Complete Homeschool French Curriculum Round-Up
Today, I’m presenting to you the final installment of my homeschool foreign language curriculum round-ups: the French one! If you missed my Spanish curriculum round-up or my Latin curriculum round-up and are studying those languages, be sure to check them out so that you can see all of the options available to you.
This post is newly updated as of June 2020, with new curriculum options available to you!
As you make your plans for next year, I hope that this guide will be a helpful overview of all of your options for homeschooling French. BUT before you even start reading this round-up, I highly, highly recommend that you take a look at my previous two posts:
You can even print out that first post to keep alongside you as you go through this list, since it’ll help you ask the right questions as you consider each curriculum here. The latter post will help with some of the terminology that I’ve used here to describe the teaching methods of these curriculums. I promise that it is not too technical!
In addition, here are a few more notes that will help you maximize your use of this round-up:
The curriculums highlighted here are those that have been specifically designed or adapted for homeschool use—“mainstream market” products are not included. If you’d like to read about those, I have reviews of Duolingo for homeschool language learning and Mango Languages for homeschool language learning that can help you evaluate them (though I think it’s really important to say that I don’t consider either of those tools actual curriculums).
If a curriculum offers a free trial to parents (and advertises it), I’ve noted that in the round-up. However, if you are interested in a program that doesn’t advertise a free trial, you can always contact their company to request one (doesn’t hurt!).
When applicable, I’ve indicated which curriculums align with which homeschool philosophies (ie. Charlotte Mason or Montessori), and for all curriculums, I have specified which language teaching methodology they most closely align with.
With regards to parental involvement, I’ve used the basic scale of Low-Medium-High to indicate how much direct instruction of the language a parent is required to provide with the curriculum, according to the descriptions provided be each of these companies. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be fluent in French—most of these curricula are written with for non-French speaking parents. Your level of oversight of your students’ work (i.e. setting up lessons, checking homework, etc.) will depend on your family norms and the age of your student.
Finally, keep in mind that the prices listed here can only reflect current pricing as of the writing of this post, and are therefore subject to change.
And now—my final round-up. I hope you enjoy it!
Homeschool French Curriculums for the Whole Family (Multi-Age):
Speaking French with Miss Mason and François
Target Ages: Preschool—Grade 8
Cost: Approximately $70/one year-long course
Materials included: Textbook with practice exercises, Audio CD, and instructor’s manual
Parental Involvement: High
Description: This curriculum uses a Charlotte Mason approach to learning languages, based on the research of 19th century linguist François Gouin. The lessons are heavily focused on helping children use the language from the start through direct instruction based on the repetition of short phrases. The exercises equip children to use common phrases and verbs, but do not provide much explicit grammar instruction or vocabulary building exercises, per the philosophy of Gouin. This philosophy most closely aligns with the audio-lingual method of language teaching.
Talkbox.mom (Here’s my full review!)
Target Ages: Preschool-Adult
Cost: $80/subscription box, delivered on a schedule of your choosing*
Materials included: Key phrase posters and index cards (for use around the house), illustrated vocabulary charts, audio files with native speakers, and accountability trackers
Parental Involvement: Low (for teenagers doing it on their own) to High (for young children and whole families)
Description: Talkbox.mom uses the audio-lingual method to teach whole families to speak another language. It focuses on real-life use of the language, teaching parents first, so that they can then use the language with their kids.. It is structured as a series of subscription boxes themed around everyday vocabulary: the first one is snacks and kitchen, the second is rooms and games, etc. The focus of the curriculum is speaking and listening; some reading practice is naturally included with the phrase charts, but there are no writing exercises. This approach is not “purely” Charlotte Mason, but it does align with Charlotte Mason’s general philosophy of learning languages (focusing on speaking and real-life use of the language).
*As I use (and love!) this curriculum myself, I am an affiliate of Talkbox.mom. If you want to try it for yourself, you can get $20 off your first Talkbox box and book with the code languagelearningbox or $5 off of the phrasebook with the code languagelearningbook.
Homeschool French Curriculums for Preschool-Elementary Age:
French for Children A and B
Target Ages: Grades 4—7
Cost: $89-99/yearlong course (2 total)
Materials Included: Student workbook, instructor’s guide, instructional DVD (or streaming video)
Parental Involvement: Medium to High
Description: French for Children combines an immersive approach to teaching French with what’s known as the grammar-translation approach, which helps children learn a new language by comparing it to what they already know in their first language. Short video lessons also feature the program’s trademark chants, designed to help children learn French through repetition (as in the audio-lingual method of language teaching). The practice activities that it includes also reflect elements of the communicative approach, as they encourage children to use conversational French and improve their listening skills through dialogue study and French dictation.
Le Français Facile! (The Easy French)—Junior Level
Target Ages: Grades K—3
Cost: $70 (currently on sale)
Materials Included: 2 audio CDs
Parental Involvement: Low
Description: This program teaches French from an explicitly Christian perspective and aims to enable children to share the Gospel in a culturally sensitive way in French-speaking countries. To that end, it focuses largely on vocabulary that would equip children to do that. At this level, it teaches French through music and stories, without heavy grammar instruction, and the stories themselves are written in a miix of French and English to facilitate children’s understanding of the content. It also includes Scripture memory work in French. Parents do not have to be proficient in French to use this program and the lessons are clearly laid out, making this a very hands-off curriculum. It aligns with Charlotte Mason’s principles of language teaching, and makes use of audio-lingual methods of language teaching.
