In this week’s newsletter, we’re excited to present the latest edition of our LPP Tutoring Spotlight Series, show casing our tutor Jack Robbins. Jack, a 23-year-old recent graduate of Sociology from Glendon College, has a deep passion for learning, connecting with diverse cultures and experiences, and sharing his knowledge with others. He embodies our core value of building confidence through French learning believing in the power of persistence and self-reflection to enhance one’s learning and skill development. In April, our awesome book writer Juana had a chat with Jack about his journey in learning French and how he embarked on his tutoring career. There is no straight path to language learning, hearing about other’s journeys really provides a glimpse into one of the many possible roads to French mastery!
Les Petites Pommes Tutor Spotlight: Jack Robbins
Why did you start learning French?
It actually started when I was living in Windsor. I was about 3 years old and I had a babysitter who spoke French to me. She told my mom that I understood her and that it would be a great opportunity for me if I learnt French. When we moved back to Hamilton, my mom decided to put me in a full-French school.
What was your experience going to a full-French school and how do you think it compares to a French immersion school?
I went to l’École Notre Dame, which still exists today, and I remember being five years old and having my first-ever interview there to assess whether I would be comfortable being in class in full French. I must have done pretty well because I ended up doing my whole schooling in French, first from Kindergarten to great eight in Notre Dame, then in a full-French high school as well.
I think there are many differences in how the curriculum is taught but also that in French Immersion you start learning some subjects in English at some point. At my school, there was no English whatsoever. Jokingly, you’d get in trouble if you spoke English during recess.
A main difference I think between my classmates and me was that many students at my school actually came from fully francophone families. Some were Québecois and others immigrated from other francophone communities,and getting to share and learn from all these communities was a very beautiful and enjoyable experience for me.
You learnt French in a fully francophone environment, very similar to how maybe a native speaker learns. Did you ever have moments where you struggled?
Definitely. When I was little I often felt like I was living between two worlds, because at home my parents didn’t speak French and I couldn’t speak English at school. Many of my classmates could have someone to help them out at home with homework. That wasn’t the case for me, and this is one of the reasons I empathize with my students so much. I know how it feels like to come home with homework in French and my parents wanting to help me with it but being unable to because they didn’t know French.
Did you ever feel at a disadvantage with your peers because of this?
Well, I know many people in my situation do feel that way, which is why many decide to go to an English-speaking high school after grade eight. However, for myself, I always saw it as a gradual process. I knew that even if some of my friends had francophone parents and that French was their first language, they were still learning just like me. We were at the same level in many ways, and I knew that if I stuck at it, I was going to get better and eventually be good at it.
You mentioned that many people decide to go to an English high school. What made you decide to complete all your schooling in French?
I have this emotional connection to the language. I actually really enjoyed learning French ever since elementary school and so I wanted to continue to do so in high school. My teachers also always taught me about how important and meaningful it was to be able to speak a second language and how it can open doors to new people, cultures and communities. And I really have always wanted to explore connecting with people.
When I was in grade 10 I was actually falling a bit out of love with it because things were getting harder. Something that really motivated me to keep going was volunteering, because it gave me many opportunities to share with francophone people and communities and realize just how valuable it is to speak a second language for life outside of the classroom.
Did these volunteering opportunities inspire you to become a teacher?
For sure. My volunteering eventually became job opportunities.
Where was your first teaching volunteer/job experience?
It was at Le Centre Francophone de Hamilton/ The Francophone centre of Hamilton. I participated in their Franco Fest during the summer and afterwards during their summer camps. I first started volunteering when I was 17, and then I became a camp counselor and then chief camp counselor and ran their summer camps for the last two years.
How did you start at Les Petites Pommes?
I found them last fall though Indeed, there was a job offer there and their values and criteria really spoke to me. I then met with John and Mary and they are really great people, and working with children and teaching was something I wanted to do. It has been a great experience so far. I’ve really enjoyed this experience and being able to embody so much that I’ve learnt from my journey as a person.
How would you describe your teaching style?
I like to focus on what my student needs. If the student has a project or a reading test, that goal is going to direct our sessions. I also like working directly with what we feel we are struggling with the most. I like to tackle it until my student feels confident and comfortable with it. Repetition is super important as well. We repeat until it sticks. And you know, the key is also to let them know that they have support, that they are also capable of overcoming their struggles and achieving their goals. I want to overall motivate, inspire and empathize with my students.
What is a piece of advice you would share with other teachers?
Don’t forget to have fun and be silly. We are working with kids, and there is so much more that they will remember if they have fun happy memories related to it. They will remember not only the fun activities that you did in class but the things you learnt together as well. What is one piece of advice you would give to French learners?
Don’t give up. You got this. Sometimes French is extremely complicated and can even be annoying, but don’t give up. You have all the tools to succeed. Keep working hard and believe in yourself.
