Planning a Francophonie unit can be both exciting and overwhelming.If you are anything like me, you mostly learnt about the Francophone world independently. However, you are not alone, fellow French teacher! I am going to share with you a bunch of the activities and resources I use as part of my Francophonie unit.

Please note that this is the unit I use to introduce my French language learners to the history of the Francophone world.

That being said, Francophone cultures are infused into every single French classroom routine and lesson. Sometimes Francophone cultures are infused minimally in the lesson and other times they are a significant part of our class that day.

Why teach a Francophonie unit in French class?

Learning a language isn’t just grammar and vocabulary lists.

Language is people. Language is culture.

My first language is Punjabi. I cannot separate Punjabi from the food, the music, the history, the recipes, customs and practices, and so much more.

Language is a vehicle for culture. We absolutely cannot separate these two!

So yes, it is not only very important to teach about why French is spoken throughout the world and to learn about the people who speak it, but it also makes French classes so much more engaging.

STOP! Before you scroll – download these Francophonie maps activities for free.

Who are these activities ideal for?

These activities are ideal for high novice to intermediate French students.

Francophonie unit overview

In this Francophonie unit, students will :

• learn basic information about the French Empire, colonization, and the current French-speaking world
• explore current statistics about Francophones and Francophone places
• research and describe a Francophone country or region for their flag project

Activity 1 : start your Francophonie unit talking about WHY French is spoken around the world

This two-page reading comprehension article is designed to teach your students about the history of the Francophone world.

This part of the unit is crucial. We absolutely do not want to glorify the French-speaking world.

We have to remember that colonization is the reason why countries in Africa, Asia, and North & South Americas speak French.

It is crucial that we understand that former colonies have complex relationships with the French language and it is okay for them to define their relationship.

This article does just that. No romanticizing. No glorifying.

Discover some fast facts about the French-speaking world with your class

Start a discussion with your class with this graphic organizer.

It is the perfect way to begin a Francophonie unit!

How many French speakers are there throughout the world? How many countries are part of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie?

Who were the founders of the OIF? Where is the OIF located?

What are most populated Francophone cities in the world?

Tip : before you read this page with your students, have them guess these questions as a class!

Francophone city capitals, new vocabulary, and flags of Francophone countries

I’ve come up with tons of activities that complement your Francophonie unit objectives.

A creative summative project – individual Francophone country research project

End your unit with this creative summative project.

Students will research a Francophone country or region of their choice.

They will then decorate this flag with information they have found.

50 different templates have been provided for you!

Play this game : où est le pays francophone ?

This is a really fun game to play at the start of the unit.

Divide your class into two teams. Have 1 representative from each team come up to the board.

Reveal the Francophone country of the round. Both participants must correctly circle the country on the map.

This game reveals how much students know or do not know about the geography of Francophone countries.

French reading comprehension activity idea : quel pays francophone suis-je ?

This a reading comprehension activity where students read a description of a Francophone country.

The objective is to correctly guess which Francophone country is being described!

After reading a few of these together, I have my students write their own descriptions for an assignment. This is a great little mini assignment for a Francophonie unit.

What other supplementary resources to support this unit?

• Teach about France’s current empire with this YouTube video
• Play a Francophone trivia game
• Read about diverse Francophone dishes
• Try a Map Talk (learn about map talks from Afro Franco)

The post Teaching about the Francophone world: Francophonie Unit Ideas appeared first on FLE Avec MmeD.

From Djenne Mosque to Citadelle La Ferrière, here are five Francophone monuments to inspire your French classroom. In this blog post, I am going to be sharing five diverse Francophone monuments you can teach your Core French or French Immersion students about!

If you are looking for ready-made resources on the five Francophone monuments, I’ve got you covered with prep-free & ready-to-print French reading comprehension articles for intermediate to advanced Core French or French Immersion students.

Before we begin, why is the structure of the French reading comprehension articles ideal for learners?

All of the articles in this series follow a very specific structure. I have designed these strategies to build confidence among my Core French learners in the knowledge that they already have. You can read about these French reading comprehension strategies in this blog post.

Each article comes with :

• pre-reading activities
• 2-page article
• reading comprehension questions (English & French options)
• One extension activity per article
• Answer keys

La Citadelle de Quebec – a historic francophone monument in Quebec City

To begin, in this French reading comprehension article, Core French or French Immersion students will learn about the history of La Citadelle de Québec. Explore not only the Citadelle, but also the surrounding historic neighbourhood with your French class.

