DO YOU THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HELP ME and some other people?

[SAMBS]

i'm now living opposite a small french infants/junior school where the children are starting to learn English. It was another post here gave me the idea about 'communicating' Do you think it would be good for me and the children if I spoke to the headteacher about being a 'classroom assistant' perhaps for an hour or 2 weekly, to help them with their english. I'm not a qualified person but did get RSA and GCE in English Language at school when I was much younger also have GCE in English literature. Not mention having tried to study and failed at French for 18 months in the UK before moving to France. Living and speaking french on a daily basis is how I am learning the language still,.

I hate the french grammar - but do understand english grammar - so can't help thinking perhaps doing this would be more beneficial to me since my BI than anything else has been and of course I hope it would help the children because I understand the english culture and nuances of the language.

I know that amongst us with BI's there are several intellectual and variously qualified people out there, I am neither one or another of them so perhaps its a really daft idea on my part. Perhaps my motives are selfish but if we can all benefit in some way, 'porquoi pas' - WHY NOT?

[iforget]

I think it might be good to at least enquire. Children at such a young age are very accepting and open and as long as it does not tire you too much it could be all round beneficial. I guess much will depend on the system there and how many hoops they will ask you to jump in order to volunteer your services...but if you don't ask, you won't know...and at this stage the very worst that can happen is they will say no...

I say go for it...nothing ventured and all that.

[SAMBS in reply to iforget]

thanks iforget, i knew you wwould all inject some commonsense

[aqua4]

Hi Sambs, sounds a really good idea to me, not selfish or daft more kind and thoughtful.

K

[SAMBS in reply to aqua4]

thanks aqua

[philstretchdavis]

Hello Sambs, I'm with iforget on this one, it doesn't hurt to enquire. I think it would be beneficial all around. The only drawback would be if you forgot that the children were the pupils and that you were the patient.

[sospan]

I think it would be great for all of you.

I hope I can phrase this well - Being "mature" as well you would have that "grand motherly" feel that all junior kids really like and will give them a long legacy that they can tell their children in later life about the person that helped teach them English.

All the best

PS And they won't be speaking English with an American accent !!

[Danslatete]

Tell the head you have a few hours a week that you would like to offer help in school.

Do not over commit yourself tho, an hour seems to fly by but when you go home and sit down it feels like you done a marathon!

[SAMBS]

I had thought about that danslatete and know these days, after erything else recently I can tire easily but its always after not the during the event you realise how much some things can whack you out.

[RogerCMerriman]

I find children en mass exhausting now, but yes I agree it's worth a shot should be a win-win

[Stardrop]

You might find working or talking with a small group easier and more productive than being in the main classroom. When I was at school we had a French student at the school for a year and 4 of us at a time would go and spend half an hour having 'French Conversation'. It definitely improved our French and gave us more confidence.

[Hidden]

I THINK THIS A BRILLIANT IDEA.AS YOU KNOW THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO LEARN A LANGUAGE THAN HAVING A NATIVE SPEAKER TALKING TO YOU THE YOUNGER YOU GET THEM THE BETTER! . I THINK IT'D BE GREAT FOR YOU & THE KIDS.

GO FOR IT X