Le Français Facile! (The Easy French!) Level I
Target Ages: Grades 3-6
Cost: $140/three-year-program (currently on sale)
Materials Included: 2 audio CDs, phonogram flashcards
Parental Involvement: Low
Description: This program is a continuation of The Easy French Junior Level and teaches French from an explicitly Christian perspective. It aims to enable children to share the Gospel in a culturally sensitive way in Francophone countries, and to that end, focuses largely on vocabulary and phrases necessary for missions. At this level, it teaches French through dialogues, and does include some explicit grammar instruction, as well as practice with new grammar concepts and vocabulary words. It aligns largely with Charlotte Mason’s principles of language teaching, and also uses elements of the audio-lingual method of teaching languages.
Whistlefritz French for Kids (Don’t miss my full review!)
Target Ages: Grades Preschool-5
Cost: $125-160/course of study
Materials Included: Instructor’s guide with lesson plans, videos, audio CD (music), and flashcards
Parental Involvement: High
Description: Whistelfritz uses an immersive approach to teach French, meaning that it does not provide translations for its students (although those are available for the teacher!). It is structured around thematic units that introduce new grammar and vocabulary through music and short animated videos. However, it also supports a multi-sensory language learning experience for the student by providing hands-on activities to complement these units.
Homeschool French Curriculums for Middle-High School Age:
Abeka French: Nouveau Chemins (French 1) and Langue et Louange (French 2)
Target Ages: Grades 9-12
Cost: Approximately $238 for French 1 (depending on which materials are purchased) and $165 for French 2 (again, depending on which materials are purchased
Materials Included: Student textbook (approx. $50); optional additional materials: teacher guide, pronunciation/ scripture CD, vocabulary manual, vocabulary manual teacher edition, test book, vocabulary CD
Parental Involvement: High
Description: Abeka combines the communicative and audio-lingual approaches to language learning and focuses on getting students to communicate accurately in everyday situations through the use of memorization and repetition. It has a particular focus on equipping children for Christian ministry, and includes reading comprehension and memory work based on French translations of the Bible. Abeka’s curriculum includes extensive instruction in pronunciation as the foundation of the first level of the program, and grammatical instruction is provided in English throughout.
French 1, 2, and 3 (Breaking the Barrier) (Read my full review of Breaking the Barrier here!)
Target Ages: Grades 9-12
Cost: Approximately $115/level for the print edition for homeschoolers
Materials Included: All-in-one textbook and workbook; answer key, French phrasebook; digital audio files AND audio CD; teacher test program and a pacing guide
Parental Involvement: Low
Description: Breaking the Barrier teaches French through a combination of two solid methodologies: direct grammar instruction and the audio-lingual method. Students receive an all-in-one textbook and workbook, which introduces new material and practice activities, and audio materials, which includes pronunciation and listening comprehension activities. These are available in hard copy or in a digital format, depending on your preference, and together they help students develop reading, writing, listening, and basic speaking abilities in the language that they are studying.
First Start French I and First Start French II
Target Ages: Grades 5-8
Cost: approx. $44/one-year course of study (2 in total)
Materials Included: Student textbook, instructor’s guide, 1 audio CD
Parental Involvement: High
Description: First Start French, by Memoria Press, is modeled after the company’s popular Latina Christiana program, and is meant to introduce French to middle grade students with no prior exposure to the language. The instructional DVDs are the primary method of teaching grammar and vocabulary, but pronunciation guides and music in French are also included in the curriculum in order to help students develop an ear for the language (and improve their own speaking abilities). It also includes a cultural education component to teach students about Francophone countries and peoples.
French Essentials
Target Ages: Grades 5+
Cost: approx. $287/three-year course of study (additional years will be added shortly)
Materials Included: downloadable e-textbook (contains audio materials )
Parental Involvement: Medium
Description: French essentials teaches French through a communicative approach that stresses realistic, everyday use of the language, with grammar and vocabulary exercises also included. It’s format is unique in that it is a “one-stop-shop” for French learning—all of its materials are housed within its downloadable textbook. It integrates cultural education into its language instruction.
Le Français Facile! (The Easy French!) Level IA-IIB
Target Ages: Grades 7+
Cost: approx. $85/one-year course of study (4 in total)
Materials Included: Student textbook; 1 audio CD, 1 data CD (answer key) additional materials available for purchase: phonogram flashcards, test books,
Parental Involvement: Low
Description: This program is a continuation of The Easy French Level I and teaches French from an explicitly Christian perspective. It aims to enable children to share the Gospel in a culturally sensitive way in Francophone countries, and to that end, focuses largely on vocabulary and phrases necessary for missions. At this level, it teaches French through dialogues, and does include some explicit grammar instruction, as well as practice with new grammar concepts and vocabulary words. It aligns largely with Charlotte Mason’s principles of language teaching, and also uses elements of the audio-lingual method of teaching languages.
Do you know of another French homeschool curriculum that should be included here? If so, drop me a note!