Lower School Boys Explore French Culture Online
“Learning a language is so much more than just words and grammar. It provides access to an entire culture,” says Lower School French teacher Claire Pilaprat, who shares this philosophy with fellow French teacher Janine Morcos.
Their curriculum engages in activities that promote French in our society, and this year was no exception. Despite travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic, Lower School boys were virtually transported to Québec, “La Belle Province”: the Grade 3s learned about Bonhomme Carnaval through short stories and songs; boys in Grade 4 wrote and followed French oral and reading instructions to build snow sculptures that were submitted online to the Carnaval de Québec; and the Grade 5s explored Québec tourism information to plan their perfect vacation, presenting what to do, see, eat and where to stay – en français, of course. Grade 6 boys are publishing a book of French poetry that will be displayed in the Lower School library, serving as their legacy to future students.
“The opportunity to understand and engage with another culture teaches students to respect people’s differences and be mindful of our interconnectivity,” says Morcos. “It gives the students a compassionate and broader lens with which to learn.”
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“The opportunity to understand and engage with another culture teaches students to respect people’s differences and be mindful of our interconnectivity,” says Morcos. “It gives the students a compassionate and broader lens with which to learn.”
