Language and culture connect us to our history and identity. All of our experiences are rooted in language and culture; they shape our lives and inspire our future.
This year we continue to celebrate our human connections. Language and culture are woven into the human experience. Around the world, languages make us unique and, at the same time, unite us.
Have fun and celebrate the richness of the French language and Francophone culture!
About this Resource
Célébrons la francophonie is a collection of activities for FSL teachers to use with their students to explore and celebrate the French language and the French-speaking world. CASLT provides this resource in the context of the Semaine nationale de la francophonie (link in French only), an opportunity to celebrate a rich, exciting, and dynamic Francophone community in Canada. This year’s theme is “Francophones : toi, moi, et nous!”. This theme highlights the fact that we are all connected and part of a larger humanity. Let’s use this theme to explore our shared history, our traditions, and our passions.
Authors
Lisa Browne Peters and Glenn Cake
How to Use this Resource
Célébrons la francophonie 2022 is divided into four sub-themes:
- Exploring the Francophonie
- Exploring the French Language
- Exploring Life and Culture
- Exploring Richness
Each sub-theme offers a range of activities that teachers can tailor to students’ levels, from beginner to intermediate to advanced. We are pleased to offer strategies for using technology to maximize the suggested activities (or those that come from your own creativity). Choose tech-based activities to:
- Incorporate varied learning strategies
- Motivate students
- Use different presentation styles
- Make activities more interactive
New This Year: Let’s Celebrate With Kahoot!
This year, we are incorporating an even more dynamic technology into this resource, and we hope that it will provide you with more opportunities to learn by playing and having fun in French. We are offering eight Kahoot! games for you to play in the classroom, as well as a live Kahoot! event on March 30 that gives you the opportunity to connect in real time with other teachers and students celebrating French.
To learn how to access and play Kahoot!, visit the Kahoot! Instructions section.
Live Canada-Wide Kahoot! Challenge
Participate in the live Kahoot! with your students to:
- Connect in real time with other teachers and students in Canada celebrating French
- Have fun while promoting the use and acquisition of the French language
- Have a chance to win prizes – there will be several prize draws for participants during the live event
Feel free to have your students participate individually or participate all together as a class.
Wednesday, March 30 at 1 p.m. EDTExploring the Francophonie
Contextualization Activities
- Create a definition of la Francophonie. (For example: La Francophonie is the group of people who use the French language in their daily lives.)
- Propose different scenarios that require the use of French in daily life. (For example: at home, at school, at work, at the store, etc.)
- Name all the provinces and territories in Canada. Next, locate the provinces and territories on a map of Canada. Locate all the capital cities.
- Watch the video Le Rap Francophonie. Name Francophone groups that exist in Canada.
Activities and Discussions
- Identify the Francophone regions of Canada. Visit the Communautés section of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie website to access information on Francophone and Acadian communities in Canada. In teams, point out the particularities of certain regions (e.g., Acadia, the North, the West, etc.). Present the information to the class.
- Visit this webpage about Canada’s international relations to learn more about Canada and the Francophonie.
- Play Kahoot! to test general knowledge of the Francophonie and other fun French facts.
- Watch videos on the French-speaking world. Then, discuss impressions and discoveries.
Enrichment
- Watch the Présentation de la Francophonie Play Kahoot! to consolidate the information presented in the video.
- Watch the following two videos:
Reflect on the speech and identify the most interesting facts. According to the message in the videos, what will be the role of the Francophonie in the world of tomorrow?
| The symbol of the Organisation international de la francophonie is a circle, created by the union of 5 individual stripes. Each band represents one of the 5 continents where the members of the Francophonie are located. Each color represents the countries and governments that participate in the Francophonie, such as Canada. The union of the bands in the circle represents the collaboration and unity between all participating members. |
Exploring the French Language
Contextualization Activities
- Create a definition of language.
- Name the languages spoken in the school, the community, and the country.
- Discuss the importance of learning more than one language: Why is it important to speak more than one language in Canada?
- What does it mean to live in French in Canada? Discuss opinions as a team and share with the class. To consider: languages, history, traditions, culture, society, etc.
Activities and Discussions
- Play Kahoot! to explore French expressions.
- Access games and activities from the Language Portal of Canada.
- Sit in the hot seat/La chaise chaude! This exciting game encourages students to express themselves in French.
- Discover these fun online games from TV5.
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- Videz votre sac
- Zigmo
- Mots coupés
- Tiroirs secrets
- Lettris
Note: Some of these games ask the player to select their gender, level of education, and year of birth before playing. Discuss this with the students and advise them to choose random answers.
- Play Emoji Languages games to explore the French language through different themes.
Enrichment
- Play Kahoot! to explore more French expressions.
- Participate in CASLT’s Languages Build Video Contest. Students are invited to create a video that shares how learning an additional language has helped “build” aspects of their identities, personalities, or societies. Participants have a chance to win prizes and have their video featured by CASLT.
