[LouannePiccolo]

Hi Liz,

I teach in France and I'd agree with Andrew and eaturcheese. I'd say go with English as much as you can but I know that it's not always possible.

I have some classes I only see once a week and I always use short commands with them in English and have actually NEVER used them in French (like stand up, sit down, close your eyes, make a circle) because it's easy to say it and show it at the same time. Kids recognise the sentence after the first few lessons even if they can't say it.

However, if I want to play a new game that my kids are not familiar with, I do explain it in French and then I go back to English as soon as they have understood how to play.
I don't tie them up and whip them for speaking to me in French but I will answer in English with lots of gestures, silly faces and finger-pointing to get the message across.