From pre-school tots to high school students, there are so many ways for children and teens to practice and develop their French-language skills in fun and engaging ways outside of the classroom – here are a few!
NOTE: The resources listed here do not necessarily reflect CPF’s views or opinions. CPF is not responsible for the content of any of the websites/resources and does not endorse the provider of the website or any products it offers. N.B. some websites are available in French only.
BOOKS & MAGAZINES
Finding great books to read en français has never been easier!
- Check out French e-books in the Tumblebooks online library – many libraries and schools offer free access
- Some municipal libraries maintain comprehensive lists of French-language materials, check out North Vancouver City Library’s “Liste de livres” here and Burnaby Public Library’s French Immersion section here.
- La Bibliothèque des Amériques: become a member for free and have access to thousands of French titles for all ages
- Indigo’s French Book List and French Immersion Book Lists
- L’école des Loisirs is the most important French publisher dedicated to literature for children and youth for over 50 years. The books are available with a subscription through the MAX Book Club, which is popular with schools and CPF chapters in BC. You can also listen to some of the books for free on the MAX Book Club site.
- La Charte pour les enfants: French versions of the 14 books in The Charter for Children series which introduces children to the basic principles of The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Kayak magazine (Canadian history presented in a comic-book style)
- Les Débrouillards magazine (fun science magazine for younger kids)
- GéoAdo (fun science magazine for teens)
- Bookaboo Fun French preschool show about a world-famous rock star puppy who needs to read a story a day to play!
MOVIES
Watching French movies at home is a fun way to enrich French studies in a relaxed environment.
- L’office national du film du Canada (National Film Board of Canada)
- 10+ Child-Friendly French Movies
- Top 10 easy-to-understand French movies
- Borrow French films on DVD from libraries, such as Ernest et Celestine, Belle et Sebastien, Louis Cyr, Le Coq de St Victor. Or watch an animated English-language movie with French subtitles or dubbing!
- Find more French movie links in our French-language movie post
TELEVISION
Several Canadian channels offer a wide variety of French children’s shows to watch online:
- Radio-Canada Jeunesse
- Tou.Tv Jeunesse
- TFO (Télévision française de l’Ontario)
- Unis TV (programming focusing on Canadian Francophonie)
- Yoopa
- Oniva Radio-Canada’s popular Canadian magazine-format show for school-age kids
- Arts & Crafts: Dessinatruc, Transformatruc
- Magic tricks: Par ici la magie
- Animal shows: Fous des animaux on UnisTV or Animo on Tou.Tv
- Sports: watch popular sporting events in French on Réseau des sports or TVA Sports
- Cooking: popular Québec chef Ricardo’s cooking shows
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT
Engaging ways for kids to practice their French outside of the classroom in a variety of subjects
- IDÉLLO A new world of online learning with thousands of French-language games, apps and websites for all ages and levels.
- Francolab combines language learning with cultural enrichment for students aged 14+
- Project Voltaire Grammar exercises and tests
- La Dictée P.G.L. Online dictées for Grades 1-8
- BrainPOP Animated educational site for kids
- C’est pas sorcier Engaging science show for kids from France
- Language apps like Duolingo or Babbel
- Écrire en cursive Free app that allows users to practice their cursive writing skills in French!
- Je révise en vacances Workbooks specially designed for summer enrichment
BOARD GAMES
Here are some fun French board games (“jeux de société”)
- Mille Bornes
- Carcassone
- Ti-Joe Connaissant parcourt le monde
- Tic Tac Boum
- Apples to Apples (French version)
- Qui est-ce? (French version of “Guess Who?” game)
- Find more French games on sites like Renaud-Bray or Archambault
Or play word and number games you already own – Scrabble, Bananagrams, Uno, Boggle etc – en français!
ONLINE GAMES & APPS
And here some great online games and apps:
- La Francomobile An engaging and motivating game-based way for kids aged 7 to 12 to learn French the fun way!
- IDÉLLO A new world of online learning with thousands of French-language games, apps and websites for all ages and levels.
- Zone Jeunesse Radio-Canada’s interactive youth website
- Le Petit Champlain a free app for little explorers to learn about Samuel de Champlain’s life in a fun way
- La Tablette de Champlain What if Samuel de Champlain had access to a digital tablet?
- Les Jeux de Lulu
- StopMo Studio French version of National Film Board of Canada’s award-winning stop-motion app
- EduLuLu the Canadian reference for educational apps in French and English for 2 to 17 year olds
MUSIC
Learning songs in French will help children expand their vocabulary, learn new expressions and develop confidence.
- Ici Musique (Radio-Canada) Scroll down for the Coin des Petits “webradio”
- Dans l’air du temps Learn about popular French-Canadian music over the decades
- Chanter avec Mini (Karaoke style!)
- Chansons traditionelles (iPad app)
- NoteCompo Have fun being a music composer in French by changing the words, instruments and vocal tracks on 3 different compositions
- LyricsTraining A fun way to learn and improve your French through the music videos and the lyrics of your favorite songs
- Older kids can check out popular French-Canadian bands like Malajube, Karkwa, Les Cowboys Fringants and many more on Radio-Canada’s music-streaming service, ICI Musique
- Find more music links in our “Chantons en français” blog post
PERFORMING ARTS
Take in some live shows en français!
- Théâtre la Seizième is the main French language, professional theatre company in BC and produces touring theatre events and educational materials for children and teens
- Vancouver International Kids Festival offers programming in French at its multi-day event each May
- Many Francophone Societies in BC & Yukon present live French entertainment throughout the year such as Maillardville’s Festival du bois and Le Centre’s Festival d’été francophone de Vancouver
- The Conseil culturel et artistique francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CCAFCB) is the official provincial advocate for Francophone arts and culture, bringing together BC Francophone and Francophile artists and associations with a cultural and artistic mandate.
FRENCH CAMPS
French summer camps offer opportunities for children to practice their French while engaging in all kinds of exciting activities. Teachers often notice that children are more willing to speak in French if they have attended a camp in French over the summer.
- Find French Summer Camps in BC and Yukon
- Find French Summer Camps across Canada
TRAVEL
Sites to help you visit French-speaking areas in Canada and around the world in person or virtually!
- Interactive Mapping Tool for French-language businesses and services in British Columbia
- «Bienvenue en Colombie-Britannique» Discover bilingual historic sites, culinary and cultural Circle Tours and French-speaking ambassadors ready to greet you all over British Columbia.
- La Francophonie au Canada (Discovery game)
- Québec Original A compelling and feature-packed website showcasing Québec culture and geography
- Ça bouge au Canada Discover tourist attractions and cultural activities in 10 Canadian regions
- OffQc | Quebec French Guide For lovers of French and diehard fans of all things québécois!
- Paris Day & Night Time-lapse journey through the whole of Paris, day and night, including nearly every famous landmark
- Google Night Walk In Marseille Explore the sounds, streets and soul of Marseille on this immersive digital night walk
- Parc Astérix Check out this theme park based on the classic comic strip!
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