Doing homework, revising, preparing for tests... In many families, school spills over into everything else. Negotiating screen time, chasing bedtime, squeezing in a sports activity between two lessons, and sometimes even wondering if the child really has time... to be a child. It's precisely this everyday fatigue that a concept intriguing more and more parents is latching onto: what if learning could be different, faster, with fewer hours sitting behind a desk, without turning the home into an annex of the school? In France, an organization called ISOSET is promoting an approach known as the Aleph method, with a simple promise to understand: two hours of learning per day, focused on understanding, organizing knowledge, and faster progress.
ISOSET is attracting attention.
We began to hear about ISOSET through very early educational paths. The most discussed case is that of a student who obtained the baccalaureate at an exceptionally young age, which brought the Aleph method back into the spotlight. These stories are striking because they challenge a deeply rooted reflex: to succeed, one must "put in the hours."
To get a first impression of the approach and framework presented by the organization, the simplest way is to start from the source: ISOSET.
ISOSET presents its approach as a French pedagogical method initiated in 2008, designed to review the work rhythm and focus on the essentials. The idea, as described, is not to "compress" school into a marathon mode, but rather to structure what is learned, avoid redundancies, and bet on a solid understanding, which saves time later on.
The Aleph Method made clear: 2 hours per day, but not just any 2 hours.
When we read "2 hours per day," one might envision a child skimming through or learning "less rich" content. However, what ISOSET emphasizes is a shift in logic: less time, but time better spent. The core of the discourse revolves around three axes: understanding, structuring, and efficiency.
And if you want to see how these principles are exemplified through a highly discussed educational journey, with context surrounding an early high school diploma, you can read this article: the ISOSET method.
In practice, the Aleph method is described as learning that aims to:
=> Understand before memorizing (instead of stacking notions "by heart" without connection). => Synthesize skills by eliminating unnecessary repetitions (which often occur in curricula). => Build a progression thought out as a journey, with coherent stages. => Preserve the place of play and activities (ISOSET even talks about "learning through play").
The interesting point, even for parents who do not follow ISOSET, is that this discourse aligns with a widespread intuition: we learn better when we know where we are going. And when a child understands the logic, they need fewer mechanical repetitions. (Which, frankly, can also make those "arguments over math lessons" evenings more bearable.)
3- Why has the issue of study time become so sensitive?
Just by looking at the actual pace of middle school students, one can understand why promises of "time-saving" are of interest. According to official data, nearly one in two middle schoolers spends an average of 5 hours or more per week on schoolwork outside of class, and a significant portion even exceed this amount. Conversely, others spend much less time, but not always with the same level of comfort or independence.
As a result, many families find themselves with a delicate balance between:
- the homework (which can vary in length depending on the class and the institution),
- fatigue,
- screens,
- and the need to take a break (which is not a "bonus," it's fundamental).
From this perspective, the idea of a method that promises "2 hours per day" is not just a matter of performance, it's also a matter of quality of life. Because when days are already full, every half-hour counts.
4- "Better Understanding": What it Changes, Concretely, in Everyday Life
In the excerpts and presentations available, ISOSET emphasizes one point: the Aleph method prioritizes understanding and avoids accumulation. In other words, the aim is to ensure that the child can answer the question: "What is it for, and how does it fit together?"
This may sound theoretical, but the benefits become clear quickly. Take a simple example: if a child learns an isolated grammar rule, they might recite it and then forget it. However, if they understand how the rule works and in which sentences it applies, they need to do the same exercise far fewer times.
In the same vein, structuring a lesson can look like:
- a very simple outline,
- a few key ideas,
- compelling examples,
- and a mini summary (two or three lines, not a page).
It's not magic, but it's often what students overwhelmed by volume are missing. And that's where time savings can emerge, not by working faster in a panic, but by working more intelligently.
5- Maintaining a childlike life: the key to success
The brief makes it clear: ISOSET emphasizes the concept of a "normal life." And this is arguably the most important point to explain because accelerated learning, if it overshadows everything else, isn't very valuable.
In reality, preserving a child's life means:
- adequate (and regular) sleep,
- physical activities (even simple ones),
- social moments (friends, family, outings),
- hobbies (sports, music, drawing, reading, games... yes, games).
We also know that screens can quickly become a huge part of life when a child is tired or when they lack quality free time. Among younger children, studies have already shown significant daily usage. Hence the importance, when talking about "time saved," to ask: what do we do with this time? Because the goal isn't to replace two hours of homework with two hours of looping short videos...
In the approach described by ISOSET, the time saved is meant to contribute to balance, not to pack the schedule even more. Here too, there's an important nuance, and it resonates with many parents.
6- Who is this approach aimed at?
ISOSET presents the Aleph method as a technique aimed at children and adolescents, with an often-cited age window between 2 and 15 years. The idea, as formulated, is not to underestimate the learning capabilities of children and to introduce certain concepts earlier in an appropriate manner.
Another frequently highlighted element is that this isn't a model exclusively for "out-of-the-norm" profiles. ISOSET explains that some of the early educational paths mentioned are from students with a normal IQ, and the difference mainly comes from the method, organization, and framework.
It should be noted (and it's common sense): one child is not another. Even with the best method in the world, there are different paces, temperaments, vulnerabilities, times when things go well, and times when they don't. An approach that promises an "effective" framework must also allow room for adjustment. Otherwise, the spirit of the project is lost.
ISOSET is not just about schooling.
Another unique feature: ISOSET communicates on multiple aspects of activity. Beyond supporting the younger ones, the organization also highlights:
- Training for the general public (computing, digital skills, career change),
- Training for businesses (information systems, cybersecurity, project management, business intelligence).
In other words, ISOSET presents itself as a comprehensive training body, with a method it applies in various contexts. And this may also explain its current visibility: stories of early academic paths "catch" the eye, but behind them, there is a broader discourse on the effectiveness of learning, regardless of age.
8- How to form an opinion without getting lost
When a topic becomes media fodder, we quickly fall into two traps: uncritical enthusiasm or automatic rejection. In real life, there's a simpler and more useful approach:
- Understand the principles (comprehension, structuring, reducing redundancies),
- Look at the concrete framework (pace, support, role of play and leisure),
- Consider if it suits your child (and simply, family life).
And then, we can also take away a more general lesson: even without following a specific method, many students would already save time by adopting better organization. For example, short but regular sessions, a summary after each class, and a real break time (without guilt).
Note: "independent candidate," "major oral presentation," and a few words that we hear everywhere.
Independent Candidate: This means taking an exam (like the baccalaureate) without being enrolled in a "traditional" high school at the time of registration. It is a regulated status, requiring specific procedures.
Grand Oral: An examination in the baccalaureate that requires constructing a structured oral presentation, with arguments, clarity, and real stress management. Even for very good students, it's an intimidating test.
Learning through Understanding: Instead of doing identical exercises in repetition, it ensures that the child grasps the meaning, logic, and connections between concepts. (Sometimes, one good explanation can save a week of "repetition".)
In conclusion
ISOSET and the Aleph method are of interest because they address a very current need: regaining control over time. In a world where days are already full, the idea of learning faster by focusing on understanding, while still maintaining leisure and a social life, is appealing.
Ultimately, the question is not just "can we go faster," but rather: how to learn better, with a clearer framework, less clutter, and a preserved space for balance. And that, even without completely changing the educational model, is a reflection that can benefit many families.
Keywords: ISOSET, Aleph method, learn faster, organization of school work, understanding, structuring knowledge, homework, time management, school rhythm, accelerated learning, baccalaureate, grand oral, independent candidate, child balance, leisure, children's sleep, screen time, alternative pedagogy, academic success