Leisure Club

The Da Vinci school club brings together after-school activities created for children aged 4 to 11, open on Wednesday afternoons — to every child, whether or not they already attend the school.

Within a single three-hour session, children move through a whole range of playful activities while growing familiar with English alongside leaders who are either English-speaking or perfectly bilingual.

A naturally bilingual atmosphere

The first purpose of Da Vinci school remains to offer children a naturally bilingual atmosphere. Every activity gives the child the chance to use a language other than their mother tongue, and so to build real competence in both. Children open up to cultural diversity, improve their ability to adapt, and discover what bilingualism feels like.

The teaching approach

Because young children are naturally gifted with immense creative potential, the Leisure Club is built around creative activities and games, never slipping into a rigid academic programme. Four aims guide every session:

• Competence — developing the children's abilities in the areas covered.
• Socialisation — bringing out individual and collective spirit through group activities.
• Independence — encouraging children in the initiatives they take and the limits they set themselves.
• Creativity — imagining new ideas and finding alternative solutions.

Immersion in practice

A child's playful spirit is used as the cornerstone of learning English: English is spoken to the children naturally, in situations that will lead them to speak in turn. The leader uses body language, games and songs — never forcing a child to repeat if they would rather not, and never forbidding them to speak French. The aim throughout is to encourage the child to take the risk of expressing themselves, leading them gently and lastingly towards language immersion.