Best Practices

The following “Best Practices” have been provided by Manitoba teachers of Basic French courses as suggestions to assist fellow teachers who are looking for new ideas to make their classes even more dynamic.

Teachers are encouraged to send more “Best Practices” to Jeannette Aubin, secretary for Basic French, email: jeannette.aubin@gov.mb.ca or fax: 945-1625.

The best practices have been divided into the following categories:

I. Ideas for Teachers to use in and outside of the classroom

Creating a “French ambiance”
Hands-on French
Twinning and Buddy systems
Technology
Evaluation and Assessment
Transitional meetings
Integrating culture and authentic experiences

II. In and Around the School: Ideas to Share with School Administrators

III. Ideas for Home (school and parents)

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I. Ideas for Teachers to Use In & Outside of the Classroom

Creating a “French Ambiance” in the classroom….

Be positive and enthusiastic in order to encourage the students to develop a good attitude in learning a second language.
The best way to promote Basic French is to have students really enjoy it. By word of mouth, the students will promote it for you. For example, one class had a Mardi Gras-style celebration to mark the arrival of grade 9 students. They joined the grades 10, 11 and 12 students in a half-day celebration just prior to enrollment deadline for those levels. Enrollment in grade 10 increased considerably.
Communicate in French in the classroom, in the halls, anytime you meet the students, i.e. give all classroom directions in French.
(See http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/m12/progetu/fdb/docapp.html Simple comme bonjour/French Made Easier.)
Establish a routine, for example include daily "O Canada" in French and other simple songs.
Display as much of the students’ work as possible in the classroom, in the halls and anywhere in the school; if addition, have a French bulletin board in the school.
Make French fun!
Use French centres for listening, reading and oral practice.
Establish a French Phrase of the Day or Devinette.
Have a French classroom in the school!
Ensure success in the program and keep students motivated.

Remember… Success breeds success!

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“Hands-on” French

Encourage students’ input in the selection of projects, games, songs and activities.
Allow more opportunities for conversation in authentic situations.
Play games and sing songs that contain the essential vocabulary for your theme.
Have fun, meaningful and hands-on activities that are real, such as design a floor plan of a house, organize a meal, etc.
Incorporate verb and vocabulary study into fun activities; don’t drill them too much at the elementary level.
After studying le restaurant or la nourriture set up a restaurant in the classroom or make real or imaginary pizza.
Have a talent show after studying units such as Que le spectacle commence, or present a French play.
Incorporate seasonal/monthly themes and activities into the French course.
Create French versions of popular TV games such as Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Hollywood Squares, etc. These games are a good way to review vocabulary.
Have French Fridays where students choose the games, activities, readers, songs and videos they wish to have for that class.
Incorporate diverse and enjoyable low stress games and projects, which in turn increase students’ enjoyment and desire to continue Basic French.
Buy or make clear, useful materials such as; posters, picture cards, game boards, etc. Make the class rich in relevant visuals and books.
Incorporate simple French phrases in other subject areas.
Have simple French board games for special days.
Have a free class of French games after ten good classes.
Use puppets to encourage shyer students to participate.
Make and incorporate various kinds of finger puppets as part of teaching units. (See Au Manitoba, on s’amuse en français, Annexe 4)
Make your own video or use appropriate videos in the classroom such as the ones at the DREF.
Participate in the CPF Concours d’art oratoire.
Use materials and resources available with French for life by CPF.
Choose materials (brochures, video, t-shirt, informational and promotional pamphlets, etc.) found in the MATF kit 1001 raisons pour apprendre le français found at the DREF or at the school division offices.
Explore CASLT educational resources.

Twinning and Buddy Systems

Have grade 10 to 12 students visit grade 8 classes to tell them about how great learning French is. For example, Senior students should be encouraged to promote Basic French courses among younger students.
Have older students buddy with younger students to read to and do French activities together.
Set up an ePALS system with a school in the francophone community.

Technology

Go to CASLT’s website for interactive, thematic Internet activities for all ages. For elementary students, try the Flash activities too.
Use computers to research countries where French is spoken.
Establish a school or classroom website with current French activities taking place.
Visit the website LangCanada.ca for useful second language learning activities in PDF format.
Use the BEF’s document entitled Français de base 9e à 12e année – Se brancher en français : intégration des technologies de l’information et de la communication.
Consult Literacy with ICT: Across the Curriculum.
Set up a website where you highlight French activities in your school and classroom.
Give students opportunities to succeed: activities that involve information technologies enable students with weaker language skills to work with those whose language skills are stronger. Their technology skills can make all the difference between a good project and a super project.

