LCF In The News

Our Fun Languages club managers and teachers derive great pleasure from sharing our love of languages with the little linguists in our clubs and one of the most fulfilling aspects of teaching kids a second language is the opportunity it presents to share the wonderful culture and traditions of the country that is home to the target language.  Especially when it comes to our Mandarin for Kids club members!

In that spirit, LCF Fun Languages, together with Auckland University's Confucius Institute, are really excited to give ALL our club members a chance to experience the ancient and beautiful Chinese culture through the magic and spectacle of the world-renowned Shaolin Kung Fu artists from Songshan Shaolin Wushu (Kung Fu) Vocational Institute in China, accompanied by musicians from Henan University.

Read on for ticket information.

Read more: Shaolin Kung Fu and Folk Music Extravaganza

Read more: Mandarin for Kids in Auckland to celebrate Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

Our Fun Languages club manager, Zoe Chamel, is on "a bit of a language crusade" to make sure Kiwi kids don't miss out on the future opportunities that come from having a second language in your arsenal.  And Murrays Bay School principal, Ken Pemberton agrees, saying that second language learning in schools is a "no brainer".  "It's about global awareness and preparing kids for the future" says Mr Pemberton.

Read more: Mandarin for Kids now at Murrays Bay School.

Food is always a big part of the end of term celebrations in our Fun Language clubs and this last Term was no exception.

This little group of talented “boulangers” from one of our Central Auckland French for Kids clubs shows off (and tucks into) the pretty impressive results of their baking effort for "Chaussons aux Pommes” or French “Apple Slippers”.

We found this wonderfully written blog on the French art of “patisserie” with a simple, easy to follow recipe for these delicious little pastries for those willing to give them a try at home.

We also found this set of illustrated instructions for making the ‘chaussons’ – en français – if you’re keen to enlist the help of your little linguists over the school holidays.

They can brush up on their French and their cooking skills at the same time!  Miam, miam …bon appétit!

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(pic:  The art of calligraphy in one of our Mandarin for Kids clubs) 

NZ Prime Minister, John Key, is urging students to consider learning Mandarin.  In a recent New Zealand Herald article, John Key has said that the argument that there are not enough Mandarin teachers to successfully implement a Mandarin curriculum for New Zealand students is not a strong one based on the 250 000 strong Chinese community that call New Zealand home.

According to Mr Key, "many of them speak Chinese and many of them would teach on a part-time basis". And he's keen to rope some of them in to teach the language in schools.

He went on to say that "any student going through school today, faced with the choice of learning Mandarin or another language, would be well served to think about learning Mandarin."

Read the full article here.

LCF Fun Languages have over 25 years of proven success in teaching kids between 2 and 12 years, a second, and even a third language.  Our FUN and active approach will get your child using the language quickly and naturally!

With "Mandarin for Kids" clubs across New Zealand and Australia, we can help you give your child a head start.  Contact us to register your interest for a Free Trial lesson.

"Young New Zealanders are at  huge disadvantage to Australian and European students because so few are learning a second or third language."

This comment, by Sir Maarten Wevers (former chief adviser to the Prime Minister) in a recent NZ Herald article follows on the back of a white paper released by the Royal Society of New Zealand on 5th March 2013 entitled "Languages in Aotearoa New Zealand" 

The paper presents a broad view of the use of languages in New Zealand and outlines the case for a national languages policy. Language capability in a highly diverse society, the importance of language capacity in international trade connections and the fragmented nature of language policy and opportunities for a unified approach within New Zealand society are among the issues explored by the paper.

The past few decades have seen large increases in the ethnic, cultural, social and linguistic diversity of the New Zealand population and although, from an international perspective, we are not unique in this, it's believed that this increasing diversity will develop at a faster rate than most nations. This diversity is especially visible in urban centres such as Auckland - now one of the most diverse cities in the world - and leads to a very diverse linguistic environment. Given the inextricable relationship between language and evolving social change, language practices will play an important role in emerging national issues, and will become more important as diversity increases even further.

Read more: NZ's lack of a multi-language plan puts Kiwis on back foot

LCF Fun Languages are offering a NEW immersion club for our "French for Kids" preschoolers to learn the language. The classes will run within the French primary school, Birkdale North Primary, on Auckland's North Shore - a perfect environment for preschoolers to learn about the French culture - and will be run by a teacher who has many years experience working with young children.

Each session will run for 90 minutes and be full of FUN interactive activities including singing and games as well as more social activities and hands on arts and crafts.  Every week will see us explore engaging ways to adopt new words and understand all things French.  This immersion method will encourage the little ones to try and speak the new language and really develop your child's French vocabulary.  

Our Term 1 focus will be on exploring traditions of the New Year, and of course Easter!

For more information contact Zoe@lcfclubs.co.nz or Register for the club online. We look forward to seeing you there!

LCF Fun Languages will be working together with Tuputupu Kids in the new year to offer language classes to preschool kids. Based in Albany on Auckland's North Shore, Tuputupu Kids offer a new approach to preschool activities and development and are all about using play and art to encourage learning - a sentiment echoed in LCF's FUN approach to language learning. 

Read more: Like-minded educators bring Fun Languages for kids to Auckland's North Shore

Excellent feedback from a new mum of one of our Mandarin for Kids clubs ...

" ... Learning Chinese in a fun environment, with an experienced teacher and in a group of keen children! Look no further... North Shore Fun Languages has it all! My daughter loved it and cannot wait to continue next year after her very first class. She came home, reached out for an encyclopedia to find out more about China and to practice what she had just learnt: colors, numbers (1 to 7) and even a song! All this in 1 hour. Impressive and stimulating! I highly recommend it!"

For more information on our North Shore Fun Language clubs contact club manager, Zoe Chamel or REGISTER here for a FREE TRIAL

Congratulations to Maroussia Boyack, our New Zealand Franchisee of the Year for 2012!

Maroussia has been managing LCF Fun Languages in Central Auckland for 10 years and runs French, Spanish and Mandarin clubs for kids from 5 -12 years old.  She has also recently introduced FULL IMMERSION clubs for Spanish and Italian speaking children.

Kids love Maroussia's FUN and engaging approach to teaching languages as shown by these stories from some of her children and their parents.

"In one of my classes I have a couple of boys that can be quite distracting. Last week I said to the class "If you don't behave today I am going to keep you in and teach you at playtime!" Clementine pipes up and says "I don't mind, I like French, can I stay too?". "Uhh... not really the desired effect, but I was still pleased". Maroussia- Club Manager, Auckland

"The other day I went to Sam (6) and Beth`s (4) house where I do a private French lesson. I knocked on the door. I heard Beth running towards the door squealing. Instead of opening the door she ran back up and down the hall way continuing to squeal. Her mum opened the door and said to me "How about that for a welcome!." Beth was really excited to have her French lesson." - Maroussia - Club Manager, Central Auckland 

Contact Maroussia to find out more about her clubs here.