• Reviews of Ecole Bilingue
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Reviews of Ecole Bilingue

Re: Daughter will be ready for K, but is too young
At Ecole Bilingue (the French-American school in Berkeley), the cut-off is December... I don't think there is a specific day in December. In my children's classes, there have been children who had late December birthdays and so were quite young compared to some of their classmates. You don't say if exploring private schools is an option, but here is one that will let younger kids (December birthdate) do kindergarten if they are ready. Good luck to you and your daughter. eb parent

We are sending our child to Ecole Bilingue this year and are very happy about it. We really think a bilingual eductation is very valuable. My question is not actually regarding the school, but rather the other parents. I know that this is quite absurd of me, but I just need to be honest about it. Just like at any other school, we are likely to interact quite a bit with other parents for events, the friends our child makes, et. From what I have seen, so far, my husband and I don't have the same level of education nor multi-cultural experiences as many of the other parents. Nor have I, personally, had an ambitious career or job that has required very much intellect or creativity that many of the other parents have. I feel like somehow I will not be interesting enough, or something to that effect, with the other parents. I'm also an introvert and can be quite shy. (Being an introvert doesn't bother me. It's just that in certain circumstances it can make getting to know other people more difficult.) My husband could care less about this, as well he should. And I know this sounds so ridiculous on my part, like I'm the kid that the ''cool'' kids won't hang out with. I would love to get some honest feedback from anyone else who has felt this way and the quickest way you have gotten passed it. Foolishly Insecure

That said, I have found all kinds of parents at EB, and it's one of the things I like the most about the school. It is truly an international community, for one thing, and many of the families come from modest backgrounds. There are also lots of families with 2 parents in very ordinary jobs, just working to keep their child there. In my case, I am a single parent, spending every penny on my child's education, and for that alone, I sometimes feel I don't quite fit in, but then I remember that there is a broad spectrum, and it is really up to me to speak to people and make friends. I have found most, admittedly not all, parents there to be extremely friendly once given a chance. They have always been eager to help one another out in a pinch - illness in the family, for instance, usually brings a barrage of carpooling, childcare, etc., and I've experienced their support more than once. You will probably find that you make friends through your child and their playdates and parties, in any case. And the friends that your child makes will stay with them all through school; the kids get to be very close. YOu will have the opportunity to cultivate those relationships as slowly as you like - you'll have at least 9 years! My child loves it there, and cannot bear the thought of leaving, so that says a lot. And remember, true ''cool'' is not caring whether you're cool! kimbav

I have managed to accumulate a small but wonderful group of friends among the parents I have met at the school. We tended to talk more about the kids at first. My friendships with the other parents seem based more on our mutual respect for one another as parents and sort of magical and unexplainable connections (sounds so Berkeley and hokey, but I don't know how else to put it) than on being impressed by one another's schooling, careers, or multi-cultural experiences.

As this is your first year, I am guessing your child is between the ages of 3 and 5. I will have a 3-yr old and a 6-yr old there this fall. Wanna hang out? I'll give it a try! Just email me. the_missus

Our neighbors are Ecole Bilingue parents and they are just the nicest people. I'm so glad they're our neighbors. True, they are more educated than we are, and they are a more culturally diverse family, but it has never felt like an issue. They got to know us and seem to like us the way they are.

There's no reason the families at your child's new school won't like you- unless they feel all kinds of negative freak out vibes coming off of you! It's hard to act like a normal person sometimes, for me anyway, but this year I'm going to fake it ;) Mom Was Right, ''Just Be Yourself Honey!''

I think it is relatively easy to meet other people, too. You can volunteer for field trips or to do things in the classroom, come to the many events, etc. Just do not be shy to introduce yourself to others. Asking other families for play dates is also a great way to talk to others.

The thing I have found hardest about forming a parental community at EB is that I think the school and other parents under-estimate how difficult it is for dual-working couples to be part of EB activities; I sometimes feel shut out by the non- working or flexible working parents who all seem to know each other because they go to events during the day. (This is not because they are unkind; just that they interact more with each other.) There are many breakfasts for parents, school event, etc., but almost all are during the day, impossible for working parents to attend. But this is probably not much different than other private schools, and perhaps public schools, too.

In any case, bienvenue!! other EB parent

EB has a buddy system where established families are asked to get in touch with new families to help them with the transition and answer all questions. We were very fortunate in that our assigned buddy family was just the best. They invited us and a few other newbies to a barbecue a few days before school started, so we got to meet several people in a more intimate setting before jumping in. Have you been contacted by a buddy family?

