Another topic beginner French students will need to practice is the way they spend their time. This generally includes their life at school and their hobbies at home. In this activity, students will write a dialogue about two or more characters discussing school and hobbies. Vocabulary and grammar demonstrated in this storyboard can include some or all of the following:
Conclude by having students present their scenes to the class, reading the French dialogue aloud. This is a great way for students to practice their pronunciation and take ownership of their learning.
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Student Instructions
Create a scene in which characters discuss their day at school. You must include at least two characters and use text bubbles to show their dialogue. Be sure to include the following in your scene:
Engage students with an interactive scavenger hunt by hiding cards with French school vocabulary around the room. Divide the class into small teams and give each team a list of words to find. Encourage students to say each word aloud and use it in a sentence when they discover a card. This hands-on approach makes vocabulary practice fun and memorable!
Create cards featuring key French school words and simple illustrations. Laminate them for durability so you can reuse them in future lessons. Use bright colors to make them easy to spot and appealing to students.
Demonstrate how to find a card, read the word, and use it in a French sentence. Clarify that teams must work together and only use French when playing. Modeling expectations helps everyone understand how to participate.
Give students a set time—10 to 15 minutes—to find as many cards as possible. Circulate around the room to offer hints, encourage collaboration, and ensure students are speaking French. Keep energy high by cheering teams on as they search!
Gather everyone together after the hunt and invite teams to share the words they found. Prompt students to use each vocabulary word in a new sentence or mini-dialogue about school. This reinforces learning and boosts confidence in using French aloud.
Some useful French vocabulary words for school include l'école (school), le professeur (teacher), la classe (class), les mathématiques (math), and la science (science). For hobbies, try jouer au football (to play soccer), lire (to read), and écouter de la musique (to listen to music).
To create a simple French dialogue about school life, use at least two characters discussing their classes, favorite subjects, what time it is, and hobbies. Include questions like "Quelle heure est-il?" and "Quel est ton sujet préféré?" for a natural conversation.
Examples of questions for a French school scene are: "Quelles matières as-tu aujourd'hui?" (What subjects do you have today?), "Tu aimes les mathématiques?" (Do you like math?), and "À quelle heure commence la classe?" (What time does class start?).
French beginners can practice pronunciation by reading their dialogues aloud in pairs or groups, focusing on key vocabulary and expressions. Presenting scenes to the class encourages confidence and reinforces speaking skills.
The best way to teach French school vocabulary is through interactive activities like role-play dialogues, using visual aids (storyboards), and encouraging students to use new words in context. This makes learning memorable and engaging for middle schoolers.