In addition to developmentally appropriate exploration of identity, diversity, and inclusion on a broad scale, LLS – as a French language school – is engaged in an inquiry into the specific identities included in the Francophone community. We think of the French language as a portal and a unifying force. Our community is constantly exploring the culture not just of France and its community of expatriates in New York, but also the many cultures of the global French-speaking community and how they are reflected in our own community today.

Introducing French into early childhood means participating in the formation of a cohort of students – who think and communicate in French – and also a community of parents, peers, families with diverse experiences, unique origins, and a variety of relationships to the French speaking world. This coming-together is made possible through the spreading of a language, which allows the culture of France to flourish beyond its borders. We sincerely believe that France isn’t simply a place, or a lifestyle, or even a shared history. Rather, the French culture we are representing is a commitment to the shared values and a sense of belonging that we find through our common language and common purpose, and that is so deeply reflected in our adopted New York home. As the page turns onto a more modern, diverse, and richer conception of the Francophone world, LLS is embracing the future by promoting and learning to love an evolved, broader understanding of contemporary French culture.