THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO LEARN FRENCH AT ECOLE DES TROIS PONTS

There are many ways to teach, as there are many ways to learn. And everyone learns in a different way, we all have a variety of methods and tricks which work or do not for us as individuals. This is true for children, but I think it becomes even more apparent as we age, especially if the subject we are trying to learn is another language. Sometimes the methods used as a child or as an adolescent do not work as well for us as an adult.

I recently returned from my third, two-week experience at Ecole des Trois Ponts. It seems to me as if each time is more enjoyable than the last, and that my abilities to speak and understand French increase. While this is no doubt a result of the wonderful teachers and the traditional, classroom learning, upon reflection I am also cognizant there are many other, unacknowledged, under stated, subtle ways The School supplements the students learning of the French language.

For example, all meals are taken at The School. Each morning the student spends between 30 minutes to an hour over breakfast. It is not uncommon to see colleagues finishing their homework at this time, with papers and texts spread out over the large wooden table, scraping the spilt home made jam from their books as they juggle devouring the delicious French breads and addressing their appetite, with completing the tasks set the day before   – frequently posing questions to those they mistakenly believe to be the more accomplished students in their class, in search of an answer.

Lunch generally takes about 45 minutes. All students eat together and no other language other than French is spoken. Common phrases (“je vous en prie”, “voudrais vous ma passe le sel”, “qu est-ce que c’est”) are quickly learnt as are specific words related to the food. Each day these are repeated and reinforced and consequently become entrenched in the lexicon of phrases the student has. But it is at the sumptuous four course dinners, when vocabulary and one’s ability to speak French amongst a warm welcoming cohort is advanced. These wonderful soirées are undoubtedly enhanced by the wine, which loosens even the most reserved student’s tongue. Diners are never seated adjacent to the same classmates every night, and each evening a member of The School’s staff dines with the class, to answer the numerous questions posed, clarify confusions and of course laugh at the bazaar array of subjects introduced. Topics are diverse and frequently address a student’s home country, family life, employment or former employment. A really great “getting to know you” exercise, but more importantly a fantastic way to learn and build confidence using the language.

The School offers excursions and various afternoon courses (cooking, hiking, historical attractions) encouraging speaking French and social interaction. While grammar mistakes are frequently corrected by the staff member leading the excursion, the goal is to increase confidence and the ability to talk the language while at the same time experiencing first-hand French culture.

Casual interactions take place in The School’s lounge, where students have access to a vast array of French Language books and literature, can play the piano or watch the television, or just informally socialize. Coffee breaks, which in the warm weather occur the schools garden, ensure that even during brief twenty-minute breaks the mind is thinking in French totally immersed in the language.

In my cohort there were students who adored learning French grammar, in a traditional classroom manner, others who were older and retired and for whom adhering to the rules was of little interest; they thrived on the social interaction. Some were vocal in the morning, others were more night owls, coming alive as the evenings drew in. Some read the complementary daily (French) newspaper every morning, others wanted to escape the outside world. Ecole des Trois Ponts makes all these options available in a comprehensive method to ensure every technique to teach the language is covered.

Jayne Seagrave

November 2024

Jayne Seagrave is a BC Best selling Author. The ninth edition of her book Camping British Columbia, the Rockies and the Yukon was published by Heritage House in April 2023. Over 60,000 of her camping books have been sold. She also writes fiction, non-fiction, freelance articles and occasionally teaches writing and publishing courses. See: www.jayneseagrave.com