by Pamela Pascal, proud member of the #teacher5etoiles Squad
As Jules Renard says, “I love French language passionately, I believe everything the grammar tells me, and I savor the exceptions, the irregularities of our language.” From early childhood centres to primary schools, I often consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to make my love for the language of Molière my profession.
That being said, in order to close a chapter of this rather special school year, it is in a early childhood centre in French immersion that I will spend part of my summer.
If you ask my colleagues, I am known as the educator who is a little too energetic, consistently smiling, and always has endless activities prepared. So much so, that I like to start my day with a story. Following this, the activity comes to an end with a discussion in order to continue the learning process.
Did you know? Reading is a great way to learn a foreign language. Your child will thus develop their language skills in their mother tongue and second language.
A little later in the morning, it’s time to move! The next activity therefore takes place in the courtyard of the centre. Personally, I think there is nothing better than using nature as a playground or a teaching area. From the ground to the sky, the environment is full of tools that can be used to turn them into fun games for young and more mature alike.
For example, word hunts, photo rallies and exploration activities are excellent outdoor games that are easily doable and will allow your child to become more familiar with the target language.
At lunchtime, children are required to communicate strictly in French, both with their friends and with their educators. In this way, they have the opportunity to put into practice the new vocabulary words they have acquired during the morning.
Then, it’s nap time. After a well-deserved afternoon rest, children choose from a range of board games, such as Auzou’s “challenge boxes” or Djeco’s Mini Logix. These games target the learning of French language in order to promote the acquisition of word knowledge among the aforementioned clientele.
There you go! Now, it’s time to go home. It is with a smile on their faces and ideas in their heads that the children will return the next day.