Classroom Implications

Created for the MAFLT program’s online FLEx conference (Foreign Language Excellence Exchange), this presentation discusses the integration of nonbinary and gender-neutral forms in language courses.  Informed by Dr. Kris Knisely’s work, the topic of gender-inclusive pedagogy is one that I feel motivated to share in an effort to support all individuals in using the French language to accurately represent their identities.  Examples of nonbinary forms and usage in French are provided, along with an overview of the political climate and tips for classroom incorporation. 

I designed this lesson plan after researching best-practices for Reading instruction in the Methods course.  Students will read a short article (an authentic text written for French children) on the topic of youth programming in the summer of 2020 aimed at remedying some of the academic and social-emotional gaps caused by the school shutdown. Students will engage in pre-reading activities to activate their background knowledge on this topic, prior to skimming the article and discussing predictions with a peer. Then, students will read the article individually, accompanied by a worksheet that guides them through a process aimed to support their comprehension and analysis of the article’s meaning.

When it comes to effective communication instruction, it is important to teach sociolinguistic elements such as language variation and pragmatics.  Knowing a language involves being familiar with its multiple registers and styles, perhaps the most important in one's everyday life being casual speech.  This lesson is designed to raise learner awareness of some common elements present in spoken French that are not typically instructed by traditional classroom practice or textbook curricula.  Students work collaboratively to analyze several clips from Youtube videos to compare elements of language that differ between written and spoken French.