Since our introduction by these now-great-friends, we've been seriously meaning to volunteer to be buddies for the next generation, but never did. If you'd like to get in touch and meet up, we'd be happy to do that soon. We have 2 sons, entering 1st and 4th grades.

Feel free to e-mail me with questions, or if you'd like to meet up. Oh, and we're not stuck-up either. Noemie

I guess the message is that I wouldn't worry about it. I think you'll find that if you hang around after drop off, you'll find parents that you'll be able to talk to and some you'll make friends with.

If you'd like to discuss this some more, please send email. Richard

1-Please advise us on how difficult it is to get into this school at the preK or K level. My understanding is that the school has to cater to the French population first and foremost; and therefore, there's not much opportunity of admissions for the other non-French applicants.

2- Anybody whose child was admitted way after the March admission decision?

3- Any experience as compared with Le Lycee in the city? (At Le Lycee, we did everything we could: early application; actively pleading our interest and situation...to no avail. Only three openings in the preK-K program.) Any advice is much appreciated. Merci beaucoup! anon.

EB has made a number of changes to its middle school curriculum over the years. Teachers now coordinate homework and tests among classes so that students do not have multiple deadlines at once. We recently surveyed students and found that they spent an average of ninety minutes per night on homework. We instituted an advisory program, so that each middle school student meets regularly with one faculty member who follows their social interactions and academic progress in all their classes. We implemented several programs that have students working across grade levels on interdisciplinary projects; this has helped build community spirit and also allows students to explore interests as diverse as web design and pieata making. This year, our school-wide professional development focus has been on differentiated learning, so that our teachers can better support the different types of learners in each classroom.

All of these changes have been well received by parents and students. In a comprehensive survey of parents conducted this past February, 94% of our middle school parents were satisfied with the programs, and overall, parents who do not speak French at home are as satisfied as those who do.

Of course we agree with the poster's advice that parents should periodically evaluate how well a school is working for their child, and we strongly encourage parents to choose a school that is a good fit for their child's interests and temperament. But EB has changed since the poster's time there, and we are proud of the academic and emotional support we provide our students. Frederic Canadas, Head of School

I was wondering if anyone could share their experience with enrolling their child in Ecole Bilingue in K rather than Pre-K. Was it difficult for your child to adjust to kindergarten as well as learning a new language? Are children at a deficit for not beginning in the Pre-K year? We are an English only household, but my son has been exposed to Spanish since birth, so I think language acquisition won't be completely new to him. I'm just worried that K may be late for starting a language immersion program. Any advice or personal experience is appreciated. anon

Sure, he was at a bit of disadvantage coming into K with no French experience (only our son + 2 other new kids in his class did not speak French). However, EB did a great job a placing him in a classroom with classmates and fantastic teachers that were a really nice fit with our son's personality type (they have 4 Kindergarten classrooms, so they have the flexibility to do that). The teachers were great with our son, particularly in the first few months to ease him into the language (using a lot of gestures and also speaking English when necessary). It was a little hard for him to make the transition at first, but by the second half of the school year, he has become very comfortable with the language and the French-speaking environment. We recently took a trip to France (during the school break) and our son was very enthusiastic about speaking French while there. So we donmt feel that Kindergarten is too late to begin an immersion program.

While we think it might have been an easier transition at 4 years than at 5, we are happy with our decision to put our son in an immersion program and think he is having a good and positive experience at EB. kfk

we are looking into sending our child to EB, but worry that it would be more traditional than developmental. we would love to hear from present/past families. and if you did find it too traditional for you, where did you send your child and how did you address the french language education of your child? hesitant parents

My younger daughter is now in first grade, and has a strong nonconformist streak. But her teachers have always recognized this and given her room for it. They strike a good balance between setting expectations but allowing her some leeway about what she does and when. I think this has been very beneficial for her, and she is certainly happy and thriving at the school.

My older daughter is now in fourth grade, and doesn't have the same nonconformist streak, but she does have some mild learning issues, and her teachers have been very accommodating and supportive. She has really benefited from the structure, and is developing very good work habits that help her compensate for her issues. Also, one of the schoolwide priorities this year is differentiated learning, i.e. training teachers to support the vide variety of ability levels and learning styles in any classroom.

