New approaches

"Walked," answers the young French student in response to the question "What is the past tense of walk?"

 "Very good," I reply. "Would you like to write it on the board?" I offer her the chalk.

The young French student stares at me with amazement. "Me?" she asks, her voice coloured with amazement and excitement. I nod and she smiles, walking up to the board with a spring in her step, taking the chalk and giggling while she writes "walked" on the board.

This is one of two responses I get from the students in my English classes here in Saint Pierre. The other is "Me? No, no" with a vigorous shake of the head.

Teaching in the French education system is quite different than the Canadian, in terms of the teaching methods. For example, the awe I see in response to the idea of students writing on the board, a practice that is quite commonplace in Ontario classrooms. On one hand, this makes the task of engaging students that much easier. My interaction-based approach with the students differs from what is generally a teacher-directed system. Of course, this way of teaching is meant to be engaging, even with students in Ontario who are used to it. But, the novelty of this approach for these French students generally grabs their attention.

On the other hand, it's more difficult using this approach, because the students have not had practice with it. Hence the fact that some of the students are much too shy to write an answer on the board. I found at first, when attempting to use the "think-pair-share" method, which was so enthusiastically discussed in teacher's college, students had no idea what to do. I told them to talk to the person beside them about what they understood in the text we read. The classroom went dead silent. I don't think the students are ever quieter than when I ask them to talk.

Anyway, I haven't done anything particularly interesting with the students this week. I was getting to know them, what they've already learned and laying the foundation for the weeks to come. I have a couple interesting projects in mind. I'll let you know how they go! :)