- Access two series of TV5Monde videos and learning activities, from beginner to advanced levels, designed to help students learn French.
- Travel to 1974 with the National Film Board’s film “Bons amis” and watch two middle school students meet with the then-Commissioner of Official Languages.
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- Identify the main ideas about official languages presented in the film.
- What changes in official languages have occurred since 1974?
Exploring Life and Culture
Contextualization Activities
- Create a definition of culture.
- Discuss the relationship between language and culture.
- Discuss the various cultures represented in the class.
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- Discuss family origins (e.g., parents, grandparents, etc.).
- Discuss the cultures present in your region of Canada.
- Discuss what is important and unique about your culture: What brings you together in your region/community/culture?
- Discuss activities, traditions, and passions that are important in your personal life.
Activities and Discussions
1. Gastronomy
Many French traditions and customs involve special meals, recipes, and food-related activities.
- Find French recipes and dishes that are popular.
- Watch the video Pourquoi les Français sont-ils si fiers de leur cuisine?.
- Discover French gastronomy by watching this YouTube video. Afterwards, share reactions.
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- What French dishes have they already tried?
- What dishes would they like to try?
2. Music
Music is deeply rooted in all cultures of the world. Francophones are no exception. Music is a vibrant and celebrated part of their culture.
- Learn a vibrant and popular folk song, J’ai vu le loup, le renard et la belette.
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- Explore the vocabulary and verb tenses.
- In small groups, compose another stanza.
- Replace the wolf, fox, and weasel with three other animals.
- Create a FlipGrid activity based on the song. Then present your work to the class.
- Browse this video compilation of Francophone musical artists from French for the Future.
- Watch the video of the song Tous unis, la Francophonie.
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- What is the main message of the video/song?
- What aspects of Francophone culture are highlighted in this song/video?
- The theme of the Semaine nationale de la francophonie is « Francophones : toi, moi, et nous! ». How do the song and video illustrate this theme?
- View the version of the song with the lyrics.
- Find new or intriguing words and discuss their meaning.
3. Physical Activity
Physical activity is an important part of life. Geography and culture can have a significant influence on the types of activities that are practiced in a given area.
- A wide variety of physical activities are popular across the country. List the activities that are practiced in your community/province/territory.
- Discuss the benefits of physical activity and name some favorite activities.
- How can physical activity contribute to happiness?
- Research two traditional French games: pétanque and bilboquet. Present your findings to the class.
The Olympic Games
Every two years, the Olympic Games are an opportunity for amateur athletes from around the world to come together to compete and showcase their sport.
- Discuss the following question: Can athletes be part of a local/national/international community?
- Brainstorm names of winter sports.
- Spotlight on some of Canada’s top athletes!
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- Brendan Mackay & Sébastien Toutant: Freestyle skiing and snowboarding
- Aurélie Rivard: Para swimming
- Chantal Petitclerc: Wheelchair racing
- Liam Hickey: Para Ice Hockey
- Research the 2022 Olympic Games and all the athletes who represented our country.
- Choose an athlete and create a digital story to present to the class. Use one of the following programs to create a digital presentation:
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- Adobe Creative Cloud Express (images, narration)
- Book Creator
- NaturalReader (to work on pronunciation)
- Send a tweet to the athletes to congratulate them on their participation in the Olympic Games.
A Hockey Legend
Maurice “Rocket” Richard is one of hockey’s greatest legends.
- Watch “Le chandail” by Sheldon Cohen, a National Film Board of Canada video. This animation, based on the classic story The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, tells of the history and importance of hockey in Quebec and the influence of legendary player Maurice Richard.
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- Reproduce a scene from the film and present it to the class.
- Write a comic strip to summarize the main elements of the story.
- Name one person who is legendary/important in your province or territory and justify your choice.
- Present an activity/tradition that is part of the history of your province or territory.
- After watching Le chandail, participate in a Kahoot! game about the animated film.
Enrichment
- Read this article about Oilers defenseman Ethan Bear paying tribute to Indigenous peoples.
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- Ethan Bear said: « Ce sera un honneur de jouer avec ce chandail. J’ai l’impression que je vais le porter pour tous les joueurs autochtones qui étaient là avant moi, et pour tous les enfants qui rêvent d’atteindre la LNH.» Discuss your reactions.
- Discuss other ways people honor their ancestors, heritage, language, and culture.
- Discover this traditional French cookie recipe.
- Là où je dors invites you to “discover children’s worlds through 36 descriptions of their rooms. A tour of the French-speaking world awaits you.”
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- Individually or in teams, choose 1 of the 36 characters. Then create a presentation of interesting facts about that character (e.g., community, life, and interests) and present the work to the class.
- This document Google provides a template that teachers can use with their students.
- Play Kahoot! to explore winter sports.
- Watch the movie Ratatouille in French.
