FAQs

Lyceum Kennedy French American School enrolls students Nursery through 12^thgrade (Manhattan Campus) and Nursery through 5^th grade (Ardsley Campus).  

Some LK students do not speak any French when they enroll in our school. However, our welcoming environment will allow all of them to learn French. LK provides a nurturing, friendly and safe environment where children learn the language through play, songs and class activities. All the teachers speak English and children know that whatever language they speak, their teacher will always address them appropriately. Support FLE (French as a Second Language) classes are also offered to non-French speakers. All correspondence from the school is done in both French and English, our teachers/school administrators are bilingual and use the language parents are the most comfortable speaking. It is important to note that students whose families do not speak French are very successful students at our school.

Yes. Lyceum Kennedy creates a specific program for these students. Other French bilingual schools usually do not accept students without being enrolled in another French school after Pre-school.

Yes, our quality education follows the New York State standards for all subject areas. Providing these standards ensures that our students can easily transfer to any American private or public school.

Even though a child may show some lag in certain areas of English language skills at the beginning, this is temporary and the student usually becomes an English speaker by the 3^rd grade. Moreover, the students will transfer their reading skills from French to English and demonstrate more self-confidence than other children of their age.

When enrolled at LK, children find a nurturing and caring school environment. During English classes, from Nursery to Kindergarten, our students are provided immersion instruction;  the school provides English as Second Language (ESL) classes (Manhattan: from Pre-Kindergarten – Ardsley: from 1^st grade) to help students improve their English language skills quickly as well as comprehensively and integrate them into the regular English class as soon as possible.

Parents are not required to speak French at home for their children to be enrolled. However, they can encourage their children and support their learning process by using French CDs, DVDs, books, magazines; having a French-speaking baby-sitter; sending their children to French Summer Program; travelling to French-speaking countries; organizing playdates with French-speaking families etc.

About one third of our students do speak a third language at home. Children whose family speaks a language other than French or English tend to flourish at Lyceum Kennedy. Bilingualism makes it easier to learn a third language language.

Yes, please review our official school’s uniform.

We offer three options for lunch. 

Children can bring their lunch every day. Refrigerators and microwaves are available.

They can register for our catering program with LiTTLE GREEN GOURMETS (LGG). LGG is a fresh meal provider based in Manhattan featuring delicious, healthy meals made from scratch using fresh local, sustainable and organic ingredients. Monthly menus feature hot daily offerings, paired with fresh sides. They reflect seasonal availability and take inspiration from cuisines from around the word. Their tasty meals will please all eaters from gourmets and teenagers to fricky and picky caters. LGG is committed to working closely with Lyceum Kennedy French American school to meet the needs of the discerning palates of the community.

Option three is offered to grades 7^th – 12^th. This option requires parent permission for their child to eat off campus.

According to the United Nations figures, up to 80% of the world is bilingual. Being bilingual means more than just speaking two languages, it means that the individual also understands both cultures as well as the following:

• Ability to read earlier than monolingual peers
• Superior analytical skills
• Flexibility and creativity of thought
• Independent and critical thinking
• Stronger work habits as well as developing the independence of the child
• Appreciation and respect of other cultures
• Lifelong abilities to communicate across borders
• Adaptability to changes
• A greater ability to learn a third language or more

According to the Center of Applied Linguistics – Immersion is defined as a method of foreign language instruction in which the regular curriculum is taught through the medium of the language. It is important to note that a foreign language is the vehicle for the content instruction; it is not the subject of instruction. 

Chances of achieving full fluency are greatest when the child starts exposure to the second language as early as possible. Our school offers a well-balanced bilingual immersion program. After one year, students are able to express themselves in the second language, especially being surrounded by a community of native speakers. At the same time, students develop their first language skills. Even though students have less English/French instruction time than in a monolingual school, you will notice that they will transfer their reading skills from one language to the other one.

French is spoken by more than 200 million people, in 55 countries across five continents. And here are 10 other reasons to learn French:

• French is the third most common language on the Internet. Connect with pen pals, visit foreign websites and find student exchange opportunities.
• Get a head start on learning other Roman languages like Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian.
• French is a melodious and romantic language with a relatively quick learning curve.
• Develop critical, creative thinking and problem solving skills. French also provides the base for more than 50% of the modern English vocabulary, which improves performance on standardized tests.
• Open the doors to gastronomy, art, music, literature, fashion and architecture.
• Discover a new appreciation for other cultures in countries that speak French like Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco and many African nations.
• Use French to pursue studies in francophone countries.
• Promote language diversity throughout the world.
• Be more competitive in the national and international job market in disciplines like business, medicine, aviation, law, transportation technologies, global/international distribution and luxury goods.
• French is an official working language of the UN, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the European Union, the International Red Cross and much more!

List written by The World Speaks French.

To learn more about the benefits of learning French, you can read the article by Richard Shryock: “French, the most practical foreign language”.