University of Canterbury - French Immersion Day

...all our senior Te Kura (correspondence) French students attended an immersion day at the University of Canterbury.

The keynote speaker (pre-recorded) was a young NZ woman who was an “assistante” in a school near Montpellier in the south of France. She encouraged students to do what she has done if they wished: live in France for six months, assisting French teachers teaching English.

The morning had two workshops where students played educational games based on “les Jeux Olympiques” (Paris Olympic games). The games required some advanced skills and were competitive, with the winners winning “golden” gummie bears! Students were also offered some “brioche” (donated by The Village Bakehouse, Waimairi Road) and chocolate while they worked.

Next, we all went into the main lecture theatre (see photo) to practise and record our “moves” to the French song “Je fais du Sport” (I do sport). It was great fun, even if most of us would not win a medal for the best moves!

After a short lunch break, the Y12-13 students went and did an Escape Room activity (in French) while the Y11 students were with the young students from the bilingual school in Burnside (they are taught in French and English).

It was a wonderful day, catering to many needs. Many schools participated. Some UC students helped us navigate the campus, too. Vive la France!