Salèha “Saze” Pinhorn Creator of CanSpeakFrench - French tutoring and coaching for adults and children.

Salèha “Saze” Pinhorn

Creator of CanSpeakFrench - French tutoring and coaching for adults and children.

I was born in Paris and I spent all my student years in the City of Light

and after finishing my studies at the University Paris V, I decided to

move to the UK to learn English - and what a better way to learn and

assimilate than interacting with people who actually speak the language!

Although I am a fan of the British accent, which I would love to be able

to copy, I still have my French accent or shall I say my Parisian accent!

Now a few years down the line, I am married to an Austro-British man

and in 2009 my son Enzo came into our lives. I started CanSpeakFrench

in 2008 a French coaching and tutoring service allowing practice and

consolidation of the knowledge of the french language, for both children

and adults. Now I am launching "Dessine-moi un mouton" which focuses

on providing an introduction to the french language for young children but also an opportunity to progress in

the language as they grow. Conversation French for adults is also available.

My professional background is rather varied, from tour planning (tourism), to professional translation &

proof reading, via event planner & organiser (I own my company) to french coaching and tutoring and I

might forget some.

I now live in Marlborough where I first find love, with my husband Michael and children Laurence (17),

James (13) and Enzo (2

 

Bringing up my son bilingual? Yes!

which still uses it’s own dialect), and I always regret that I didn’t get the chance to learn the language as I

grew up, unfortunatly in France which is monolingual country they did not support bilingualism at the time

and parents (with a ‘non-important’ language) were advised to focus on french. So with Enzo it will be

different, I only speak to him in french, and we have french story books, CDs and DVDs. Even though he is

only 2

still his dominant language, and I struggle sometimes but I think he will be able to speak both languages well

as he grows up.

Research shows that six months to four years is the optimal age to acquire a second language as they are at

their most receptive to learning languages

Children who receive early intensive exposure to two languages can quickly and almost effortlessly acquire

both languages simultaneously. At a young age, children can grasp a new language in the same way as they

acquire their first language and won't translate from their first language, as do older children.

I am very keen that Enzo should have the gift of second language. My family is from Algeria (from a tribe½ he has started talking to me using full sentences in french which I am really happy with. English is

Helping families bring their children bilingually!

This isn’t just about teaching a language, it is also creating a network for parents to find support. Raising a

child with two languages is not easy! There is some opposition out there, telling you all about the

disadvantages of doing so, you can come across a lot of misconception. Teaching your child a second

language won’t confuse them unless they have a language disability. Do not be concerned if your child mixes

two languages while in the process of learning a second language, that is to be expected.

So I have created a group on LinkedIn, a social networking group for French bilingual families living

abroad. This is a support group to help you raise your children bilingually.

The group will provide recommendations, tips and ideas to help you and to talk about your experiences and

problems. (Linkedin

CanSpeakFrench - French bilingual/bicultural families)

What is Dessine-moi un Mouton?

'Dessin-moi un mouton' is a direct reference to a well-known scene in

French children's book Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry.

But also a reference to a song recorded by Mylène Farmer (French

singer and song writer):

"Dessine-moi un mouton

Draw me a sheep,

Le ciel est vide sans imagination

imagination

The sky is empty without

C'est ça

That's it,

Dessine-moi un mouton

Draw me a sheep,

Redevenir l'enfant que nous étions

Become again the child we once were,

Dessine-moi un mouton"

Draw me a sheep,

What gave me the idea for CanSpeakFrench?

I have started this new venture following the failure of my previous project, I was really down but thanks to

the support I received from my husband, I am back on my feet doing something I am rather passionate about.

The original idea grow with my son, as I am facing challenges to bring him bilingually I realised that I was

probably not the only one in the is situation. And ‘Le Goûter club’ was born, it was to create ‘une petite

France’ a little France in Marlborough, where french people could meet with their children somewhere

french would only be spoken.

'

Le goûter club' language immersion, open to children with their parents/carers. This is a group where only

fr

language

ench will be spoken. Ideal to meet francophone and ideal for French children to be immersed in their. Including a 'goûter'.

After thinking carefully about the new venture and talking to some of my friends, it just was obvious to

create a group for non-French who would be interested in introducing a new language to their child, My

French French Rhymes and the after school classes were born.

'

My First French Rhymes' for babies and toddlers, the younger children are the easier it is for them to

assimila

te a new language using nursery rhymes, so join in the fun!

Children in this country often don’t learn a language until they go to secondary school. I thought it would be

a good idea to set up group sessions where they could get a head start by learning the basics in a fun and

friendly atmosphere. I have groups for under 5s and 5-11s and 11+. I think it will be a good way for people

to meet each other, and intend to continue through the school holidays. (Most parent/toddler groups only run

during term time)

'

After school club' two groups open to children with little or no previous experience in french and to children

w

ith previous experience in French. (including activity sheets/books)

This is not just a class!

There is a free online resource and a forum to help you parents every step of the way, to parents who are

asking themselves, what can they do to help if they don't have any knowledge of the language or feel that

they don’t know enough?

This page will allow parents to ask questions online, and get advice and tips plus some free online resources

for parents to download. Such as ‘Listen and Repeat’ with recorded sentences, will also be available online.

Just for fun:

The question I always been asked is now I’ve lived in the UK a while now - do I think in English? And the

answer is: “To be honest, not very often. Although sometimes I have dreams in English! And I wake up

thinking how weird was that”

For more information please contact:

Salèha “Saze” Pinhorn

CanSpeakFrench

07515 893 352

csf@canspeakfrench.co.uk

www.canspeakfrench.co.uk

facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CanSpeakFrench

Twitter @CanSpeakFrench

Linkedin CanSpeakFrench - French bilingual/bicultural families

How did I start teaching French?

I was working for a tour operator called Abercrombie and Kent, they relocated the office to Cheltenham, and

the commute from where I was living at he time became too much on top of the long hours, so I resigned in

2008. Not long after, I became pregnant, so I was looking for something that would work with a family, and

keep me active while waiting from my first baby to arrive. I started tutoring, mostly school children at GCSE

and A level. I did have a client that was moving to one of the former French colonies in Asia where they

speak french, I had 8 weeks to teach her french to a reasonable standard. She worked really hard, we met for

an hour every day and she did lots of homework, and when the time was up she had a good grasp of the

language and she started reading Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupéry. That was a good challenge!