Evaluation and Assessment

Use the CASLT/ACPLS evaluation package; it’s a good documented kit.
Take the time to evaluate students’ oral skills by interviewing them one on one or in small groups.
Use formative evaluation for self, group and peer assessments.
Visit the RubiStar Website to make your own rubrics:

Transitional Meetings

Good communication within the school and school division regarding articulation of context and strategies between teachers at grades 4 to 6, 8 and 9, 10 and 11 is very important.
Teachers of early, middle and senior years should meet to discuss curriculum, transition and expectations.
Create continuums in your school division to facilitate the movement of the students from one teacher to another.

Integrating Culture and Authentic Experiences

Learn the Canadian National Anthem in English and French.
Discuss where French can be used in your city, province and in Canada.
Have outings to St. Boniface or other francophone areas and have a scavenger hunt.
Expose students to various French second language (FSL) opportunities in their city by email correspondence with other French students, pen/email pals.
Organize a French Cultural Awareness Day(s) during la Semaine de la francophonie in March.
Participate in the Festival du Voyageur School Program after studying the BEF unit and invite parents to volunteer.
Learn French folkloric dancing. The DREF has lots of videos and CD’s.
Join with other classes/schools and invite French performers to your school, for example, l’Ensemble folklorique de la Rivière Rouge. Invite parents to attend.
Invite French speaking guests/volunteers and/or artists to present to the class on various topics. Check list of French artists with Cahier Culturel.
Draw students’ attention to bilingual labels on food and other products.
Post classified ads and career opportunities which seek French language skills to show how French is alive in our province.
Host an outdoor French Olympics.
Organize exchanges to Quebec and France with older students.
Have students research a famous French family or person, i.e. Louis Riel, Bishop Taché in Manitoba or Canada, Jacques Cartier, Jeanne Sauvé, etc.
Remind Basic French students of free summer language bursaries after grade 11 to Quebec and other French milieu in Canada Out-Of-Province French-Immersion Studies.
Look for artists from the Franco-Manitoban community (e.g. Réal Bérard).

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II. In and Around the School: Ideas to Share with School Administrators

Where permissible, put bilingual signs everywhere in the school (washrooms, music room, office, etc.).
Use an outdoor school sign to advertise French events.
During an assembly, present songs or poems in French and invite parents.
Set up a Basic French Club in the school.
Encourage administrators to play the National Anthem in French at least once a week.
Have students say the day and date in French once a week during the announcements.
Encourage anyone on staff that speaks French to do so with students in the French courses. The teachers, principal, custodian, secretaries and other staff can be invited as special French speakers to your class.
Have school administrators participate in French interviews conducted by students by learning key responses for student questions, for example: Comment t’appelles-tu? Je m’appelle…, Je suis le directeur/ la directrice.
Send an information package home to parents of what the students will be learning in French and also the benefits of FSL. For example, students enrolled in Basic French will be able to benefit from opportunities such as the SEVEC exchanges, the Summer Language Bursary Program and the Summer Work Experience Program.
Invite parents, administration and Parent Advisory Council to attend special Basic French events or after a new unit has been completed.
Take pictures and display fun French events in school hallways and on school website.
Encourage your school division to organize a half/full day of drama or theatre for older students, for example MATF’s Theatre Project. For example, invite Le Cercle Molière to do a workshop or to present a play.
Visit the French for Life website for useful tips and strategies.

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III. Ideas for Home (school and parents)

Mention what’s going on in a class newsletter and/or school newsletter.
Send students’ work home once a unit/project is completed for parents to see what is occurring in French.
Send a letter home introducing a new unit to be studied.
Send an information package home to parents (at the beginning of the school year) on what the students will be learning in French and also the benefits of FSL.
Plan cultural and hands-on activities where parents are invited.
Establish a Parent Committee to promote second languages, i.e. allow opportunity for parents to work with teachers and students.
Take pictures and display fun events in school hallways and on school website and ask parents for feedback.
Join with other classes/schools and invite French performers to your school, for example L’Ensemble folklorique de la Rivière Rouge. Invite parents to attend.
Provide parents with a list of easy French readers (with tapes) that they can read at home with their children Français de base - documents d'appui.
Advertise the benefits of French and second language learning to parents and the general public at any and all opportunities, for example, back to school registration, parent-teacher meetings, concerts, etc. For example, at the parent meeting held to enroll students in grade 9, the Basic French teacher spoke very positively about Basic French courses and the advantages of learning another language. Enrollment subsequently increased in grades 9 and 10.
Have students conduct home interviews where parents discuss their experience in French in school or other cultural experiences in the Francophone community.
Have student-parent paired research project, i.e. research origins of last name or street names…
Show the video, Le français, ça m’ouvre le monde found in the 1001 raisons pour apprendre le français kit found at the DREF.
Visit the French for life website for useful tips and strategies.