Publish at October 15 2018 Updated June 12 2024
The French language is one of the most poetic of languages. You only have to leaf through a book of poetry or listen to a classic song to understand the evocative power of the French lexicon. For native French speakers or those for whom French is a foreign language, it can be very enriching to learn it through artistic forms. Music is even more interesting. It's often easier to memorize elements when they're in rhythm. And if it works for English or other languages, why not French?
As this article reminds us, there are other reasons to do it than increased memorization skills. If this is a basic argument, we can also add pleasure. Indeed, listening to music generally puts you in a good mood, stimulates endorphins and puts you in a better state to learn.
What's more, it gives you an insight into the various aspects of the French-speaking world. Indeed, it's an original way of studying spoken French, whether it's Belgian, Cameroonian or Québécois. It can be a good way to observe with students the different levels of language and to practice them, whether by reading or singing the lyrics.
Especially in a world where English culture and music predominate, it's the duty of French (and French as a foreign language) classes to promote French-language works. For example, this teacher asked her students to create a top 10 list of French songs that teenagers should listen to. They had to offer suggestions, and then the battle of the songs took place. Each week, they had to choose between two songs that could be among the finalists. This meant they had to listen more than once, absorbing both the melody and the lyrics. This approach generated a great deal of enthusiasm among the learners, who even wallpapered one of the classroom walls with the selected artists.
Meanwhile, in a rather English-speaking Canadian territory, a show toured throughout 2017 to promote French songs in French-speaking communities from coast to coast. Called Tam Ti Delam, songwriters such as Claude Léveillée, La Bolduc, Alan Mills, Lionel Daunais, Gilles Vigneault and Félix Leclerc were showcased to children. But in addition to the performances, a website has been created so that teachers can use the tunes performed in the show as part of their lessons. It's all aimed at a young audience, particularly with the themes (animals, seasons, numbers and alphabet).
RFI, for its part, offers an activity specifically based on works by the singer Barbara. It's a way of showing them the songs and lyrics of the French-speaking world, and motivating them to write poetry on themes such as love. For more recent references, TV5 Monde suggests an ever-expanding bank of music videos by popular French artists. For different levels of schooling, teachers can then use the proposed educational activities linked around each clip. These can range from analyzing the lyrics to the theme and visuals chosen by the director. In any case, they're a great way to get interested in recent French songs and learn more about the language of Molière.
References :
Cassista, Mélissa. "Le Spectacle Tam Ti Delam: La Chanson Francophone Transmise Aux Enfants." Radio-Canada.ca. Last updated: November 7, 2017. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1065769/paul-aleksi-campagne-toupin-tournee-canadienne-patrimoine.
"Chansons Francophones." Enseigner Le Français Avec TV5MONDE. Accessed October 11, 2018. http://enseigner.tv5monde.com/collection/paroles-de-clips.
Goulet Pedersen, Élise. "Le Fabuleux Destin D'une Enseignante: Le Combat Des Clips: Comment Faire Aimer La Musique Francophone Aux Adolescents." Le Fabuleux Destin D'une Enseignante. Last updated March 3, 2018. https://www.destinenseignante.ca/2018/03/combat-des-clips-musique-classe.html.
Porte, Nathalie. "5 Bonnes Raisons D'étudier Le Français En Chansons." Nathalie FLE. Last updated August 30, 2018. https://nathaliefle.com/pourquoi-apprendre-francais-chansons/.
RFI. "Barbara: Ideas For The Classroom." RFI SAVOIRS. Last updated February 28, 2018. https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr/apprendre-enseigner/culture/barbara-idees-pour-la-classe.
TAMTIDELAM. Accessed October 11, 2018. http://www.tamtidelam.com/.
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