Le Petit Jardin French Immersion for Children just won a Totally Awesome Award for Most Awesome Lively Language Class in San Francisco. We recently spoke to them about their experience as a business owner, the best advice they’ve ever received and more. Hear what they have to say below!
Red Tricycle: Your community recently voted you “Most Awesome Lively Language Class” – what do your customers value most about your business?
Le Petit Jardin: Our fun, creative and enthusiastic team of teachers, I think.
RT: What do you want people to know about your business that they don’t already know?
LPJ: That any child can learn French, our school is not just for families that have a previous connection with French or France.
RT: How did your business get started and what was the motivation?
LPJ: I studied to become a French teacher in college and thought I would teach Jr. High or High school students. Then when I became a mother myself, I realized through teaching my young boys that a second language was much easier absorbed by the child’s brain. I was fascinated and wanted to shift my emphasis to toddlers. I started as a small in-home French Immersion Daycare and my days filled up quickly. I added afternoon classes, mommy & me French classes, ballet in French and local library story times just to feed everyone’s excitement for this French Immersion experience!
RT: Tell us, what do you start your morning with: 1. coffee 2. tea 3. mimosa 4. water 5. all of the above.
LPJ: I have tea at home with my French hubby, then coffee with “the girls” (all my fellow teachers here at LPJ) when I get to work.
RT: What is the most awesome thing a customer has ever done for you?
LPJ: Telling others nice things about me and my school and drawing in more great families! All my customers have always been so lovely. I’m lucky!
RT: What is your biggest pet peeve as a business owner?
LPJ: How much time I spend in front of a computer screen and my email inbox. I want to be with the children all the time!
RT: How do you keep your stress levels down?
LPJ: I laugh with my colleagues, go camping with my family (I have three boys), and try to go to yoga when I can. Not NEARLY enough!
RT: What’s your secret superhero power as a business owner?
LPJ: I think I have a knack for doing it “with a smile” whatever the task might be, easy or hard, pleasant or not, I just try to smile through it!
RT: Tell us, what is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received (as a parent or business owner)?
LPJ: You can’t do it all – be kind and realistic with yourself and do your best. Delegating is hard for me, but each time I do I am always so relieved!
RT: How about the worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?
LPJ: Every man for himself! I don’t like this mentality. I feel things always work better when we look out for each other.
Check out their website here.
photo credit: Sugar River Films – Dave Brown
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