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- Write a review of the film in French. Include a summary of the story with information about the characters, the setting, and the main message of the film.
- Present a traditional recipe. Google Slides and Mote can be used to create audio files.
OR - Create a video in which an important family dish is prepared.
- What is the significance of this dish?
- Where does it come from?
- Are there cultural links?
The narration must be in French. Present the video to the class.
Exploring Richness
Contextualization Activities
Toi, moi et nous! Unis comme tout! We all have our own treasures to celebrate, as well as collective riches that we share with others. Exploring the Francophonie will let us get to know others while discovering ourselves.
- Discuss the richness found in the family, the school, the community, and the country.
- Watch the video of the song Unis comme tout, by Acadian musician Joseph Edgar. This song celebrates the “cultural mosaic” of our country. Find examples in the video that illustrate how learning a second language contributes to a rich life.
Activities and Discussions
A. The Richness of Cultures
- Write a definition of multiculturalism.
- Explain the importance of multiculturalism in Canada.
- Explain why being Canadian is a source of pride.
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- How does the Francophonie exemplify diversity and inclusion in our country?
- How does diversity contribute to the unity of Canadians?
- Watch the following videos:
- Play Kahoot! to explore Canadian citizenship.
B. The Richness of Stories
History and culture are often passed from generation to generation through tradition and storytelling.
- Maq et l’esprit de la forêt: Watch this short animated story about a young Mi’kmaq boy who experiences the joy of spiritual and human connections.
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- Summarize the story and take note of the cultural connections.
- Discuss the meaning and value of sharing cultural legends.
- Share your own cultural stories or legends.
- Le Corbeau et le Renard: Watch an animation of this fable by Jean de La Fontaine, a 17th-century French poet whose work still inspires today.
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- Highlight the moral of this fable.
- Do this online edpuzzle on Le Corbeau et le Renard (created by Anne Hayes).
- La Cigale et la Fourmi: This is another animation of a fable by Jean de La Fontaine.
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- Highlight the moral of this fable.
- Enrichment activity: In groups, create your own fable in comic book form.
C. The Richness of Learning Languages
- Watch these videos featuring testimonials from former French as a second language learners: Où en sont-ils?
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- Discuss the ways in which French contributes to enriching the narrators’ lives.
- Create your own video explaining how French can enrich and influence your personal life.
- Challenge yourself to learn a new French word every day.
- To develop a taste for reading in French, access a free collection of over 120 books.
- Discover podcasts, videos, games, news, and much more in French with Radio Junior.
D. The Richness of Playing With Languages
- Jouer tout en regardant d’autres jeunes qui participent au jeu télévisé Having fun in another language increases motivation to learn. Play along while watching other kids on the game show Top! en français.
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- Create your own questions and develop your own version of the game in class.
- Get the students moving! Watch the Just Dance en français videos, which invite students to sing and dance in French.
Enrichment
- Terry Fox is a national hero. He is a symbol of courage and perseverance. He inspires millions of people who participate in his annual Marathon of Hope.
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- Watch Minutes du patrimoine : Terry Fox.
- Watch the video for the song La persévérance by Gregg LeRock, which is dedicated to the memory of Terry Fox.
- Play Kahoot! to test your knowledge and have fun in French.
Kahoot! Instructions
Great news: all of the Kahoot! games provided in Célébrons la francophonie 2022 can be accessed and played for free. Here’s how:
- Create a free Kahoot! account.
- Select the “Teacher link” in this resource for the Kahoot! you wish to play.
- Select the language icon in the top left-hand corner of the Kahoot! game page. This will allow students to see all question prompts and instructions in French.
- Play with your students, in person or virtually!
Select your Settings
- Play as a guest: The game link allows you to play as a guest. In this mode, you can share your screen to the classroom projector or virtual classroom. Students will log in once you provide the game PIN.
- Log in to Kahoot!: If you log into your Kahoot account, you will be able to track student progress for each Kahoot game played.
In both modes, we suggest selecting the “Show question and answer on players’ devices” feature to allow participants to see all questions on their own devices.
If you’re logged in to Kahoot!, the player identifier button will require students to provide an email address so that you can track results. This is also useful if the teacher allows students to use the “nickname generator” feature.
Other Useful Links
Reading
Histoires par des auteurs canadiens
Music
Les artistes musicaux francophones à écouter
Les 150 meilleures chansons francophones au Canada
Videos to Explore
Les meilleures chaînes YouTube pour apprendre le français
Exploring the Francophonie
Les Rendez-vous de la francophonie
Le Centre de la francophonie des Amériques
Digital Stories
NaturalReader (ideal for practicing pronunciation)
For Teachers
Special issue of TEACH/Le Prof magazine: Bonjour/Hello – 50e anniversaire de la Loi sur les langues officielles du Canada
Boîte à outils de la Semaine nationale de la francophonie
Prof en Ontario – Monsieur Steve
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