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Basic Greetings in French
Hello - Bonjour
Hi - Salut
Good afternoon - Bonsoir
Goodbye - Au Revoir
How are you? - Comme Ça Va?
Learning the phrases above are helpful in the future for potential French-speaking students because even if they end up lost, they are able to speak a little bit of French. Learning French phrases can be hard, but practicing at home with family or friends can improve oral performance dramatically.
The Louvre Museum in Paris (75001), France.
French
en français
Introduction to French
French is the official language of France and the secondary language in all of Canada's provinces except Quebec City. French in Canada is spoken by 22% of the population, making it the first language to ever gain popularity as a secondary language. Internationally, around 321 million people speak French. French is also the official language of 29 countries in total. The language is associated with romance, since Paris in France is known as the "City of Love".
Flag of France
The French flag was created during the French Revolution. The white represents royalty, and the blue and red represent Paris.
French at R.C. Palmer Secondary
At Palmer, French is a mandatory class for Grade 8s. Higher grades such as 9-12 have the option to choose from French, Spanish, Japanese, and other languages or no to take no language course at all. The reason that Palmer requires first-year students to learn French is to introduce them to Canada's secondary language and help them understand the basics of French. There is also a French Club that provides students with opportunities to speak French with other peers and learn about France history. Palmer prioritizes its students and strives to provide them with as much assistance in French as possible.
Did You Know?
The baguette originated from France, where it gained so much popularity to the point where French Laws require baguettes to be only made from water, (wheat) flour, yeast, and salt (1919). Since the law banned the baguettes from containing preservatives, baguettes go stale within a day, which is why day-old baguettes are cheaper and hard.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
The French Curriculum at Palmer
Student's Thoughts
Interview 1
Q: What is your favourite topic in French?
A: I liked learning about the traditions in France, such as like air-kissing instead of shaking hands. I think it's really sweet.
Q: How would you rate the classes?
A: I think the classes are informative but not too overwhelming, we get enough homework to learn but not too much to drown in.
Q: Do you think French is an easy subject?
A: It's different for everyone, but most people in my class are doing great. Learning languages are hard at first but once you're all caught up with classwork, the learning becomes easier to grasp.
French 9 Curriculum
In French 9, students will focus on the French vocabulary and history. French classes will start off by building the student's bases of French such as French letter patterns, which are words in the language that sound alike (au, aux, euo, ô, os, etc.). Then, the students will focus on building sentences with past, present, and future tenses, time frames, noun descriptions (places, people, interests, etc.), basic needs, and share their personal opinions on French topics. Then, moving onto analyzing text, French 9 will learn the types of text and common elements found within text, such as breaking down elements in a French story. French 9 will also teach about the history and traditional practices of France as well as basic cultural appropriation (cultural appropriation is learning about respecting the French culture and their traditions).
Post-Secondary
Having French as a language on your resume can lead to many open opportunities, such as
- French teacher
- translator
- tourist guide
- musem guide
- healthcare overseas
- international jobs
Knowing how to speak French is a great way to apply for jobs that need people who are able to work in other countries, and you also get to travel during work, which benefits greatly. French is also a common language that people in Canada speak, so plenty of jobs look for French-speaking applicants when hiring.
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