french news

Our French assistante, Charline Vallée, started the evening with an engaging and stimulating quiz on France, including such questions as why the beach at Dieppe is special; which is the longest river in France; and which actress will take the role of Sophie Neveu in the forthcoming film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ (answers below!)

This was followed by two carefully researched and thought provoking presentations by members of our Year 13 French class, giving arguments for and against whether immigration was a good thing for France. The presentations were preceded by a startling video by the French National Front, which sought to capitalise upon the social unrest and riots during the autumn of 2005. With our VI formers’ words and dramatic PowerPoint images clear in their minds, the members of the circle, joined by our Yr12 French students as well, then debated the issue in groups. The atmosphere in the VI Form lounge was charged with lively discussion, and cerebral sustenance was provided by some cake, biscuits and drinks!

Charline then led a feedback session from each group, for whom vocabulary and useful phrases had been distributed to help conversation flow more easily. This was followed by a closing game of Bingo, with all numbers in French of course!

The evening was an unqualified success and thanks are due to not only the catering and administration staff for their support and help, but also to our VI form linguists and not least Charline for their splendid efforts.

It would seem appropriate to conclude with the following poem from the evening:

Tous différents, Tous égaux

Ton Christ est juif,
Ton scooter est japonais,
Ta pizza est italienne et ton couscous marocain,
Ta démocratie est grecque,
Ton café est brésilien,
Ta montre est suisse,
Ta chemise est hawaïenne,
Ton baladeur est coréen,
Tes vacances sont turques, tunisiennes ou marocaines,
Tes chiffres sont arabes,
Ton écriture est latine,
Et tu reproches à ton voisin d’être étranger ?

(Quiz answers: there is no sand on the beach; le Rhin; Audrey Tautou)

Posted by: C W Jenkinson
Date: Monday 6/02/2006

1. Charline, with clip-board, listens while one group explain their thoughts on immigration. 2. Mr Alan Cantor of the Fylde French Circle joins Michael O’Neill, Jennifer Gribbon, Matthew Meehan and Jason Milton-Barker, who presented on the issue.