Noah the French Teacher

Noah started at the Ecole Maternelle in the next village over on September 4th.  He had done a couple 'orientation' months in May & June before the summer to learn the rythm of the school.  So, now he is in the deuxieme '2nd' class. 

So school started on a Tuesday and on Wednesdays all schools between the ages of 3 - 15 are closed.  So, the French like to re-live the agony of the 1st day of school twice.  Once on Tuesday and once on Thursday.  Tuesday was difficult and Noah (along with alot of his classmates) was very upset but on Thursday he was a champ and went right into his room.  And now he is a pro, not even stopping to give 'bisous' (kisses) to his dad :-(

So, the 1st week we were asking him the name of his teacher and his new friends.  He did not know anyone's name yet.  We made it his 'homework' to find out and remember what everyone's names were and finally the following Tuesday he remembered.  During dinner we were asking Noah about his school day and the teachers name.  Finally he said 'Anne Frédérique' - OK, now we are getting somewhere, a week later.  So we said, ahhhh......'Anne Frédérique.'  He laughed at us and said, 'No, not Anne blablahblahblah, Anne Fré-dér-rique Papa!'  So, we repeated it again slowly, 'Anne Fré-dér-rique'.  Then again he said 'No, not Anne blahblahblah', Anne Fré-der-rique......'

We tried to also learn the name of his friends, Mateo, Mathias & Antoine......and we had the same lessons....'Ma-te-o, Maman!' and 'Ma-thi-as, Papa'.  We thought that was what we were saying :-(

We finally explained to Noah that we are from a different country where we only spoke English and it is difficult for us to speak French with the 'cool' accent that he has learned.  Not sure it got through to him but we will keep on practicing......Anne Fré-dér-rique........