French for Kids: Les Saisons (The Seasons)
It’s not often that we get reviews from a testers that call a product “flawless” and “the gold standard” but this new release from multi-Seal winning Whistlefritz garnered both reactions. We all know that kids love screen time, so getting them interested in watching a video is easy enough. But, getting them to watch half an hour in another language? That’s another story. Les Saisons is hosted/taught by Marie, a warm, engaging and energetic host. Children were instantly drawn to her smiling enthusiasm. Together with her animated friend, a mouse named Fritzi, lesson time becomes fun time. There is live action mixed with colorful animation. Marie teaches about the four seasons directly into camera, then draws the viewer’s attention to an illustrated window with animation about the seasons. The tone is playful with just the right amount of silly. There are a diverse group of children in the video, ranging in age and race, who also speak into the camera. They repeat the French words being taught and laugh at things that are funny. Laughing is an major component in immersion since its a connecting experience. And the songs! There are extremely catchy, original tunes about the seasons that accompany videos of children playing in winter, spring, summer and fall.