Mme. Girouard

I told my grade 5 students I would be making a video for them to follow along, read and study for this unit of the book Le Hibou Savant.

After lots of work here it is!

I found this very interesting TEDx talk on how to learn a new language in 6 months

Chris Lonsdale explains that there are 5 principles and 7 actions to learning a new language quickly and effectively.

He also explains that “talent” and “immersion per se” don’t really matter. It’s all in your personal belief, staying encouraged and starting from the bottom. When learning a new language you are learning like a baby does, you can not expect to have adult or advanced conversations at the beginning.

I’ve written Principles and Actions down  for  your reference:

Principles:

Principle 1: Focus on language content that is relevant to you
Principle 2: Use your new language as a tool to communicate… from day 1
Principle 3: When you first UNDERSTAND the MESSAGE you will unconsciously ACQUIRE the language (known as comprehensible input)
Principle 4: Physiological training (the way the muscles of your face move)
Principle 5: Psycho-physiological STATE matters! (Know you won’t understand everything at the beginning and make sure you are relaxed, happy and ready to learn)

Actions:

Action 1: Listen A LOT!
Action 2: Focus on the meaning FIRST (before the words)  -through body language etc.
Action 3: Start Mixing! (10 verbs X 10 nouns X 10 adjectives = 1000 possible phrases)
Action 4: Focus on the core (Ex. in English 1000 words covers 85% of communication, 3000 words covers 98%)
Week 1: Tool Box; know how to say/use: -What is it? -How do you say? -I don’t understand… All in the TARGET LANGUAGE
Week 2-3: Pronouns, common verbs and adjectives (ex: you, me, that, give etc.)
Week 4: Glue words (ex: but, and, even though etc.)
Action 5: Get a language parent
Language parent “Rules”:
-Works to understand what you are saying
-Does not correct mistakes
-Confirms understanding by using correct language
-Uses words the learner knows
Action 6: Copy the face
Action 7: “Direct connect” to mental images

Here is the talk:

We have started the reading unit on “Le Hibou Savant”.

We have gone over the lexique- key words in the book and their definitions. We will keep going over this.

We’ve also done a pre-reading activity.

The best way a student can succeed in this unit is by listening in class, using the reading strategies we’ve gone over for a couple of periods and the one in their référence section of their binder, to actively participate, and try their very best by working hard!!

The book talks about animals, the winter and includes a “wise” lesson.

We are doing another listening quiz on a family ordering food.

The students have already practiced ordering food from each other’s menus.

Here are a few youtube videos on ordering food which can help with the vocabulary.

Please watch these videos to reinforce and learn new vocabulary.

This is homework:

Following the parent teacher interviews I have decided to make a simple and direct post on how to navigate this website and improve in French.

I understand that not many parents speak French. This is one of the main reasons I try to do all of the work in class with the students. That being said that does not mean there is no homework to be done.

Since it is a new language students need to practice a MINIMUMM OF 10 MINUTES per day.

*This can be done by watching educational song videos here. This is a great way to get started.

*If your child says they have no homework click here to see things they can do.

*For parents, here are helpful tips to help out your child.

*There are also helpful resources and links here to other websites for extra help. This is great for both parents and students

*Lastly, if you don’t know what your child is doing in French class I post updates on this main page and under the Grade 5 Tab here.

*I also post a few pictures of the board or handouts on my twitter page here.

You DO NOT have to have twitter to see this page.

I can’t wait to hear the grade 5 menu presentations tomorrow (Wednesday November 18)

Here is the evaluation chart I will be using with the students. I will go over it with them in class before their presentations as well:

Grade 5 cafe evaluation chart

For the next week or so the grade 5s have work periods to work on their menus and it’s different elements. This does not mean that they don’t work on them at home.

It’s encouraged that they get ahead as much as they can so they have more practice time in class.

To view the project criteria please visit the project page HERE

I’ve added 3 new music videos to the video 2 page HERE:

If it’s putting it on your phone, ipod or in the background while doing homework, cleaning or dancing- listening to music in French helps train the ear to hearing the language, recognizing the accent and how things are pronounced and learning new things.

Remember to use the listening strategies we spoke of in class (Listening for words you know, listen to words that sound like English, look at the visuals (the scene, the expression of the face, the tone, the actions), look for words that repeat.
Look things up when you can!

Stromae – Papaoutai

Maître Gims – Bella

Sexion D’Assaut – Avant qu’elle parte

If you have no idea where to start go to this page and listen to the basic videos. These cover colours, numbers, days of the week, months of the year, greetings, standing up, sitting down, O Canada and more.

Click HERE to go on the beginner video page