Brian Dai
Interview: Ms. M. Chen
Before you read
We have planned, organized, and carefully put together an interview with Ms. Chen. Below, we will show you what we asked her and how she answered, so you can get a glimpse of what it is like in French. Enjoy!
Click here for an example of the email we sent asking for the interview.
Interview Questions
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What career opportunities can students expect to get by taking French?
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What does a usual French lesson look like in your class?
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What do you find most interesting about French?
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What do your students struggle with the most? What do your students understand easily?
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Why does Canada speak both English and French? Why isn't French widely spoken in other places besides Europe and Canada?
Article (Results)
Career Opportunities
By taking French, you can expect many different government jobs. You can also get into engineering, healthcare, environmentalism, public services and transit, like at the airport and the post office. Mostly importantly, though, is that it will look good on your resume. People who speak both official languages of Canada are wanted everywhere.
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Her Usual Teaching Style
Ms. Chen says, "I usually start the class with content on grammar." She also mentions class activities, where students get to practice, speak, and interact with others using French in class. She will occasionally hand out worksheets, which students get time to work on and ask for help if needed.
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Most Interesting Part About French
Ms. Chen tells us about her love for the French language and culture, "You're being exposed to a new language and its culture. In order to master French, you will need to experience new grammar rules and pronunciation not in the English language."
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Student Struggles
One of the most common struggles for students is grammar. Since it is very different from English grammar, it will be hard to adapt and get used to. However, some vocabulary and verbs are easier to understand because it is very similar to those in English.
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Effective Techniques for Learning French
Expose yourself to different types of French media outside of school is highly recommended. Watching French movies and shows, listening to French music, reading books in French, and using what you've learned in real life. Duolingo is a free, accessible, and fun language-learning app that allows you to practice French. It has a lot of useful features: daily reminders, practicing with friends, and detailed lessons.
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Why French in Canada?
Because of historical colonizers like the British and French, Canada has evolved to speak English, like much of the world, and a little bit of French. French is also spoken in Europe and concentrated parts of Africa, where the French settled.