VIDEO: Education successfully trials intensive French learning... but still not ready for bilingual school

Sunday 21 January 2018

The Education Department has successfully trialled a six-week French intensive teaching pilot with Year 5 pupils - but say they are still not ready for a bilingual school.

Following the pilot, the Department will create a new 'French Network' to share best practice between teachers across the island.

75 children from island schools spent six weeks learning French intensively in October and November 2017. Alongside their normal English, maths and science lessons, the pupils had an hour of French every day. They also explored other subjects, such as geography, art and sport, using France and French culture.

Video: Youngsters enthusiastically getting involved in French. 

The children - one class from Bel Royal and two from La Moye - also worked on group and individual performances of French songs, poems and pieces of drama. These were performed at the Jersey Eisteddfod and all three classes won gold awards. To end the project, students staged special assemblies to show their parents what they had learnt.

The class teachers were supported by French specialist and experienced teacher, Rachael Surcouf. Teaching resources were specifically developed for the ‘French Experience’ project, with some advice from Alliance Française. Secondary students from Les Quennevais School were also involved. 

The results the Department said were very positive with the children feeling more confident and very enthusiastic about the experience. 

Rachel Baxter, the Curriculum adviser who organised the pilot, said: “Each pupil was assessed in French speaking, listening, reading and writing at the start and end of the programme and the progress made by the pupils has been magnificent. On average, the pupils have moved their French skill and understanding on by at least one year during just six weeks.

“In each class there are also several pupils who, aged only nine or 10, have reached the standard expected for 11 or 12 year olds. More importantly, their levels of enthusiasm and engagement were fabulous.”

Pictured: Bel Royal was one of the schools involved in the project, which operated across October and November last year.

As part of the pilot, the schools were also joined by two visiting primary school teachers from Normandy who spent a week in Jersey. Classes from both sides of the channel exchanged bilingual Christmas cards and have developed twinning websites where they share songs and poems, in a bid to further boost links with France. 

Justin Donovan, Chief Education Officer, said: “Improving French and other languages is one of the long-term aims of our business plan and this represents an important step forward. We hope to build on this success with more training for our teachers so that they are confident and well supported in teaching French to the highest possible level.”

Rod Bryans, Education Minister Deputy, said: “It was obvious at the school assemblies how much the children and their teachers had enjoyed this experience. I was impressed by the standard of French and the students’ excellent pronunciation. Not only were they having great fun, but they were clearly very proud of what they achieved.

“I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this a success and am delighted that we have been able to work directly with our colleagues in Normandy in such a positive way. I know there are already plans for these links to continue and even be expanded over the coming year.”

Pictured: Justin Donovan, Chief Education Officer, praised the scheme.

While Ms Baxter said that the Education Department is not ready to open a bilingual French school, she said that they plan to build on the success from the pilot to create a French Network to share best practice between teachers. Ms Baxter said: "It should launch in February or March. Teachers on the network should meed more regularly to discuss best practice and best resources to teach French. Bespoke training will also be provided to answer different needs and levels of expertise.

"Through the pilot we have have seen that intensive learning can work for a short term and we will keep moving forward with it."

Bespoke training will be offered to Jersey primary schools to support this expansion of French in Jersey schools.