From French Teacher Magali Harper: The French-speaking world is so much larger than France and Canada, and I strive to expose my students to the many countries and cultures around the world that use the French language. Skills in cultural competence are in high demand as we all become more interconnected around the globe. These skills, which are essentially behaviors and attitudes that enable us to work effectively cross-culturally, are a central part of my classroom teaching.
During the first semester, 7th graders explored the French speaking countries in Africa. The students chose their country, produced a poster and shared their work to the class--all in French! Class 5/6 students have been exploring Haiti this past month. This ongoing project will hopefully continue into pen pal correspondence with students from a school in Haiti. Finally, class 3/4 students started to travel (in the class!) the francophone world with their passport in hands! Starting with France, students learned about the Euro and used the currency in mini-skits at the market.
When children learn a foreign language, they are developing their empathy and flexibility--two essentials skills for a global citizen.
