Chepstow youngsters have enthusiastically grasped the chance to learn some basic Spanish and French when Club Bonjour offered some one-week language courses this holiday.

Ten children, who already attend the popular weekly French Club, enjoyed themselves learning some Spanish, while those new to the Club Bonjour experience were welcomed to learning a second language with a simple French course.

The children learned basic vocabulary and simple phrases for greetings, numbers, colours, holidays and food and drinks. Other activities included colouring, completing word-searches and simple worksheets, as well as learning some songs in the new language.

Throughout the week the children also earned stickers and small prizes and everyone completing the course was presented with a colourful certificate to take home.

Club Bonjour has been running weekly French classes in Chepstow since last October and now runs on a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday in the town. They also run classes at Caerwent on a Thursday evening and at Monmouth on Wednesdays. There is also a session at St John’s-on-the-Hill School on Tuesdays.

The club is for children aged between five and eight years and costs just £20 for a block of five lessons. The price includes stickers, worksheets, prizes, badges, vocabulary sheets and certificates.

Club leader Wendy Taylor said, “I’m thrilled with the response to Club Bonjour since October last year. All the children and parents are so enthusiastic and we’ve had lots of really positive feedback. The holiday courses were also a great success and we hope to do them again next year”.

Comments from parents about the club have included, “The children are having so much fun they don’t actually realise that they’re learning!”, “They all seem so confident speaking and singing in French”, “They have actually used what they’ve learnt while on holiday”.

For information about the classes beginning in September please telephone Wendy Taylor on 01291 626299/07786 070656 or e-mail clubbonjour@vodafone.net. It may also be possible to set up clubs in other venues if there is a minimum of five children attending.