children (ages 5 to 11, U.S. school grades K to 5) who are native French speakers or have an equivalent level of mastery. L’Alliance New York provides teachers who offer their expertise and ensure students stay on track through weekly tutoring of 3 hours per week for 30 weeks.
Students ages 1-18 can enjoy our exciting summer day camps and classes to prevent the “summer slump” and keep their learning experience going all year round. We ramp up the energy and the fun to keep every student actively engaged.
Kids who’ve already spent nine months in school are looking for greater freedom and lots more fun in their summer schedule. Our camp activities keep your kids moving, learning, and connecting with their community. As an added bonus, they’ll come home tired!
Throughout the year, we also offer day camps during school holidays. Visit our camps page to learn more about our variety of offerings!
Enjoy French Classes for Kids at L’Alliance
For 125 years, L’Alliance New York has been the epicenter of all things French and francophone in the tri-state area. Whether you’re looking for French classes or discovering new art in all formats, L’Alliance curates the best francophone experience for all our students.
Discover why L’Alliance is the right choice for your child – and how French classes offer the perfect complement to extracurricular and enrichment activities! Find the perfect class for your child today.