One of the most challenging aspects of teaching French as a foreign language in a non-French speaking country is the lack of cultural immersion. Not only are students studying the language in isolated classrooms, but many French learning resources are also completely devoid of the context and spirit of French people. This is especially true for audio resources teaching French culture and vocabulary. Add in the fact that those resources are often outdated - well, it’s a recipe for student disengagement. French lessons for kids should be fun, so how do we accomplish that?
Audio resources are a great way to make lessons more engaging. Unfortunately, as a French native living in America, I knew that finding reliable, high-quality audio resources in French is challenging enough; finding ones that tell whimsical stories about French culture is even harder! Since I recognized the importance of cultural exchange, I decided to design a podcast to teach French culture and vocabulary that was accessible, educational, and interesting for students to listen to.
Thus, the birth of the French with Elise Podcast!
Why are podcasts useful in education?
First of all, podcasts are mostly free! French with Elise Podcast definitely is, as accessibility is an important factor for educators and their students.
Secondly, podcasts are basically audio recordings of experts speaking about a wide variety of topics, so your options for resources to help students develop their listening skills are almost limitless. For example, I designed the French with Elise Podcast to be an easy French podcast that shares stories about life in France, such as “Why did the French name a pastry flash of lightning?” or “Do French people really wear shirts with blue and white stripes?”. I also incorporate French vocabulary learning and review within each podcast episode, so that students are learning French within the context of French culture. Lessons for kids must be fun AND effective in helping students develop their listening skills, and podcasts like French with Elise Podcast can help with that!
Thirdly, and most importantly, using podcasts as a learning tool will support differentiated instruction in your classroom! Many students can excel by reading from texts, but many others learn better by listening to audio resources. It’s also nice for them to hear different voices beyond their teacher’s voice, and with so many different kinds of podcasts like French with Elise Podcast available, using them would make keeping your lessons interesting and differentiated a piece of cake.
How do I use podcasts like French with Elise Podcast to teach French culture and vocabulary?
There are many ways you can incorporate this podcast into your classes, especially since it breaks down the French for kids to easily understand. With so many interesting facts about French culture, paired with relevant activities in French, each French with Elise Podcast episode is bound to enhance any French lesson. Here are some ways you can make use of podcasts like this!
1.Whole-class listening activity
Listening to stories as a class, especially quaint little tales of France, can be a lot of fun. This podcast La Bise, for example, teaches students how to greet friends and family with the French Cheek Kiss! Watch as your younger students giggle with joy at learning about this custom, and then as you work through the activity packet together. Perfect for introducing new vocabulary.
2.Small-group instruction
Similar to listening to stories as a class, sharing the experience of learning about French culture together as a small group can be just as fun. For small group instruction, the idea is to target the learning for the particular group that you are working with. If, for example, you needed to reinforce gender pronouns and nouns with a small group, Le Foot is the perfect podcast to incorporate not only the review of gendered pronouns and nouns, but it would be done while also learning about sports vocabulary and French athletes. A follow-up activity packet is available as well for reinforcing these skills!
3. Independent Listening Centers
Literacy Centers are a tried-and-true classroom management strategy for ELA; why not also incorporate it into French learning experiences? Podcasts are an enjoyable independent activity for students to engage in, and much like with small group instructions, provides a fun way to reinforce specific vocabulary and French language concepts. You can easily provide a hilarious podcast episode like Le Pigeon for students to listen to independently while you work with other students in small groups, and then assign activities from this packet as a check-in to make sure they understood the content and vocabulary in the podcast.
Podcasts are fun, engaging, and multi-functional. I can’t wait to hear how you’re incorporating them into your teaching! Send me an email at info@frenchwithelise.com and let me know what else you would like to learn about with French culture!