To answer your other question about supporting French language education: I don't think my kids would be bilingual if they weren't at EB. Their dad is French, and I'm a fluent speaker, but before my daughters started at EB they could understand French but barely speak it. The influence of English is so strong around them, and it only gets stronger as kids get older. And although I'm sure that they could have learned spoken French just through travel, if they don't also learn to read and write in it then they won't be able to take full advantage of their dual nationality. And neither their dad nor I would have the time or the skills to teach them that. Thanks to EB, my daughters will have the possibility of continuing their education in France or working there as adults.

So overall EB has been a very good fit. The curriculum is great (where else do fourth graders study the Middle Ages as well as the Gold Rush?), the community is incredible, and my kids love it. Happy EB Parent

What else can I say? We really, really love EB. We do not speak French but are planning to take French classes. We listen to French music at home, French flashcards, books, cartoons, etc. to help all of us learn. Our son is picking it up so quickly! It's just amazing!

His classroom is full of the most amazing, diverse children! The parents are very involved. The teachers are very caring. There is art EVERYWHERE! Today as I was walking down the hallway I thought, ''am I in an enchanted forest?'' It's just amazing! We want International children. That is why we put our son in EB and have committed our daughter to summer school and Kindergarten there.

I have no complaints. I highly recommend EB to anyone!! flycorey

Re: Finding a preschool
I would highly recommend Ecole Bilingue, the East Bay French Bilingual School. We sent our children there for all the reasons you cite: diversity, language, art etc After 8th grade, some of them went on to private schools and others to public schools. The school instilled great study habits. They learned a 2nd language effortlessly and received a terrific education which combined both French discipline and American curiosity. I just looked on line and though the tuition is stiff, EB is very generous with scholarships and you can get 55% financial aid. nhu

For anyone who sent their English speaking child to the French American School, how difficult was the language acquisition at the kindergarten level? I am strongly considering this school for my daughter who is happily enrolled in another preschool. I could let her finish the preschool (she's three now) and start Ecole Bilingue in kindergarten but I'm concerned that waiting another year would make things more difficult for her and put her behind the other students. We do not speak French at home so she's already somewhat disadvantaged though I understand that half of the students speak no French at home. Any thoughts? Thanks.

One last thing – Remember that Ecole Bilingue is the “French American” school, not just the French school. Your child will also have plenty of English speaking classmates and teachers. I find more people at EB tend to speak English on the play yard than French, and beginning in 3rd grade, the curriculum is 50/50 French/ English. I hope this helps! Feel free to email me if you want to chat more. Anne

The Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley (East Bay French American School) has been an excellent experience for my daughter (now in 8th grade), and for our family. She loves her school,has received an excellent education and has real breadth from her experience.

One reason we selected EB for her in kindergarten was to give her the chance to become fluent in another language at a young age and learn more about a non-US culture. My husband and I both have French ancestry but neither of us really spoke French. The students at EB become fluent in French and English, reading, writing and speaking both with ease and without accents. Watching them switch back and forth between languages as if turning a light switch still amazes me. But more than that is the global perspective which they have learned - that there is more than one way to do things, that art and literature and politics and history are a function of culture, and even why the French and American ways of doing math are different (yet both still reach the right answer!). World history is rather different in the American and the French curriculum, for example, and provides an opportunity to challenge one's preconceptions and develop critical thinking skills. And I was also impressed with the difference in the approach in the early years - kindergarten there is very nurturing and playful, not quite so academic and yet by third grade they can read in two languages.

The families at EB are wonderful, and we've made many good friends there, and even children who leave the school often stay in close friendships with their buddies. Because there are many international students at EB, we've also had the chance to build relationships with families overseas, and the children's 5th grade exchange with France is a wonderful experience. The student body is relatively diverse (compared with other independent schools) in terms of ethnicity, language, economics, religion and family structure. The school follows both the California curriculum and the French curriculum, and after three years of immersion in French (one hour a day in English) they spend about half the day in English and half in French.

EB is about the mid-range among private schools in terms of tuition, but in many ways I feel that we really received something quite a bit extra - fluency in two languages, appreciation for two cultures, and a global perspective. These days more than ever that has real value to me. Theresa

We're considering sending our child to Ecole Bilingue, to start their pre-K program. The one recent review is quite negative, and I wonder whether other parents have anything to add, positive or negative, about their childrens' recent experiences at the school. I also wonder what parents' thoughts are about starting children at 3 vs. 4 vs. 5?

