French 7

This week we continue to learn about Quebec culture and a few students tried to play the 'spoons' along with a traditional French folk song 'La Bastringue.' If you want to try this at home, grab 2 equally sized spoons, turn them so that the inside of the spoons are facing each other (similar to castanets) and then hit them on your leg-along with a beat!

The best part about learning about Quebec culture was the food sampling of various Quebec foods. Students tried: croissants, Oka cheese (made by Trappist monks in Oka, Quebec), Camembert cheese, maple caramels, baguette, baked beans with maple syrup, meat tourtiere and maple cookies! They also tried a 'mystery' soup, in which they had to figure out the ingredients of this famous French-Canadian soup...and the winner was Raquel who guessed 4 out of the 6 ingredients of the Split Pea Soup. Bravo!

Next week, the students will work (in groups) on a brochure/poster project that highlights different areas of Quebec culture that they have learned and will present this to the class.

Monthly Card Counting

Last week, Grades 5-7 experienced their first card counting class and the group with the highest points won a prize! Bravo! But...some students don't really understand the reason for the cards.

First of all, the cards say 'J'ai parle seulement en francais aujourd'hui' and that means 'I spoke only French today.' At the end of every French class, I ask the students the question 'Est-ce que tu as parle seulement en francais aujourd'jui?' and if they have, they receive a card-in which they put their name on that back and return it to me. If I see them in class talking in English, I say 'C'est dommage' (too bad), when they come up to receive a card.

Each student is placed in a random group (Group A,B,C,D) and we tally up each group's points (1 card = 1 point) and the group with the highest points wins! Gagne! This month's prize was a lollipop but next month, it will be something different.

Remember, PAS D'ANGLAIS!