Last updated 11:32, Tuesday, 23 September 2008

As teacher Judy Carruthers begins the French lesson, there are no daunting lists of vocabulary or grammar rules in sight.

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Instead, she produces bright finger puppets and sings a song, clearly to the delight of this group of three and four-year-olds, who join in with the fun.

“The children don’t have to pronounce words, or even understand them, but they can still jump around or do actions,” explains Judy.

“And they are learning words, like regarde moi, without even realising it.”

Judy, a language teacher with 20 years experience, started teaching after-school French lessons just before the summer break.

She currently teaches three different groups each week, for children aged three to 10, at Victory Hall in Dalston.

And they have proved a popular choice for parents in the local area.

“I’ve had a good response, the children are so interested and enthusiastic,” she says. “They are tuned into language at this age and then, by the age of seven, eight and nine they are really switched on to it.”

Research shows that the younger children are when they start learning a language, the easier they will find it to learn.

Older children and adults tend to learn a foreign language by analysing it too much, whereas toddlers have a natural instinct for language and soak up new words, “foreign” or not.

“Children are very curious and enjoy learning for its own sake,” smiles Judy, who teaches German at St Michael’s and French at Cumwhinton.

“When some three or four-year-olds pronounce words back to you they are extremely accurate and sound like a native speaker.

“They do seem to absorb it quickly, and we know the brain becomes less efficient at learning languages as we get older.

“And it doesn’t matter if they are not so good at reading and writing because it’s oral-based, and anyone can learn the sound of words. If you show a child the word bateau for the first time, for example, they will pronounce it wrongly. But if they learn it just by saying it, they’ll always remember how to say it correctly.”

Judy, who lives in Buckabank, is a licensee for La Jolie Ronde, a language course for young children which uses activity books and CDs. The aim is to engage young people and make learning a fun experience.

The lessons are certainly proving popular with people in Dalston and beyond.

Lesley Mieras has just enrolled her four-year-old daughter, Jane, for lessons in the pre-school/reception group.

“She learnt a bit of French at nursery so this will follow on from that,” says Lesley. “I strongly believe it’s the right age to begin to learn a language. The brain is tuned in to learn.

“It’s fun too, with singing, actions and games. When kids learn it at high school they are too self-conscious so this is a good age to start.”

Diane Duncan saw an advert in the library and signed Stella, four, up for the lessons.

“We holiday in France and are trying to grasp the language. It’s much harder to learn as an adult and I think it’s a good idea for Stella to do classes now. She’s excited by the idea.”

Cheryl Eastburn, from Dalston, enrolled her kids Laurie, nine, Jesse, six, and four-year-old Nessa for the lessons before the summer and they couldn’t wait for the new term to start.

Cheryl said: “They have been loving it. They boys had done languages at school so had touched on a bit of French, and when these lessons came up they jumped at the chance.

“Judy does rhymes and songs and it’s an easy way to learn a language. They get CDs to practice with at home. It’s been great, and it seems to be working.

“For example, Nessa now counts steps in French at the park. And on holiday this summer, Laurie was able to chat to some boys in French, and he was so excited about it. It helps their confidence to go and do that.”

Judy is in no doubt about the wide-ranging benefits. “There’s plenty of research that shows learning a language means you develop more quickly across the curriculum,” she adds. “Plus it’s just so enjoyable when you are older to meet people and communicate in their language. It gives you a huge amount of pleasure.”

For more information on Judy’s French lessons, phone 01228 711566.