As you may know, kindergarten is divided into three parts PK, MK and K. Our dughter started in MK and is now in K. We are very satisfied thus far with the experiences in both classes. She started out speaking no French and is now almost fully fluent. We speak three other languages besides French in our home and she understands all four and is open to many other languages and cultures. We credit a lot of this openness to her experiences at EB as well as our attitude to cultures at home.

I have heard of negative information received by other parents contemplating EB for their children and just about all of them have been erroneous. For example one parent told me that she heard that children are made to wear dunce caps in a certain grade if they do not understand what is being taught. I have inquired into this claim through other parents, students and teachers and none of them have heard of or experienced such practices. It is true that the curriculum becomes much more challenging after approximately second grade, and is more so if neither parent speaks French. However you mentioned in your post that both you and your spouse are French speakers so this should not be a problem.

One thing that I would like to see improved at the school is their level of diversity, both racial and economic, but that is being addressed and hopefully will improve in the next few years.

My views regarding the appropriate age to start your child are that it definitely depends on your child's temperament and maturity level. Our almost 3 year old will be starting PK in September and we believe that she is mature enough to start. However, we have friends whose older children are also in the school who have an almost four year old who could begin MK in September, but they believe that he is not mature enough to start and will wait until K to start him. It is a full day program and whether your child can handle a full day bilingual immersion program mostly depends on his/her ability to cope with such a program.

You should attend one of the information nights and try to meet with some parents of kids who currently attend to get a realistic and honest sense of their experiences at EB.

Best of luck in your school search.

I waited to think about EB until my oldest was ready for kindergarten, so they started at 3 and 5. They both did fine, but as far as language aquisition went, I noticed a difference. They both picked up comprehension rapidly but with the 3 year old it was more unconcious, and with the 5 year old you could already see the mental wheels turning as she worked out what was said and what it meant.

This is their 3rd year there, so my youngest is now in kindergarten and my oldest in 2nd grade.

I know that some of the pre-K kids have some issues with the program at first; I think especially if they have not been in another pre-school situation. My 3-year old had already had a year in pre-school before going to EB, and the pre-K school day was not too long at all for her. She was a big napper, so the day was generally the morning routine, lunch, then she slept until it was almost time to go home at 3. It was a great pre- school experience for her. satisfied mom of EB pre-schooler

I pulled both my sons out of French American last year after four years. We tried to make it work, but found the social environment too damaging.

A couple of many specifics: One of my sons was teased, so we told him to tell a teacher. The next day, he said, the kids chased him and threw his hat over a fence, and when he told a teacher, he was told to run faster. Another time one of my sons knocked out a kid's loose tooth. The kid bled, washed himself, and walked around untreated. The school found out when we told them about it the next day. My son said once when he fidgeted in his chair, he had to work bent over at his desk for five minutes.

The education was mixed -- the math was good, the English weak. There are positives, particuarly a diverse multicultural student/parent body. There is a new headmaster, and some of the problems may be addressed -- I wish them well. But parents looking at French American should remember that the school depends on a very rote curriculum. Generally girls, and boys who like to sit still, will do better. Bear in mind that there are far more early-grade students than there are older kids, owing to the high attrition rate -- something the school both expects and may need, because of a cap on the number of students at the facility. At least one of my kids would likely have been told to leave, had we not pulled them out ourselves, owing to his eventual refusal to participate. Quentin

I have looked at the website already and most of the posts are very positive regarding this school (most are from 1998). I am interested in hearing from any parents who do not speak French and have sent their children to this school. We are considering sending our child to the mid-K program next Fall (he will be four), but are concerned that he might not be able to keep up with the French immersion program if we don't speak the language at home. If anyone can share their experience on this specific topic, that would be helpful. Thank you. Susan

We have two kids at Ecole Bilingue: a daughter in 1st grade and a son in Pre-K. It's their second year; both started out knowing no French. They have done extremely well, and the fact that 80% of their day is in French has been no problem. I believe 60% of the children at the school speak no French at home. I do speak some French (though my husband doesn't); that has been helpful since my daughter started having homework (that is, since she started first grade). But the teachers are well trained to deal with these issues.

There is an optional after-school study hall for which you can sign up your kids, where French- and English-speaking teachers can help children with their homework. So far the homework has been fairly simple (10-15 minutes on school nights) so my daughter goes to etude only once a week, and that's mainly because her best friend goes. I understand that the homework load increases quite a bit in the higher grades, so that would be a way to solve that problem. I've heard that kids learn to ask their teachers for help with their French homework, rather than their parents.

