WELCOME to French Class! 20__ -20__ http://www.francophonie.org/pix/oif/carte_francophonie_2008bis.pdf The World Speaks French SampleBIENVENUE à la ClasseVersion de Français! French __ Room ________ M./Mme_________ Letter to Parent at the Beginning of the School Year, Response Form Date Dear parents, Bonjour et bienvenue (Hello and welcome)! I am excited to kick off the new school year (la rentrée). This will be a special year in which your child will be learning not only to speak, read, and write the French language but will also be learning about French people and their culture. Below you will find many ways in which your child will grow through the study of French culture and language. You will also learn about many of the fun activities your child and you too, if you choose to participate in them, can anticipate during this school year. Your child has made a wise decision in choosing to study French. French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. With French, one can be understood in 55 countries across 5 continents by over 200 million people. Studying French helps one to communicate better with the Francophone world. In addition, it will help improve one’s understanding of his or her own language as one develops a rich knowledge of French vocabulary. French provides the base for more than 30% of modern English vocabulary. It will also help prepare for success on college entrance exams and in classes at the university. French is used in many professions and knowledge of French greatly enhances travel experiences in French-speaking countries. Activities in our class this year will include participation in National French Week in November, a Mardi Gras celebration in February, and the National French Contest in March. We will also be making French pastries, crêpes, and student- designed French motif t-shirts. We have a very active French Club, and our president _____________ is eager to organize Samplenumerous fun activities such as: field trips to French plays, movies, and restaurants, our annual pétanque tournament, and our French competition called le Tour de _____________. There are many ways in which YOU, too, can participate in your child’s linguistic and cultural development. Here are just a few of them: o Chaperone a field trip o Be Versiona guest speaker (share a personal French experience: travel, business, au pair, etc.) o Recommend a potential speaker on French culture, travel, business, etc. o Help in class with special projects The French Language Initiative: The World Speaks French American Association of Teachers of French Letter: Bonjour to Paris Page 1 of 4 Letter to Parent at the Beginning of the School Year, Response Form o Help in some way with classroom materials o Help with fundraising o Support our French program. We encourage parents to contact us to become a part of our very own French Booster Club. o Share your ideas for special field trips with us. o Share your talents with us (for example, sewing berets for the club, creating costumes for historic presentations or plays) o Support the French program in a different way (share your ideas here) This is just a sampling of ways you can help support your child and at the same time the French program at our school. If you can help out in any of these areas during the class day, or at the end of the school day right after school or in the evening, please let me know by completing the form below and returning it to me via your student or by mail. Your child and I hope that you will join and participate in as many activities as your extracurricular schedule will allow. Merci beaucoup for your time and assistance! ____________________________________ Email address: _________________________ Sample The Parent ResponseVersion Form is found on the following page The French Language Initiative: The World Speaks French American Association of Teachers of French Letter: Bonjour to Paris Page 2 of 4 Letter to Parent at the Beginning of the School Year, Response Form Parent Response Form I would like to be involved in the following ways: (Check all that apply) o Chaperone a field trip o Be a guest speaker (Share a personal French experience: travel, business, au pair, etc.) o Recommend a potential speaker on French culture, travel, business, etc. o Help in class with special projects o Help in some way with classroom materials o Help with fundraising o Support the French program. (We encourage all parents to contact us to become a part of our very own French Booster Club. Perhaps you have contacts with local newspapers to publicize our event.) o Share my ideas for special field trips o Support the French program in a different way (Share your ideas here) Sample___________________________________________________ ____ I have studied French. (Provide details if you wish.) ____ I have never studied French. Name (please print) ______________________________________________________ Parent of (please print) Version _________________________________________Period______ Email __________________________________________ Phone______________________________ The French Language Initiative: The World Speaks French American Association of Teachers of French Letter: Bonjour to Paris Page 3 of 4 Letter to Parent at the Beginning of the School Year, Response Form Please return this form by ________________________to me by means of your child or, if you prefer, drop me a response via Email. Here is my address: ________________________________________________________________ Merci encore une fois (Thanks again) for any help you can give your student’s class Madame/ Monsieur_______________________________________ Sample Version The French Language Initiative: The World Speaks French American Association of Teachers of French Letter: Bonjour to Paris Page 4 of 4 Creating a Teacher Biography An important part of connecting with your students and families is giving them an idea of who you are. Consider placing a brief, friendly biography on your school’s web page and including it with your beginning-of–the-year parent materials for parents. Include some of the following: • Name • School • How long you have been teaching at your school • Previous teaching positions • Degrees earned • Study abroad experiences • Professional organizations • Interests • Family • Teaching philosophy • Photograph Example: Chers amis (Dear friends), My name is Suzette DuPont, and I have been a French teacher at Robertstown Central High School for the past five years. Previously, I taught French at West High School in Smithville and at Robertstown East High School. I graduated with my B.A. from State College in French Studies and completed my M.A. in French Literature at The University of Centerville. I then completed my M.Ed. in Secondary Education at Jones University. My family is originally from Paris, where I spend a week or two every summer. I am active in the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), where I enjoy exchanging ideas with SampleFrench colleagues across the state. I live here in Robertstown with my husband Bob, daughter Sophie, and two dogs, Buster and Chloe. I love studying other languages (I'm going to take Japanese this semester!) and believe that language learning is a way to see the world and myself from a new perspective, as well as connect with wonderful people whom I would otherwise never meet. I also play the French horn in the Smithville Civic Orchestra, so look for me after the concerts! I'm glad to be a part of the Central High School family and look forward to meeting each and every one of you this year! Version À bientôt (See you soon)! Mme DuPont The French Language Initiative: The World Speaks French American Association of Teachers of French 0/ %) +)% -- 0, % ' % ', +*&)7*5-DBB($''$*)+*+'*)G*)0))/.;-)##./#.//4.**!$'')"4"$)ED*4)/-$.) 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