Teachers

The FP draws on a variety of pedagogical approaches (e.g., gamification, task-based learning, risk-taking, etc.) that have proven effective in the field of second language learning. The FP thus enables learners to:

• Become familiar with the local Francophone community in all its diversity

• Practice their French in an authentic context, including outside of class hours

• Participate in a variety of activities tailored to their interests, proficiency level, and willingness to take risks

• Access real-time quantitative data on their progress

• Systematically track learners’ participation in activities using a scannable QR code and geolocation features

• Improve the linguistic and cultural skills of French learners while allowing them to have fun through various gamification strategies (e.g., badges, campaigns, points, and leaderboards)   

• Involve their families in learning French through the “Team” feature

• Create activity programs tailored to the learners' level across the four core skills (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing)

• Gain knowledge about the French language and Francophone cultures through quizzes and resources in the “Library” 

• Integrate the practice of French into their daily lives in a fun way

Extracurricular activities are educational resources that have traditionally been overlooked, yet they offer numerous documented benefits (e.g., increased motivation and a greater sense of belonging, improved language proficiency). The FP makes it possible both to harness the educational potential of these activities and to facilitate their integration into the classroom.    

Our observations show that the use of the FP is all the more effective when it aligns with the course’s educational objectives (e.g., development of cultural competence) and assessment methods (e.g., participation points). Learners need to understand that the FP is an integral part of the course and supports the learning objectives. It is also important to take the time to show learners the various features of the FP so that they can use it to its full potential.

How the FP is used depends on several factors, such as the learners’ proficiency level and age. Here are some suggestions on how to integrate the FP into your classroom: 

Learners choose one or more activities from the FP list that they wish to participate in, based on their interests and skill level (e.g., attending a play). This selection can take place in class and serve as an opportunity to discuss the learners’ interests and the richness of the local Francophone community (e.g., the history of Francophone theatre in Alberta). 

The teacher identifies practical tasks related to the activity (e.g., buying a ticket, asking for the program) and specific vocabulary (e.g., theatre-related vocabulary) and prepares for the event participation in class. These preparatory activities will also help reduce learners’ stress levels and encourage them to take risks. Learners can use the “Action” feature  (e.g., buying tickets in French) to earn XP points if they complete certain actions on the list. 

Teaching resources

• Préparer une sortie (TV5 Monde)

• History of Francophone theatre in Alberta (if you plan to attend a play at L'Unithéâtre)

• Vocabulary lists related to tasks that can be completed during the field trip

FP allows instructors with administrator status to create a class in the app and ask the learners enrolled in it to submit a report (also known as a “post-event survey”) on the activity in which they participated. Reports are sent to the instructor’s email address if they have a Francopass account. Teachers can also ask learners to submit a report without using the app.  The report format may vary depending on the learners’ level: it can range from simple questions (e.g., summarize the event) to more elaborate texts, such as a critical review (whose conventions will have been covered in class beforehand) or short videos. Learners may also give an oral presentation following a format previously defined by the teacher.    

Teaching Resources 

• Writing a film review 

• Writing a play review

• Les Francopains website (which offers various examples of reports)

The teacher can organize a discussion about the event in which the learners took part. The format and topic of the discussion may vary depending on the type of event. It can take the form of a debate of opinions or a simple exchange of points of view. The discussion can be used to practise certain grammatical structures and/or vocabulary previously seen in class. The chosen event may also be linked to a theme covered in class. 

FP makes it possible to organize competitions between teams, whether within the same class, between classes in the same school, or even between classes in different provinces. The competition can also be extended to families. The team with the highest number of experience points on a given date wins the competition. The leaderboard ranks the teams according to the total number of experience points accumulated by their members. Teachers are encouraged to reward the winning team to strengthen the team’s motivation. The prize can be awarded at a public ceremony (e.g., during Francophonie Month).

The teacher can ask learners to take part in a certain number of activities over a given period (e.g., three activities during the semester). Participation in these activities can be factored into the overall course grade (e.g., the participation component) and combined with the writing of reports, a portfolio, or in‑class oral presentations. Participation in the activities can also be combined with the gamification elements of FP, such as badges and campaigns. 

FP makes it possible to track the number of hours that students spend doing French-language activities. This information appears under the photo on the “Profile” page. The teacher can ask learners to spend a set number of hours (e.g., 10 hours) completing activities in the community “in immersion.” At the end of this period, learners can produce a portfolio. The FP’s gamification strategies (e.g., badges, leaderboard, and campaigns) help make participation in these activities more fun. 

FP makes it possible to create an individualized activity program that suits each learner's needs. Simply click on “Edit profile” at the top of the “Profile” page and go to “Personal program goal.” Drawing on their teacher’s recommendations, the learner can set a goal and choose the core skills (listening/reading comprehension, oral/written production) they wish to strengthen. In addition, the learner can customize the event notifications they want to receive according to the skill(s) they would like to practise. 

French immersion teachers:

• There were engaging activities and I could see how students would benefit from them 

• Some of the quizzes were fun and informative. 

• I found the French skills and quiz useful to help me practice and improve my understanding of the French language and culture. 

• J'ai vraiment bien apprécié être au courant des évènements francophones qui se passent dans la ville sans devoir aller visiter plusieurs sites web.

• J'ai vraiment bien aimé Francopass; il m'a aidé encore plus à m'amuser en français. 

• Je vous remercie infiniment pour cette idée formidable! Toute ma famille y a participé. BRAVO!