French @ Sydenham

Welcome from Monsieur Emmerton

It is wonderful to be back at Sydenham for another year!   In addition to my teaching duties, I help with the integration and use of technology, coordinate the Terry Fox Run, and I am a Steward for the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO).

If you ever need to contact me, please make an appointment to visit the school (I'm on duty most afternoons at dismissal), or email me (emmertonb@limestone.on.ca).

THE FRENCH PROGRAM

Each student from grade 1-8 receives 200 minutes of French instruction in a 5-day cycle (usually 4 x 50 minute periods).  My goal for all classes is to help students develop the ability and confidence to *use* the French language to communicate.  We spend the majority of our classes interacting in French (listening and speaking).  If students have heard the words, they will speak them.  Once they read those words, they will be successful in writing them.


TECHNOLOGY

We use technology extensively in the French program.  It allows us to hear and experience different accents and cultural aspects of francophones.  We use it to record our voices, to practice speaking and to keep a digital portfolio of our work and progress throughout the year.

I continue to be involved in projects with other teachers around the province to investigate the benefits of our students interacting in French outside the school, by using technology. We often interact live with other French classes in order to have meaningful and authentic conversations.  Rest assured that these interactions are carefully monitored and students are not expected to exchange personal information.

Many of our activities include listening to spoken French, music, and various dialogues.  We have some headphones for students to share, but it is very helpful if students can have their own pair of headphones at school to use in French class.

WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH AND FOLLOW OUR LEARNING ACTIVITIES

ABOUT THE TEACHER

French has always been a big part of my life.  My mother's family were francophones from northern Ontario, and I grew up hearing the unique accents and trying to learn the familiar phrases they were using. I took French throughout school, at college, and at university. It is important part of my family's culture and history, and I enjoy sharing the language with my students.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family at my cottage near Algonquin Park.