Brian Dai
French News Page - Raw Materials
Interview Preparation
Interview Questions
1. What is French to you, and why is it important for students?
2. What do students get out of French class?
- What career options?
- Degrees, certification, etc?
- What can students do with their knowledge?
3. What grades do you teach?
- What are the curriculums of the grades you teach?
4. What projects, assignments, and work will the students be involved in?
5. In French class, what will students expect in terms of field trips or activities outside of school?
6. What will the students be evaluated on?
- What is the marking system (for each grade)?
7. What do you enjoy about teaching French?
8. Do you have anything to say to students interested in taking French class?
9. What do you find interesting about French?
- What do you personally like about French?
10. What do you think is the easiest part of learning French? What about the hardest part?
11. What part of French do you enjoy teaching the most? What about your least favourite part?
12. Lastly, what is your favourite French saying?
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Invitation Email
Hello Mr. Amega,
I’m Brian. I’m currently taking Web Development 10, and I have a project that requires me to interview a teacher. For this assignment, I have to make a French News website, so I would like to ask you a few questions regarding that matter.
Specifically, I’ll be asking general questions about the course and some course content information. It will only take about half an hour or less.
Would you, by any chance, have some time to spare, preferably before this Friday, for an interview with me? It could be PLT, after school, or during breaks.
I’ll be waiting for your reply. Thank you.
Brian.
My Work
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At Palmer, French 11 and French 12 are often taught as a joint class. At this level, students are working independently most of the time and will get to explore opportunities on their own. That being said, students will always have someone to seek support from. Prerequisites include French 10, or you could be referred to a higher level by a teacher who is well aware of your abilities.
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French 11/12 is an advanced course, which means students are already past the fundamentals. Students are expected to already know basic self-introduction, conversations, writing, and reading. Being a grammar-heavy course, students will continue to hone their French language skills like pronouns, repositions, tenses, and more, by engaging in group discussions, either with peers or natives. Students are asked to consume immersive media, such as movies, songs, and stories, so that they are fully exposed to French culture.
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Major projects include script-writing, which students will eventually put into a skit. Students will act out stories and scenes, like a marketing presentation. Students will have opportunities to use the things taught in class. One that really stands out is going to a French restaurant. The class will have to communicate, order, and express themselves entirely in French. Other assignments might be analyzing songs by looking into the lyrics, rhythm, and tune.
Grade 11/12 Course Content
Ethan's Work
French Students Interview Results
Q: What made you study French?
A: Because French is the secondary language of Canada
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Q: What was the highest score you had on an assignment, quiz, or test?
A: My final mark was 90%
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Q: What was the most difficult part of the course?
A: Assignments, but I enjoy challenging myself.
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Q: What was the most enjoyable art of the course?
A: I like to watch French movies.
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Q: Why do you think studying French is important?
A: It's one of the most used languages across the world.
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Q: Will you continue learning French throughout high school and university or college?
A: Yes.
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Q: If you could change one thing about the French 10 curriculum, what would it be?
A: I would've liked it more if the order of the contents changed.
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French Club Interview Results
Q: What group of people is French Club intended for?
A: French Club welcomes people of all skill levels, including beginners.
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Q: What is the purpose of French Club?
A: Our goal is to promote the diversity of francophone culture, and language.
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Q: How will French Club be of any support to students learning French?
A: In French Club, students will be participating in discussions, presentations, and games.
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Q: What kind of games does French Club host?
A: Jeopardy, Kahoot, and movie nights.
Content
Justin's Work
French 8 Course Content
An introductory course. Students will focus on basic pronunciation, such as alphabets and numbers. Students will also get to practice the fundamentals: greetings, simple verbs, simple adjectives, simple adverbs, prepositions, and places. Students will then use this information for speaking, writing, listening, and more.
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French 9 Course Content
One level higher than French 8. Students will study verbs with tenses, a wider range of adjectives and prepositions, and subject agreements. At this level, students will continue to build their foundations and pave the road onward towards advanced French classes.
Content & Pictures
Amy's Work
Ms. Chen Interview Results
What career opportunities can students expect to get by taking French?
​-Many government jobs (engineering, healthcare field, environmentalism, public transit (airports, post office)
-Looks good on resume to have someone speak both Canada’s languages
What does a usual lesson on French look like in your class?​​​
​-Content on grammar at the beginning of class
-Class activities (only speaking French in class for a specific amount of time to get people comfortable with the language using specific themes)
-Worksheets so the teacher can provide help if needed
What do you find most interesting about French?
​-Being exposed to a new culture that’s still also in Canada
-Being able to master a completely new language with a new set of grammar rules, and different pronunciation than what was in the English language
What do your students struggle most with?​ What do they understand easily?
-Most struggle with grammar (since it is very different from English and is used often)
-Vocabulary is decent (especially if the words are similar to that of English words)
-Certain verb tenses and future tense that connect to English are also easily understood
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​​​Is there any French learning techniques you recommend students take? If there are, what are they? And how effective is each technique for your students?​​​​​​​​​​​​​
-Use a set amount of time to engage with French content outside of class (such as Duolingo, watching a variety of French dubbed or subbed movies, TV shows, books, and French songs)
-French journaling
-Practicing speaking with a friend
-(Duolingo is especially effective as it provides daily reminders, allows you to join lessons with friends, and is easily accessible as long as you have internet)
Content
Ms. Chen Interview Results Cont.
Why does Canada speak both English and French? Why isn't French widely spoken in other places besides Europe and Canada?
-Historical colonizers / both English and French settlers came to Canada (French came first but English won the most control)
-English language became prevalent all over the world
-French is also spoken in concentrated parts of Africa after the French settlers came hundreds of years ago and had spread it around
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Grade 10 Course Content & Marking System
Grade 10 is the last junior year of high school. Therefore, the course is more advanced and could be considered a senior level course. The most notable difference is that tests are worth more. Quizzes are worth 45% and the final is worth 25% (instead of 20% like in Grade 8 and 9).
Criteria in general grammar is increased and lengthened.
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