As far as the instructional philosophy and program, I suppose it is on the more structured end of the spectrum, but the teachers I have known personally have been very warm, talented, kind, and aware of my children's strengths and weaknesses. The school is accredited by the French government, and in order to retain its accreditation must cover the entire curriculum of French schools, as well as meeting the requirements of our school system. I haven't seen any indication that the amount of structure has negatively affected the amount of attention and support or the quality of instruction.

It was hard initially making the adjustment from a cozy 3-room neighborhood Montessori school to a large, urban school with many "big kids," but we have been very happy with our decision to send our kids to the French-American School. Anyone with questions is welcome to e-mail me privately.

I am a founder of Ecole Bilingue, and was the first chair of the board from 1977-79. It is a marvelous place. I sent all three of my children there: the oldest began in 1st grade, the next in kindergarten, and the youngest in pre-kindergarten. All are still bi-lingual, and the oldest actually speaks four languages. In fact, she is the editor of a Spanish language medical magazine, and also puts out editions in Portuguese. (And yes, she still speaks French, though not as often. Her husband is Mexican, and Spanish is their household language.)

Any child entering a bilingual environment will do better the earlier he/she starts. Even though the earliest grades begin with 80% or so of French, that is to compensate for the English surroundings they are in. It is very easy for them to acquire a new language through songs and games and art, and they will also have good accents! Yes, the curriculum is structured; it satisfies for American and French educational requirements. But it is also very loving.

Don't worry about not speaking French yourselves. You will not be able to help acquiring some. But many of the parents don't speak anything but French. We had familiarity with French, but spoke English at home.

One of the reasons we wanted to found a French - American bilingual school, verses German or Spanish or any other world language, is just that French is spoken in so many different cultures around the world. Consequently, it is not just European heritage that is taught. I think this is an enormous plus. The children become very international in their outlook, and the School community is probably more diverse than you will find in any public school.

My stepdaughter attended Ecole Bilingue (EB) through middle school and is now a junior here at UCB. My daughter is currently in 4th grade at EB. We wanted our children to be bilingual and EB has a very successful immersion program. The older daughter is now studying her fourth language (Catalan) in preparation for a year studying abroad. (EB introduced Spanish in 5th grade and she is quite fluent in Spanish, as well.) When we were considering a school for her sister, she recommended EB as a place for her sister to attend.

We are largely happy with the bilingual program and the school. The teachers (even the French teachers) are warm to the children and my daughter has really liked her teachers. All schools have their pros and cons and I don't yet know of any perfect school. The children seem to be happy whenever I visit the school and other parents have commented on this as well. There are specialists which teach subjects such as drama, computer, art, p.e., science, and music. It has also been an education for me in French culture and attitudes. Currently EB is looking for a new head master. The interim head, Sue Maino, is excellent.

My step daughter (now at UCB) went through EBFAS lower and middle school and my daughter is in 5th grade this year at EBFAS. We have been very happy with the school and the results of our daughters being bi- and tri- lingual. (My step daughter began taking Spanish in 6th grade and kept up her French and Spanish through high school and first years of college and is now on a year abroad in Barcelona.) The school does have to keep up with the French curriculum so that any French student can attend the school for a year or two and return to their school in France without skipping a beat. Neither I nor my husband speak French, although we do have second languages that we speak. The school generally makes available French classes for parents if the parents are inclined to learn the language. When the children start school, teachers will speak in English when it is needed. There is also some adjustment, moreso for parents, to learning some of the French ways. There are generally great teachers and an active parents' group.

My niece, who is now in high school, started at Ecole Bilingue in kindergarten. She was later diagnosed with a learning disability which the teachers failed to pick up. Her parents found the teachers very cold and unhelpful, rather on the French model. She was miserable there and moved to another school in the third or fourth grade. She never gained any confidence in her abilities and is still having a hard time. I have also heard people who love it, but I really think that it depends on the child.

Scholarships for Ecole Bilingue

My son is 19th months old and soon enough he will be of age to go to school ( 2010) Being half french from birth ( I am French and my husband is American) he is eligible to get financial aid from the french government to go to the Ecole bilingue de Berkeley, which we are considering. Are there any parents around who are/ have been in that same situation who could tell us about the procedure to get financial aid and what their experience has been? Pascale