January 30, 2017

Bonjour tout le monde!

We are now about halfway through the year and I am very pleased with the progress of the students so far.  We have been reading and learning the plays while focusing on developing the correct pronunciation of the vocabulary. Coming up this week and the next is another quiz in which the students must choose the correct word(s) to complete the french sentences as based on the play they are studying.  We have spent several classes going through examples, reinforcing vocabulary, practicing reading, and deepening understanding of the play. The quiz schedule is as follows:

Friday, February 3 - Grade 5 (both classes)
Monday, February 6 - Grades  6, 6/7 and 7

Another aspect of their assessment for the term is an individual and reflective self-evaluation in which the students decide how they have supported both their own learning and that of their peers. In this self-evaluation, the students look at how well they have attempted to use French only, how well they have spoken with me at all times I am gesturing, and how well they have spent their time working in pairs or groups.  The mark they decide upon here is transferred directly to their report card under the outcome which relates to their participation and social responsibility. I will not change it unless I see a huge discrepancy between what they decide and what I see. For example, some students can be exceptionally critical of themselves.  In these cases I will talk with the student and ask why they assess themselves in this way. 

I have also started introducing the music of Gregg LeRock, who is a French Canadian musician we will be going to see live on May 17, 2017.  He is a well-known artist who combines his love of teaching French to kids with his love of music.  For more information, you can visit www.gregglerock.ca

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school number, or by email at aduranteccs@gmail.com.

Merci!

Anne Durante

September 7, 2016


Bonjour!

Hello and welcome to all new and returning parents. My name is Anne Durante and I am the French specialist teacher for Grades 5,6 and 7 here at Cloverdale Catholic School.  Many of you are already familiar with how the French program works here, but I will introduce it again for anyone who would like to learn or be reminded.

The program I am using to teach French is called the AIM program (Accelerated Integration Method). It is the direction that many schools are moving towards in teaching French as it is the most successful at getting students to use a second language more quickly that any other approach. It uses gestures in order to bring students into comprehension without reverting to English. Each and every word we use in class has a gesture, and through repetition and the use of the words in different contexts the children acquire an understanding of the words and patterns of the language. The primary and most important way that your children can succeed in French is by speaking with me at all times as I gesture and speak. They also need to practice speaking French only in class, which is very challenging at this stage, but necessary in order for them to start "thinking" in French.

     The program for the year is centered around a play. In Grade 5 the students will be learning a version of the story of the three little pigs (Les Trois Petits Cochons).   In Grades 6 and 7 they will be learning a play called "Le chat et la lune"( The Cat and the Moon). Many of the vocabulary words will be familiar to the students, but we will be working on the use of these words in different contexts and in spontaneous conversation. The use of drama, music, raps and dances will be used to aid in language acquisition and for keeping it fun.

      There will be very little homework in this class. I want the students to put all of their energy into the speaking and participating in class.

The 2 main rules:
1) Speak French only during class time.
2) Speak with Madame Durante at all times that she is gesturing for everyone to speak (all times I am speaking in French).

A main goal for your children is the use of spontaneous French in contexts relevant to their lives. I will often be dedicating a portion of class time partner/group practice during which they practice their French with each other.  I encourage your children to be taking risks and attempting to speak as much as possible and as frequently as possible, even outside of class time.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at the school number or at aduranteccs@gmail.com. I look forward to a wonderful year!

Merci,
Anne Durante

Friday, January 8, 2016


Bonjour!!

Welcome to 2016 tout le monde! Time is passing quickly, and I will be giving the next quiz in early February. This quiz will be mainly on the meanings of the words and frequently repeated phrases from the plays that we are studying.  The vocabulary words are found in Sect. E of the vocabulary handout for Grades 5 and 6, and Sect. B  (Les mots HEA 2A) of the vocabulary handout for grade 7.  The Grade 7 quiz will also include the meanings of the words mon, ton, son, ma, ta, sa, mes, tes, ses, le, la, les, and un, une, des. 

The quiz schedule is:
Tues., February 9 - Grades 5/6 and 7P
Wed., February 10 - Grades 6 and 7N
Thurs., February 11 - Grade 5

Please remind your children that the best way to ensure success is to listen and participate at all times during class!! They should make sure that they understand all of the words in that section before the quiz week.

