When will my child be able to speak German or French fluently?

This of course depends on various factors such as the child’s commencing level, the frequency of

classes, the social and educational environment of the child, the support and commitment of the parents to speak to

the child in the respective language, etc. and the capacity and development of the child. This can possibly be assessed and evaluated upon a course of classes.

Why does my child not want to practice speaking German or French with us (the parents) at home?

Most likely because a child associates a language to an individual. So if you have spoken in English to

your child from birth until now, the child will not comprehend the change and will ‘fend off’ the idea to suddenly

speak German or French with you. The child may find it easier to ‘practice’ the language with friends or it may slowly change with time, it is however more likely the younger the child is or if you have communicated in the ‘learning’ language with the child from birth.

What level of language proficiency is required to obtain a student/working visa for Germany?

The minimum requirement is an ‘A1’ certificate. A2, B1, B2, etc. may be required depending on the

purpose and duration of the travel/Visa.

Is it normal that my child is reluctant to try and speak German or French with friends and family

members outside of class?

It is common, as a child will always choose the easier and thus in their eyes more effective way to

communicate. It will however usually find a way to switch and communicate in the ‘learning language’ if for instance a

foreign friend does only speak the language that the child is learning and the learning child has a social interest driving the communication effort.

Why do we try to teach children German in a fun and creative way?

Because a child learns in a different way than an adult. A child requires more attention and more of a

positive emotional connection to what it is learning than an adult. It is also key to keep up the child’s

focus and interest. At last creative and ‘out of the box’ ways of learning may trigger potential and

intellectual resources of your child that even you as a parent have not noticed it had.