Kids learning French greetings...

 All my students began the school year with new objectives, goals and willing to learn by having fun. Using funny accessories and game has always been one of my strategies to create a positive learning atmosphere. On the picture, you can see some Grade 2 students practicing French greetings. In particular, learning to differentiate How to greet a man and a woman in French. It was very funny and for sure, a handy way to make sure kids will remember " bonjour/au revoir madame", "bonjour/au revoir monsieur".   

Students concerns about French language...

  Some students are perplexed when they hear French language for the first time and look sometimes a bit overwhelmed. Actually,  as a teacher, I am optimistic as I have seen so many students improving a lot and being able to express themselves after a few weeks of French sessions. 

Also, French language has many similarities with English Language. Do you know why? Here is one reason: 

First contact to the parents

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.blogspot.com/

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

First school day!

I am so happy to get in touch with me new students and to spend some time with my former students!

His is the card my new students received: 

“Never Can Say Goodbye”...

My dear student,

Thank you for this school year 2015-2016, I spent with you. This year was fun and I really liked the way you constantly surprised me.

I learned from you new things and thanks to you, I saw the world from different perspectives. I was also happy to share my passion for French language and French culture with you. The feeling of accomplishment seeing you grow in knowledge, confidence and skills brought me a lot of joy!
Finally, I had a lot of fun during our last parties, field trips and cooking sessions!

Well, enjoy your holidays and see you next year…
And, I will miss you my dear Grade 5 students!!!

Swimathon for Sam!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the swimathon on Friday. Whether you were in the pool swimming laps, MC-ing, cheerleading or donating money through sponsorship, each of you played an important part in this community event that supported Sam and his family. So far $11,000 has been raised. Loretta Malloy took these photos.

Grade 5 Reflexions!

 Grade 5 students reflected on their learning at the end of the year: their new learning, their challenges, their new goals for Grade 6.

Gr 5 Field trip: French Institute with Students from Ecole Descartes

On Friday 27 May, Grade 5 students went to the French Institute and met students from Ecole Descartes, Phnom Penh. We did a workshop together as well as a competition: the best group won a prize!

     

Gr 4 Field trip: La crêperie

 

On Friday, 20 May, Grade 4 students went to La creperie, a French restaurant downtown. They had a chance to order food in French, see how to cook "crêpes", eat yummy ones. It was a nice and please authentic situation. Me, as a teacher I had a lot of fun. What about you? 

Do you like this restaurant? why? Est-ce que tu aimes ce restaurant? pourquoi?

Do you like these French pancakes? why? Est-ce que tu aimes les crêpes françaises? Pourquoi?

Do you like the French people you met? why? Est-ce que tu aimes les français que tu rencontres? pourquoi?

  

Creation for creating collaborative books

During the 2 last weeks the grade 2, 3 ,4 and 5 students have been creating collaborative books to show their understanding and searches for the last unit. They did awesome works! The books are displayed at the KC for 2 weeks. 
 

Les étoiles de la semaine

 

This week (May 9-13), the stars are:

Cette semaine (9-13Mai), les étoiles sont: 

Gr 2: Lili for being compassionate with Lily 

Gr 3: Tomoki for being an inquirer 

Gr 4: Liza and Oona for being the first one to complete their writing task

Gr 5: Morakod, Jovenna and Mia for catching up!

Bravo et merci! Vous nous inspirez!

Congratulation and thank you! You inspire us!

Yummy French biscuits" croquants"...

As all students have been so kind with me on Monday, I brought them some french " croquants", yummy traditional biscuits. This recipe comes from the south of France, in a region called " La Provence" in the XVII century. 
Here is 2 video about la Provence:

Here is a long documentary in English about " La Provence".

Here is the " croquants"recipe in English:

Finally, Grade 2 students had a cooking session. We made and bake together some French cakes called " pets de nonnes". Kindly, the students offered some of these cakes to their classmate and some teachers. They are so generous!

Le 8 Mai 1945, un événement historique...

May 8th 1945, was the date the Allies celebrated the defeat of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Reich, formally recognising the end of the Second World War in Europe. In France, it is a national holiday and a chance to remember all the ones to died for Freedom. 
To read some more information, please click here.
In class, we watched a short documentary about the way French people celebrate it this year. It is the 76th anniversary of this Peace Treaty. 

https://www.google.com.kh/search?q=8th+may+1945+victory+in+france&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=657&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiU55-Bqc_MAhWFOJQKHcUMAjoQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=k1NVrrBczzy4nM%3A