Dear parents,
At the beginning of this new school year, I want to welcome each of you whether your child is returning to ISPP or this will be his or her first year. I hope you have all had a restful and enjoyable summer holiday.
I am delighted to write a few words of introduction to French class.
1. Learning French at ISPP
ISPP’s philosophy is that the learning process simultaneously involves learning language - as learners listen to and use language with others in their everyday lives; learning about language - as learners grow in their understanding of how language works; and learning through language - as learners use language as a tool to listen, think, discuss and reflect on information, ideas and issues (Halliday 1980).
The foreign language department at ISPP believes that language is best acquired through meaningful and purposeful interactions and activities. The best environment for students to thrive in is one with a curriculum that is inclusive of all its learners, where linguistic diversity is celebrated and where critical thinking and international mindedness are actively promoted.
2. PYP goals
In PYP, my goals are:
- to instill a positive response to the learning of another language
- to develop immediate communication skills
- to build towards an effective level of fluency
- to develop competency in the skills of speaking, reading, writing, spelling in French
- to facilitate a deeper understanding of the French community and culture
3. Schedule and curriculum
All students from Grade 2 to Grade 5 have French 3 times a week (45 minutes each time).
The students continuously develop their individual French skills and the background and number of new students varies, I do my best to be flexible.
The students are grouped according to the following 5 levels: new to the additional language, early acquisition of the additional language, becoming familiar with the additional language, becoming competent in the additional language, and finally, becoming fluent in the additional language.
Each of these levels implicates a certain level of language skills, especially listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
For example, within a grade 5 class, there may be students who are at the level “new to the additional language”, because they have only recently started learning French. There may also be students who are advanced in the “becoming competent in the additional language” level, because they've learned French for several years, or perhaps traveled to a French-speaking country.
The objective of this program is to help students develop new abilities, and achieve higher levels of linguistic skills over their course of their schooling. They will be evaluated through formative, as well as summative assessments, according to the defined criteria of their personal level.
4. The four units of teaching
These 4 units are rich in content, resources, educational tools, as well as teaching strategies which will ensure the development of well-founded knowledge, which will in turn serve as a trampoline to MYP.
To summarize, these 4 units are:
Unit 1: “All about me”: this unit allows for personal presentation, especially moral, physical, nationality, preferences, as well as family and pets.
Unit 2: “A day in my life”: this unit studies day-to-day routine, as well as objects and actions encountered in day-to-day life.
Unit 3: “Who are you?”: This unit provides tools for the description of others, especially physical, professional, activity, and health descriptions.
Unit 4: “My dream holidays”: This unit offers students the possibility to learn about many different aspects, particularly cultural, as well as vacation activities, destinations, and transportation methods.
This new personalized program brings a new approach to the teaching of foreign languages at ISPP, and hopes to serve as a trampoline towards your child's success and fulfillment.
5. French blog
To keep you in the loop with our French class, I have created a blog: http://isppelementaryvalerie.b
In this blog, you will see pictures and movies of classroom assignments and see what your children are working on. This blog will be regularly updated with new posts. Some of them will be specifically designed for parents. For example, when I will do a survey in class or collect information, I will be glad to read your point of view. Then, there are several educational links and French basics to use with your children at home (under the tool tab “Resources"). Going through these learning resources will move towards positive reinforcement of learning and attitudes.
Finally, this blog provides an effective means to me of communicating electronically with parents as you can leave a comment, a question or make a suggestion.
I hope you will appreciate this blog.
I am looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure your children can achieve his/her highest potential. As a partner, I share with parents the responsibility for your children’s success and I will do my very best to help them.
If you have any questions or concerns about your children's progress, your children behavior, or French language, I will be very pleased to communicate with you by email or to meet you any Monday, Wednesday or Friday at ISPP.
Be sure that I consider it a great privilege and responsibility to be your children's French teacher this year and I look forward to collaborating with each of you.
Best regards, Miss Valérie
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