French Afterschool Immersion Program
For Rising 1st Graders
Our new French afterschool program blends academic rigor with child-centered joy. Designed for 1st graders, it builds fluency in reading, writing, and speaking—all aligned with the French National Education curriculum. The program is open to children in both bilingual and English-speaking schools.
This program is ideal for children with prior French exposure—graduates of immersion preschools, students currently enrolled in bilingual or dual-language programs, or French-speaking families seeking additional support. It is not suited for beginners or first-time French learners.
Program Highlights
100% French immersion
Created by a certified French teacher
Small groups + progressive educators
Specialized daily classes: writing, theater, STEM, visual arts, & more
Homework support (in French or English)
Play-based immersion from 4:45–6:00pm
Prepares for French 2nd Grade or supports a long-term bilingual path
Curriculum
This program follows the French national curriculum for CP (1st grade), with a focus on:
Oral Comprehension & Expression: turn-taking, articulation, active listening, storytelling
Reading: phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, and comprehension
Writing: copying and composing short texts, punctuation, sentence structure
Grammar: verb conjugation (present tense), gender/number agreement, sentence types
Vocabulary: thematic word study, synonyms/antonyms, idiomatic expressions
Cultural Knowledge: Francophone holidays, songs, and classroom routines
Teacher Leadership
The program is designed by Rebecca Courty, a certified teacher from the French Ministry of Education with extensive experience in bilingual education. Rebecca brings warmth, creativity, and academic rigor to every lesson, ensuring each child receives highly personalized instruction.
Long-Term Progression
This program is the first step in a long-term plan for extended French education at Smith Street.
Year 1 (CP / Grade 1): Foundations in literacy, oral fluency, and grammar
Year 2 (CE1 / Grade 2): Deeper reading comprehension, writing fluency, cross-disciplinary work
Year 3+: Advanced grammar, creative writing, research-based projects, Francophone cultural studies
Why Choose Smith Street vs. CNED?
Teaching Approach
Us: Playful + structured, child-centered
CNED: Academically focused, less tailored
Curriculum
Us: Aligned with French National Curriculum, adapted for U.S. learners
CNED: Rigid national scope, little flexibility
Class Size
Us: Small groups, personalized attention
CNED: Larger cohorts or remote/self-paced
Community
Us: Warm, local, relationship-based
CNED: External, formal, less connected
Immersion Style
Us: Daily live interaction, rich social language
CNED: Often worksheet- or screen-based
Schedule & Tuition
3:15–4:15pm
Specialized Class (rotating by day)
4:15–4:45pm
Homework Help
4:45–6:00pm
Immersion Play in French
Minimum Enrollment: 3 Days/Week
5 Days/Week: $12,750
4 Days/Week (Mon–Thurs): $10,200
3 Days/Week: $7,650
Please email us with any questions.