But first, what is the Citadelle? Did you know that…

1. The Citadelle de Quebec is an active military installation. It is also the official residence of the Royal 22nd Regiment, the only French-language regiment in the Canadian Armed Forces.
2. It is also the official home of the Governor General of Canada.
3. The Citadelle de Québec is home to the largest military music school in Canada (I didn’t even know this!). The Royal 22nd Regiment Band consists of full-time musicians who provide music for official military ceremonies, parades, and concerts throughout Quebec and the rest of Canada.
4. The Citadelle is one of the best-preserved fortifications in North America. The British Army built the Citadelle to protect the city of Quebec from an American invasion following the War of 1812.
5. Finally, the Citadelle is a popular tourist attraction in Quebec. It is also a National Historic Site of Canada.

Les Catacombes de Paris

This particular article is a perfect French Halloween activity. However, you don’t have to wait for l’Halloween, you can also read up on this Parisian monument any time of the year. If you’re looking for built-in French Halloween vocabulary for your students, this article is perfect for your French class.

Here are some facts about the Catacombs. Did you know that…

1. The Paris Catacombs contain the remains of an estimated 6 million people. It is therefore one of the largest mass graves in the world. Paris city officials transferred the remains to the catacombs from overcrowded cemeteries in Paris in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
2. The underground tunnels of the catacombs span over 200 miles (322 km), but only a small section of the tunnels is open to the public. The section that is open to visitors is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and takes about 45 minutes to walk through.
3. During World War II, the
4. French Resistance used the Paris Catacombs as headquarters. The Resistance fighters used the tunnels to hide from German soldiers and to transport supplies and weapons.

Le Panthéon en France

I am ashamed to admit that I have only recently learned about the Panthéon myself as a French teacher. Now that I’ve learned about it, I find it fascinating. I like to focus on the very few women and people of colour honoured in the Panthéon. You don’t have to wait for Black History Month or International Women’s Day to talk about systemic racism and patriarchy in your French class.

Did you know that…

1. The Paris Pantheon was originally a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. However, during the French Revolution, it was turned into a mausoleum for famous French figures, including Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie.
2. The dome of the Paris Pantheon is inspired by the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is 83 meters (272 feet) tall and is one of the highest points in Paris. Visitors can climb to the top of the dome for stunning views of the city.
3. The crypt of the Paris Pantheon contains the tombs of over 70 notable French figures, including scientists, writers, politicians, and artists. The oldest tomb in the crypt belongs to French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes, who died in 1650.

La Grande Mosquée de Djenné au Mali – a historic Francophone monument in West Africa

In the past few years, I have noticed that so many more French teachers make an effort to teach about Francophone Africa. For good reason to because of the greatest concentration of French speakers is in Africa.

Francophone Africa should be studied year-round in French classes for it’s cultural richness. Here is one particular Francophone monument you and your French students should absolutely learn about!

Did you know that…

1. The Great Mosque of Djenne is thought to be one of the greatest examples of Sudano-Sahelian architecture. This type of architecture is characterized by the use of mud bricks and wooden beams. The mosque is made entirely of mud and is the largest mud-brick building in the world.
2. The Great Mosque of Djenne was first built in the 13th century, but the current structure dates back to 1907. The residents of Djenné rebuild the mosque every year during the Festival of Crepissage. This is a traditional ceremony in which the community comes together to repair the mud plaster on the mosque’s walls.
3. The Great Mosque of Djenne is located in the city of Djenne in Mali. The mosque and mud-built town surrounding the mosque are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Djenne is also a symbol of Islam in West Africa.

Citadelle La Ferrière en Haïti

Last but not least, we have the Citadelle La Ferrière and Palais Sans Souci in Haiti. The history of Citadelle La Ferrière is closely tied to the Haitian Revolution and Haitian Independence.

Did you know that…

1. Henri Christophe, one of the leaders of the Haitian revolution, commissioned Citadelle La Ferriere. Henri Christophe built the fortress to protect Haiti from French invasion and is one of the largest fortresses in the Americas.
2. The Citadelle La Ferriere is located on top of a mountain in northern Haiti and is accessible only by foot or on horseback. It is surrounded by a massive defensive wall that is up to 130 feet (40 meters) high and 10 feet (3 meters) thick.
3. The Citadelle La Ferriere is considered one of the most impressive military fortresses in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Finally, it is also a symbol of Haitian independence.

