About

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Language for Fun was created when I realised that traditional teaching methods in adult education weren’t supporting adults to talk confidently.

At the time, I was teaching in an FE college, and in a Primary School and studying for a PGCE in adult education. I quickly realised that many of the games and interactive techniques that the children enjoyed could be adapted for adult pupils.  I decided to trial a language course for adults where the focus was on fun and conversation, rather than results and written work.

So in 2007 I created French for Fun and held my first classes in Newcastle-under-Lyme.  Through trial and error, I came up with a regular weekly format that worked and incorporated the learning theory from my PGCE.

The classes are now built around a series of conversations, so everyone gets up and talks in every lesson at the same time (no trembling in front of the class).   In January 2010, after enrolling our 60th student, I decided to see if French for Fun worked with other languages. In March 2010, Sally and Alejandra started to translate the programme in to Spanish with great success and we have also finished the Italian translation.

I also started to offer licences to other teachers, training them to use my materials and supporting them to set up their own language teaching business.   We now have 100 teachers dotted around the country and we’re training more all the time, so there will be a class coming to somewhere near you soon. Yippee!  If you know anyone who would like to get involved in the next chapter of this story, either as a learner,  a teacher, or to translate the programme in to their language, get in touch!

Jessica Bonnard: Founder

Jessica has lived, worked and studied in France and is passionate about the land and the language. Frequent travel to the Alps and a French husband keep her knowledge of the language and culture up-to-date. She has a First class French and Marketing degree from Lancaster University and a PGCE from Staffordshire University. She recently qualified as an Advanced Neurolanguage Coach® (registered US and European trademark in the name of Rachel Paling). Jessica now spends most of her time running the Language for Fun business.
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