Merci!!

Anne Durante

October 9, 2015

Bonjour tout le monde!!


Shortly after the oral assessments the classes will count up the little cards which they have received for speaking only French and for working well with their group or partner in class. This is a fun activity which gives them a chance to practice oral questions and counting in french.  At the end of the counting there will be a draw and raffle for some prizes.  The prizes include French-themed pens and some Twizzler treats.  As I am handing out food, I am including the ingredient lists for the candies included.  They are all made in a peanut-free facility.  If you are not comfortable with your child eating these candies, they have the option of picking the pen as a prize instead. 

The ingredients are in a link provided in the upper right hand corner of the blog. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. 

Merci!!

Anne Durante

October 2, 2015

Bonjour tout le monde!!

The first quiz for the year will be starting for French classes next week. This quiz tests for comprehension of basic vocabulary words as well as matching responses to questions.  Grades 6 and 7 will also be quizzed on their comprehension of some basic sentences. The quiz schedule is as follows:

Grade 5    Monday, Oct. 5
Grade 6    Monday, Oct. 5
Grade 5/6 Tuesday Oct. 6
Grade 7P  Tuesday Oct. 6
Grade 7N  Wednesday Oct. 14

Shortly following the quiz I will be starting the oral assessment of the term.  We have been practicing this in class.  I am providing a link to a copy of the question/responses for all the grades on this blog under the title "Questions et Reponses2015".

Merci!!
Anne Durante

September 18, 2015

Bonjour!! Welcome back to another year of French language learning at CCS!!

      My name is Anne Durante and I am the French specialist teacher for Grades 5,6 and 7 at Cloverdale Catholic School. As we launch into the new school year, I would love to introduce myself to any new parents or parents who I have not yet met. I have been working as a Special Education Assistant for 4 years now at the school, and last year started teaching the French as well. I was raised in Ottawa, which is where I learned my French, and moved to BC in 1993 in order to attend graduate school at UBC. I ended up taking a detour from my original plan of research chemist and moved into the challenge of education. I obtained my BEd at UBC and originally taught at St. John Brebeuf High School for 3 years. Having married another Catholic teacher, I left teaching in 2000 in order to have my first child.  I now have 4 children and, when the youngest started Kindergarten, moved back into the field of education at this wonderful school.

     The program I am using to teach French is called the AIM program (Accelerated Integration Method). It is the direction that many schools are moving towards in French as it is the most successful at getting students to use French more quickly that any other approach. It uses gestures in order to bring students into comprehension without reverting to English. Each and every word we use in class has a gesture, and through repetition and the use of the words in different contexts the children acquire an understanding of the words and patterns of the language. The primary and most important way that your children can succeed in French is by speaking with me at all times as I gesture and speak. They also need to practice speaking French only in class, which is very challenging at this stage, but necessary in order for them to start "thinking" in French.

     The program for the year is centered around a play. In Grades 5 and 6 the students will be learning a version of the story "The Boy who Cried Wolf"... but with a twist! In Grade 7 they will be learning a play called "Comment y aller" about a girl who is trying to get to Paris to visit her friend. The use of drama, music, raps and dances will be used to aid in language acquisition and for keeping it fun.

      There will be very little homework in this class. I want the students to put all of their energy into the speaking and participating in class.

The 2 main rules:
1) Speak French only during class time.
2) Speak with Madame Durante at all times that she is gesturing for everyone to speak (all times I am speaking in French).



I look forward to a wonderful year! I can be contacted at aduranteccs@gmail.com.

Le 21 mai, 2015

Bonjour, tout le monde!

We have had a busy couple of months in French.  Over March and April the students continued to learn and practice the French for their play presentations, which are now almost complete.  I am very proud of all they have learned both in vocabulary comprehension and pronunciation this year. Wonderful job! This coming week we will be having another reading/comprehension assessment as they have another quiz (based on the play). The schedule for the quiz is as follows:

Grade 5T - May 25
Grade 5/6 - May 26
Grade 6 - May 28
Grade 7N - May 27
Grade 7P - May 25

Please continue to encourage them to speak as much in French as they can, especially with me in class.  We have been practicing conversational French and it is wonderful to see their attempts and communicating their own ideas and experiences. Feliciations!!!

Anne Durante