The holiday break is here! Below are some of my personal recommendations for incorporating some fun in French! When we practice French outside of school, it helps bring the language to life which creates even more connection and meaning around it. This meaning and connection leads to a greater bank of motivation when students inevitably encounter challenges on the life long journey of language learning. Check out this easy list that includes what to watch, listen to and do:
What to Watch: Le Meilleur Patisseur
As we dive into the festive season, why not indulge in some holiday screentime that not only entertains but also enhances your French skills? The first recommendation is : Le Meilleur Pâtissier, a French reality
baking show!
Here is a youtube link to last week’s season 12 finale Christmas episode! It’s really fun to watch!
Great for students from grade 2 to adults, this show holds a unique charm in improving French listening comprehension. Featuring everyday people of various ages and backgrounds from all different parts of France, the dialogue is not only diverse but also visually engaging. What sets it apart is the wide assortment of accents and the correlation between conversations and on-screen actions. Contestants express a range of emotions tied to their creations, providing rich content for students to decode and infer meaning.
In language learning, context is key, and Le Meilleur Pâtissier offers a wealth of it. The diverse linguistic landscape presented on the show empowers students with the confidence to navigate conversations with French speakers beyond the confines of the classroom. Exposure to fun shows like this not only builds vocabulary but also fosters a deeper connection to the language.
Alert! Some kids aren’t so excited to be exposed to French content outside of school or when an English option is available. Rest assured, I’ve seen it happen a lot! Drawing from my experience of 14 years in summer camps, I’ve found that the magic number is 15 minutes. Yes, they may complain for the first 15 minutes, but after that, they usually surrender to the sounds of the French language in front of them. So, if you can patiently wait out those initial 15 minutes, you’ll witness the moment when they forget they are watching something in French!
What to Listen to: Chansons Hivernales, Pierre Lapointe (2020)
Making cookies? Decorating the tree? Christmas crafts? Here’s your easy soundtrack, Chanson Hivernales by Québec artist Pierre Lapointe. Very easy to listen to, modern and very christmasy. We listened to it on repeat during our French holiday card making online and in-person sessions!
What to Listen to: Beau Dommage (édition 30e anniversaire) [reamastered 2004], Beau Dommage (1974)
To be fair, this album actually only contains 1 Christmas song on it ( Le 23 décembre) however we’ve had it on in the background many times while crafting at winter camp. It’s good because it doesn’t hit you over the head with Christmas. It kinda reminds me of like how on Joni Mitchell’s album Blue, there’s the song River so I always end up playing the whole album at Christmas, but the whole album definitely isn’t Christmas. Anyways, give this older album a try from Montreal folk, pop, rocky band Beau Dommage!
Find these albums on whatever platform you stream your music 🙂
What to Do:
Les Petites Pommes French Programs!
Of course my favourite way to engage with French this winter break is going to be our camps! I’m greatly looking forward to seeing all of our in-person Winter Camp and Online Winter French Reading Camp students while we enjoy some time meeting new friends, learning new things and building our confidence together en français! There still a few spots in each session, so register today!