LES VACANCES NOËL

When I arrived early in 2019, given that one of my primary objectives to living in France was to become fluent, I decided that I had best initially devote my time and energy to learning the language beyond my current capability. I had had three years of French in high school (two of which were with a priest from Paris), and three more semesters in college. Later, I studied French for a year in an adult education program. But it is amazing how much one can forget. If you don’t use it, you definitely do lose it.

There is an organization in France called AVF, Accueil des Villes Francaises which could be likened to Welcome Wagon in the US. It welcomes newcomers to various cities all over France providing information and social opportunities like movie outings or balades (nature walks). Because there are many who immigrate from non-French speaking countries, they also create language programs. Everything about the organization is voluntary. For 30 euros per year, one can join and participate in whatever offerings there may be. I heard about AVF and by September 2019 I was enrolled.

I went to several different workshops at various levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced to soak up what I could. In the beginner (called “débutant”) classes, I could see the confusion and consternation of those who had no previous background in the grammar. If one doesn’t know French grammar, it can be very frustrating. So I offered to tutor them. There were three people in particular I identified who might benefit. Once word got out, others asked to join.

I reported the need and desire to the AVF leadership requesting they formalize what we were doing so that others could join us if they so desired. My proposal was accepted and my workshop was entitled Practical French for we focused not only on grammar, but the common expressions one needs to navigate living here. We formally began in January 2020 with seven people. This workshop is also the only offering that is conducted in both English and French. That can be a plus and a minus, but beginners need some things explained and that is exactly what we do.

When the pandemic hit, we reverted to online sessions which were a blessing because, for some of us, it was our only social outlet. Aside from the normal vacations, we plodded along and this first group, meeting weekly, has now logged 73 sessions.

A second group of débutants initiated in January 2021 and meets entirely online (the first group is now back in the classroom). This second workshop is unofficial because participants hail from not only Carcassonne, but Nice and even Utah and that violates the rules of the local AVF.

We work out of five different texts: Conjugaisons, Vocabulaire, Grammaire, Communications and Littérature. These books come in various levels from the débutant to advanced. We made the conscious decision even if we had previous classes, to start from the very beginning at the Débutant (A1) level for each text. It is a great way to review but also keeps us in synch together.

In addition to the lessons from the texts, I initially provided weekly vocabulary sheets emphasizing common expressions and new vocabulary. In September this year I decided to try something different and that was to create PowerPoint presentations with memes I found online, some humorous, some academic, but all with meaningful and related information to expand our knowledge and capability.

I am proud to say that the first group has done so well that we are to the point of needing a native French speaker to take the lead. I requested a meeting with all the French animateurs (volunteer teachers) to show them what I was doing, to request a native speaker, and to request that we all use these same texts at the various levels so that by the end of three years, a participant would minimally be at the B1 level if not higher. (The highest level of proficiency is C2. Here is a link to give you more information on levels if you are interested.)

We met early in November and a woman new to Carcassonne was present. She had taught in other AVF locations in France and she was looking for some way to become involved. Long story short, she is at this point co-teaching with me though I’ve told her I really wish she’d just take over and I’ll become a student. She observed us for two weeks and wrote last week that she was very impressed by the level of knowledge of the students and put us at the B1/Intermediare level. She likes how we’ve used the texts etc, but agrees that we’re ready for more conversation. As she is native French, she will challenge us finding our deficiencies and work with us to improve. I’m excited.

On another note, I’ve acquired the reputation of a bit of a taskmaster. Because there are so many texts (all essential in my mind), and because I add in supplementary material in the form of either articles, PowerPoint presentations or vocabulary sheets, our 90-minute sessions are pretty intense. We don’t always get through everything, of course, but we do our best. And much is left to the participants to read and assimilate completing the exercises, then bringing their result to group discussion in the next session. It has worked, but it requires a good deal of effort on everyone’s part.

We had our last sessions before the holiday break last week. I eased up a bit in this last week because we were entering into the holiday break, Les vacances de Noël, and I didn’t want us to have lots left over for them to have to worry about. I also firmly believe that a break is a break, just like a vacation is a vacation. There should be no work or responsibility related to the task during this period. We need the mental break. I know I appreciate it.

With all this said, I wanted to introduce Christmas vocabulary but had no time to do so. So I decided I’d create a somewhat humorous PowerPoint that I would send following our workshops with my Christmas greeting.

Thursday morning I had the bright idea to write a poem for the accompanying email. For some reason “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” came to mind and I said to myself, “That’s it! I’ll write a parody!” and so I did in about 30 minutes before I even had breakfast.

Here it is below. And to put it into context, Bertha is in the first group and her husband, Ged, is in the second online group.

‘Twas the week before Christmas 2021

'Twas the week before Christmas
And all through the house 
There was an air of respite
That no one dare douse. 

Bertha was knitting 
And Ged cleaning the bench
When they saw a new email 
And said “Oh, no! More French!”

The message from Tom
Meant only one thing:
More work and more sweat
Would this message bring. 

“But the holidays are near!”
They said to each other.
“It’s time for a rest! 
Let’s go look for cover.”

Dutifully they looked 
And read the new mail.
Attached was a PowerPoint 
Without fail. 

“Let’s open it and see,”
Begrudgingly said Ged.
“Maybe ‘cause it’s Christmas 
We have been misled.” 

So open it they did 
And found a few slides. 
No work this time,
Only some puns and some jibes!

And with it came
This greeting clear:
Enjoy the holidays, 
Rest up and don’t fear

For there is no homework, 
It’s les vacances after all.
It’s time for a break 
For one and for all. 

They sat down and read 
The short presentation
With a cup of tea 
Enjoying their little vacation. 

We’ve had a good year,
We’ve learned lots of facts. 
But we’ve worked hard too
Now it’s time to relax. 

We’ve made lots of progress.
We can be proud that we have. 
So let’s relish this time 
And bring out the salve

Of good food and good wine
And evenings free
From homework and tasks. 
It’s time for some glee!

Enjoy this rest
You deserve it and more. 
Next year will have
More fun in store. 

So now we sit fast
And contemplate
What a year it has been!
We’ve opened the gate 

To fluency in French.
God knows we’re weary;
All that grammar and phrasing
And vocabulary!

It’s time to relax 
And enjoy the break
For French can wait 
We have cheer to make. 

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas & healthy and happy new year! I look forward to continuing our journey together. 

Here are a few of the slides from the presentation. If you are a student of French, you might find them helpful.

Merry Christmas & a happy and healthy new year!