“Even though French is their main language, Jean and Louis are not afraid to express themselves in English and open up to others. Having teachers who model both languages gives them confidence and curiosity to explore both cultures.”
Q. How has the FAA supported Jean and Louis as they adjust to learning English while continuing to grow academically in French?
When we arrived from France two years ago, Jean was 3 and Louis was 1. Jean didn’t know any English, and enrolling him in a school without bilingual support in both French and English would have been very challenging for him. The transition was not easy at first, but the school quickly became a welcoming place and an anchor in his new life, a place where he felt at home, especially thanks to his wonderful PK3 teacher, Ines.
At home, my wife and I speak French, so having that daily English exposure at school is very important to us.
Q. In what ways has the bilingual environment helped your children maintain their French identity while discovering American culture and connecting with classmates from different nationalities?
Completely! Jean and Louis are growing up as little Frenchies while benefiting from a bilingual education in a multicultural environment that nurtures them and helps them thrive.
Q. How does having both French-speaking and English-speaking teachers influence your children’s confidence, comfort, and curiosity in both languages?
Even though French is their main language, Jean and Louis are not afraid to express themselves in English and open up to others. Having teachers who model both languages gives them confidence and curiosity to explore both cultures.
Q. What aspects of the FAA community have helped your children build friendships and feel welcomed as newcomers?
All the social events organized by the school and the PTO really help. The FAA community is strong and supportive, and families are so welcoming, it makes it easy to connect and build meaningful friendships.
Q. Have you made friends with other bilingual or international families through the school?
Yes, absolutely, many of them!
The FAA parent community was our first and best resource for making new friends when we arrived two years ago.
Q. What activities do you enjoy together as a family on weekends? Parks, museums, music, sports, or travel? How do these experiences strengthen your family bond?
We’re often very busy during the week and weekends, but we also love just staying home and relaxing after a long, intense week. Those quiet moments together are just as important for us.
Q. What’s your favorite place, café, park, or restaurant in Jersey City to spend time as a family?
Rumba Cubana (near Hamilton Park) is a must-try in Jersey City! The food is delicious, and it’s the best value for money we’ve found so far.
Q. What has been the biggest surprise (or adjustment) about life in the United States?
There have been two big surprises, one good and one not so good!
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The not-so-good one is the cost of living (especially healthcare), which is much higher than what we were used to in France.
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The good one is how positive Americans can be, it’s truly inspiring. People don’t complain much, they take responsibility for their lives, and they always look for solutions.
