Thursday, August 25, 2011

Can language teachers learn something out of linguistic summer camps?

Schools are not the only place anymore where chidren can learn a language. I have just come back from a linguistic summer camp in Germany, which offers an immersion in English or French of one week for German chidren (7-16) (See the following link: http://www.leo-lingo.de/).





It was a fantastic experience not only because the chidren were exceptionally good at languages, but also because of the knowledge I have gained from it. In fact, we had to perform three activities with the children for a show each week: a song, a drama and a sport. I will speak about the song here.


How to make sing a dozen of children shy to speak a foreign language in front of their parents? First, tell them that the song will be for a show and that their family will be there.

"You have to proud children!"

Then, it comes to find an appropriate song. The most successful French song I have ever tried so far is "L'Arbre est dans ses feuilles" found on the following fantastic website : http://www.artemusik.com/gogounne/chansonsarepondre.htm#larbreestdanssesfeuilles.

Refrain: (ensemble)
L’arbre est dans ses feuilles marilon, marilé
L’arbre est dans ses feuilles marilon, dondé
Dans l’arbre y’a une p’tite branche
(ensemble) La branche est dans l’arbre
(Refrain)
Dans la branche y’a un p’tit noeud
(ensemble) Le noeud est dans la branche
(ensemble) La branche est dans l’arbre
(refrain)
Dans le noeud y’a un p’tit trou
(ensemble) Le trou est dans le noeud
(ensemble) Le noeud est dans la branche
(ensemble) La branche est dans l’arbre
(refrain)
(Ajouter chacune des phases suivantes une à une à la manière des paragraphes précédents)
Dans le trou y’a un p’tit nid
Dans le nid y’a un p’tit oeuf
Dans l’oeuf y’a un oiseau
Dans l’oiseau y’a un p’tit coeur
Dans le coeur y’a de l’amour


Children do not only repeat the same words all over again, but they also link the word with a movement (see the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClLL5ydZTXo). This probably explains why the chidren quickly knew all the lyrics of the song. To finish, organise a competition with some other language groups. The loudest group will win a prize!

By the end of the week, all the kids were proud to sing their song around the fire camp! Mission accomplished!


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