Some Things to Do for French!
Hello Everyone,
I would like to post a series of learning videos and lessons about basic French on this blog entry for both grade 4 and 5. It will be updated as needed as we continue with our French learning.
As I explained to the class, the Core French curriculum provides basic exposure for grades 5-7 to French. Because we are a grade 4/5 class, everyone in grade 4 will also participate. The focus for us will be learning basic words, phrases, and interactions in French, as well as some French culture, such as where French is spoken in the world.
Ms. D will also go over the connections between French learning and other languages. For example, we have talked about cognates, idioms, colloquial phrases, and dialects, as well as the linguistics behind how humans make different sounds around the world. We will compare French with our own first languages as we go, because this makes us more globally aware of how language works and is attained. I enjoy our deeper conversations about language!
We have some students who were in French Immersion. While MACC does not have French Immersion support, the students who have past French experience will be asked to do alternative assignments. For example, they may be asked to read French newspapers and comment in French on current events, or they might read the French magazines I have in class and comment on articles. The purpose of any work done at the French Immersion level would be to maintain previously-learned French. It is a good idea to find a friend or family member to have daily discussions in French to maintain any fluency.
If you want to do independent learning of French, there are so many ways online. You could do Duolingo or use the website French-Games.net which has quizzes, vocab lists, and games for practice. You could also try to find a friend who studies French Immersion and get them to have basic conversations with you. Finally, you could try to find items that have writing in both French and English, such as the sides of cereal boxes, instructions for a toy, and brochures, and do comparisons between the two explanations and languages.
Any exposure you can get at this age is helpful for later, and it is not necessary to try and gain fluency now. You will be taking French in Grade 8, and you can continue with those studies in high school. Many students who start French in high school and continue in university also gain fluency and can use it for work or travel in the future. Plus there are other languages out there, such as Chinese, Spanish, Russian, or Japanese. So many options to increase your ability to communicate with others!
Okay, so here are some ways to get started. Please practice videos and lists we go over in class, and we will have Kahoot quizzes and in-class interaction to practice and to test our knowledge.
The Numbers 1-10 – Write and Practice
The Numbers 11-20 – Write and Practice
French Alphabet – Write and Practice
Song About the Months – Write and Practice
Days of the Week with Alexa – Write and Practice
Practice Greetings and How to Say Your Name – Write and Practice
How to Introduce Yourself in French – Practice Aloud
French Greetings with Alexa – Practice Aloud
Feelings in French – Write and Practice
Weather in French – Write and Practice
French Weather and Seasons – Listen and Practice
Why French in Canada – Name Explain, Listen and Take Notes