From Ordinary to Premium: How Appleseed Enhanced Its Curriculum with Engaging French Lessons

At Appleseed Early Learning Centre, Jaclyn, a passionate educator, was on a mission to give her students a more enriching, multicultural learning experience. In early 2022, she introduced The Cultured Classroom foreign language program, choosing to start with French.

The results were astounding, as Jaclyn and the entire center witnessed the children embrace a new language with enthusiasm and excitement.

Why Appleseed Chose The Cultured Classroom.

Jaclyn explains, “We wanted to start the French program because we wanted to offer more to the families and children, helping them understand that there are other languages and cultures in the world. It’s important for kids today, especially since we live in such a culturally diverse world.”

One of the key reasons Appleseed chose The Cultured Kid was its accessibility. None of the educators at Appleseed were fluent in French, but the program was designed to be simple for any teacher to implement.

The video-based lessons and interactive teaching tools allowed Jaclyn and her team to confidently lead each class without needing to speak the language themselves.

“The lessons are so easy to follow, even for us as educators,” Jaclyn says. “The program gives us everything we need—like videos and flashcards—so we can teach French step-by-step alongside the children.

You don’t need to be fluent to help the kids learn, and that makes a huge difference.”

A Quick Start and Surprising Success

“The first lesson with the children was actually phenomenal,” Jaclyn shared. “I was shocked at how quickly they absorbed the French. They were so engaged, and after just one lesson, they were running around using all the words and doing the actions. It was beautiful to see.”

Jaclyn credits the structure of The Cultured Classroom lessons for the children’s success. The lessons typically start with an engaging video that introduces new vocabulary. After each word is introduced, Jaclyn pauses the video and has the children repeat the words. She then reinforces the vocabulary with flashcards, encouraging the children to remember and pronounce the words correctly.

This simple, interactive method helps keep the children focused, making it easier for them to retain the new language—without requiring Jaclyn or the other teachers to be fluent in French.

“I love how the videos give us the flexibility to pause and discuss each word,” Jaclyn said. “The repetitive process really helps because the kids remember everything almost immediately.

And for us as teachers, it’s so helpful because we don’t have to be fluent. We’re learning with the kids and guiding them through each step. It’s quick—only about 10 minutes per lesson—but it’s incredibly engaging.”

Seeing Results and Parent Excitement

The results have been even more impressive than Jaclyn expected. During review sessions—part of The Cultured Kid program where past lessons are revisited—Jaclyn has seen how much the children retain over time. “It’s amazing to see how much they remember. I don’t even have to refresh their memory; they just recall everything instantly.”

Parents at Appleseed have been just as excited about the program as the children. Jaclyn mentioned that many parents have shared stories of their children pointing out French words at home. “Parents come in saying, ‘I didn’t know what they were saying at first, but then they explained they were speaking French.’ The kids are even teaching their parents at home!”

The Impact on Teachers

For Jaclyn, the success of the program has been a humbling experience. “It’s amazing to see how much they learn, and as a teacher, it’s really fulfilling. I realize that I taught them these words, and they remembered every single one. It’s a beautiful feeling.”

The program also made Jaclyn and her colleagues feel empowered to lead the lessons, even without being fluent in French. “It’s so rewarding to know that, as teachers, we can provide these learning experiences without feeling intimidated by not knowing the language ourselves. The Cultured Kid makes it so easy for us.”

Looking Forward

As The Cultured Kid program continues at Appleseed Early Learning Centre, Jaclyn is excited to keep expanding the children’s language skills and cultural understanding. With such a positive response from both the children and their families, Appleseed is setting a new standard for early learning, one that embraces the richness of language and culture.