I hope you have been inspired by these incredible Francophone monuments!

If you are interested in using these articles with your French class, click the button below to check them out.

The post 5 Francophone Monuments to Inspire Your French Classroom appeared first on FLE Avec MmeD.

Teaching about la francophonie is arguably the most important part of teaching French! Our students love learning about francophone countries & francophone cultures. Additionally, as French teachers we also want our students to think critically about the legacies of colonialism in the Francophone world. So, how do we balance celebrating francophone regions, but also teach about these legacies? I have found 10 excellent French activities to help you teach about la francophonie.

Before we begin – be sure to grab this freebie!

1. Teaching about the colonial legacies of la Francophonie – France’s Empire – Johnny Harris

Firstly, let’s chat about Johnny Harris! Johnny Harris is a very popular YouTuber. In this particular video, Harris discusses the French Empire and the fact that French colonies exist to this day.

In my opinion, Harris describes each of these colonies very well. Most importantly, he does not avoid discussing the tragic realities of colonialism.

For example, Harris mentions how France conducted nuclear tests in the French colonies in the 20th century.

It is important to discuss critically the former and present colonies. In fact, they are not only tropical destinations for tourists. These Francophone regions are home to people who live with the legacies of empire.

2. Spotlight on Francophone Africa – Conte-moi et TV5 Afrique (YouTube)

Secondly, we have a series of illustrated legends from la Francophonie. You can find illustrated tales from Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali and France.

These legends are ideal for advanced FSL students or intermediate-advanced French immersion students.

Moreover, each legend comes with free downloadable PDFs (teacher guides, student worksheets and more!)

Finally, you should subscribe to the TV5 Africa YouTube channel. Their YouTube channel contains excellent videos for the classroom on Francophone Africa!

3. Creative projects and assignments on la francophonie

If you are looking for prep-free Core French units and French projects on the Francophone world, I have got you covered!

You can find resources on :

• French slang (verlan) & racism in France
• a project on francophone celebrations
• French reading comprehension article on Francophone countries and regions
• a flag project on francophone regions and countries
• French reading comprehension article on breakfast in la francophonie

Looking for more ideas, tips and tricks? Read my blog post on 10 different ways to teach about Francophone countries.

4. Learning about Francophone Canada – Les visages de la francophonie

For those living outside Quebec/Ontario/New Brunswick and other Francophone communities, la Francophonie is not very visible.

I am from BC and there are not many opportunities to immerse yourself in francophone communities in my province. If you live in the US, that is probably true for you too!

Therefore, this is a fantastic video that illustrates what the French language means to francophones, especially those living in anglophone regions. Speakers also discuss the challenges they face and why they are proud to be Francophone.

Language level : beginning-intermediate

5. French reading comprehension worksheets on la francophonie

Are you looking for engaging and relevant French reading comprehension worksheets with pre-reading and post-reading activities? If you answered yes, these articles are for you!

I wanted to have engaging and appropriate texts for my middle students. As a result, I ended up writing these French reading comprehension worksheets for my students.

If you are looking for French reading comprehension strategies, I’ve got you covered on that as well. I have a whole blog post article dedicated to tips, tricks and strategies.

6. Francophone countries : 29 countries in 2 minutes

7. Conte-moi

This website contains many resources on the diverse Francophonie. You can find maps, tales in PDF format with illustrations and images.

8. On fête ensemble (TFO)

In our classrooms, we often talk about celebrations and how our celebrations and traditions differ from our origins. This website contains many videos about family celebrations.

Additionally, please note that these videos are a little dated. However, I still think they are a great tool for the class.

9. Réseau In-Terre-Actif – comprehensive PDFs

Here is another INCREDIBLE resource. This website offers you free PDFs on Francophone countries! These PDFs are very detailed.

10. Centre de la francophonie des Amériques

Finally, this last resource is a website of the Centre de la francophonie des Amériques. You can find many resources like posters, books and educational PDFs!

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The post Here are 10 informative French activities on la francophonie appeared first on FLE Avec MmeD.