“French class is boring” is a sentence I never want to hear in my French classroom! If you are hearing your students say this often, chances are that you may be focusing more on grammar and vocab than you should. Focusing on culture & fun in French class is the key to never hearing this sentence ever again!
As a former FSL student and someone who completed two University degrees in French, I was incredibly accustomed to explicit grammar instruction.
During my French undergrad, we did a variety of reading, writing, listening and speaking activities. Grammar instruction was always at the heart of all instruction.
It was mind-numbingly dull. Now, I am not saying that I do not teach any grammar at all. I for sure teach grammar. I mean, I have to as it is a part of the curriculum in BC.
However, when I do teach grammar, such as passé composé or imparfait, I make it super fun and exciting. I also use digital tools to reinforce important grammar concepts which are so much more hands-on than worksheets!
If you teach grammar the right way, it can be make for awesome opportunities to have tons of fun in French class!
In my first year of teaching, I automatically copied how my teachers had taught me. It was like I was on auto-pilot.
Additionally, I felt that grammar instruction was imperative. For example, how else were students going to “learn” French when they could not produce all grammar structures?
Subsequently, the summer after my first year I questioned the extent to which my students were enjoying learning French. Moreover, I also questioned the extent to which I was even enjoying teaching French.
Here are three reasons why you should focus on culture and fun over grammar instruction in French class
1. Students will forget grammar over time, but they will never forget how much they enjoyed French class
Let’s be honest, teaching and learning grammar is not very memorable!
I try to fill my courses with as many engaging and interesting activities.
Every lesson looks a little different. We read and engage with authentic texts, play games, cook francophone dishes, watch interesting videos, complete creative writing tasks on racism, identity & more and work on fun projects.
We are silly together & and we laugh so much together. Students know very well that there is never a dull moment in French class!
2. Students must apply what they have learned to real-life situations they encounter
Memorizing and then forgetting dozens of grammar structures does not better prepare your students for the future.
They will not be able to pull out a perfect superlative sentence describing poutine at Rue Saint-Jean during their travels.
Instead, you should try to create numerous opportunities where students engage spontaneously in discussion. We have the most fun in French class when we are chatting with each other about topics that interest and engage us.
Additionally, show your students that there are many other countries that speak French besides the French. There is so much more to Francophone culture, even French culture, than croissants and the Eiffel Tower!
You don’t just have to prepare your students for future opportunities. Prepare them for current opportunities by teaching them racism in France, Black Lives Matter, and so many other human rights issues. Delve into the cultures of your students or francophone cultures. Do not limit yourself!
3. Create a culture of love towards learning a language
Show your students all of the reasons why learning French is both valuable and fun.
Discuss travel, job opportunities and all of the ways in which speaking French will be an asset in their future.
Finally, create tasks and activities where EVERYONE can be successful. French class can be very demoralizing for those students who “just don’t get it”. I also spend some time at the beginning of the year on growth mindset activities and that has made a huge difference in my students’ mindsets when it comes to learning a new language.
Create opportunities for learning as well as assessment that require students to use their unique talents and skills (e.g. video editing, painting, sewing, etc).
We are so lucky that we get to teach a course where the opportunities for fun, engaging lessons are endless. Grammar is an important part of the course, but it shouldn’t be the whole course.
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