Reflections from My First Year in a French Classroom

Lessons Learned, Laughter Shared, and Language Growth

Nov 30, 2024

From late 2022 through most of 2023, I found myself in a tough spot. I was graduating from graduate school, working as a research assistant, and had another research role lined up. My transition into the workforce after years as a student seemed to be going well.

Then things changed. I made the tough decision to step away from both research positions, leaving me uncertain for months. Although my studies were in education, my job search initially focused on roles in other fields. After a long and tiring search, I eventually returned to focusing on positions in education.

Eventually, I landed a job, but not in the position I had originally applied for.

The job wasn’t easy for many reasons, one of which was the split shifts. However, it did give me time to focus on language learning and writing this newsletter. After a few months, a director from a French school reached out about an open position.

By the time I successfully completed the interview at the French school and received the offer, I had only been relearning French for seven months. My nine month update shows my level when I started the job. I had the basics and that was about it.

Since then, my French has improved significantly, thanks to classroom experience and consistent self-study.

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🏫 The Classroom

Since I started working at the French school, I’ve had plenty of memorable moments.

In the fall of 2023, a new French-speaking student joined, and for the first time, I was called Madame. Although polite, it was different to be called something other than my name, Victoria. It took weeks for the student to learn my name since he only ever called me Madame. Eventually, he started calling me Madame Victoria. Ironically enough, this year most students use Madame to refer to myself and other teachers and it doesn’t feel strange anymore.

It was time to clean up after free play for the next activity, but one child didn’t want to clean up. He said, “I’m tired.” I replied, “Je suis fatiguée aussi” (I’m tired too). With excitement, he said, “Then you should go home and have a nap!” I responded, “Ça c'est une bonne idée.” I appreciated his suggestion, even though it wasn’t yet home time. Unfortunately for both of us, we still had to clean up.

I had been shadowing a few books to improve my reading and pronunciation. While reading, I came across the word "aigle chauve" for the first time. Based on the picture, I quickly realized it was a bald eagle. That’s when I remembered chauve from chauve-souris (bat), a word I’d first learned around Halloween.

Later that week, I shared the word with one of my students.

“Ohhhh. Je ne savais pas ça,” he said.1

A few seconds later, he added, “Mon père n'a pas de cheveux. He’s bald.”2 I paused for a moment, trying to picture his dad, then said, “C’est vrai? Ah oui, t’as raison.”3

I couldn’t help but laugh because it wasn’t the connection I was expecting. Children often make the most interesting links as they learn. Later, I did some research and discovered that a different word is used when referring to a bald person.

Learning a language through TV shows, reading, and tutors is helpful, but it’s only when you use the language with real people that you truly connect with it.

Near the end of my first year, during the summer, we saw an increase in Francophone students. It was amazing to watch as more students began speaking French with one another. Some students, whose only exposure to French had been in school, started speaking more after hearing their peers.

For me, it was a great experience to have conversations with students who were responding in French. I know that without the daily practice from the school year, I would have struggled to feel comfortable maintaining French conversations with the Francophone students in the summer.

🍎 Co-Teachers

One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience has been working alongside my co-teachers, who provided invaluable language practice and support.

I was lucky to work with a head teacher who spoke to me in French about 90% of the time. For the most part, there were three of us, which helped improve my listening skills as I heard the two other teachers conversing with each other. In the afternoons, though, it would be just me and the head teacher. Initially, I thought she might switch to English when it was just the two of us, but she didn’t. Even though I often responded in English, she continued speaking to me in French.

One time, I went to buy supplies for the classroom. When I came back, the head teacher asked, “As-tu acheté des pansements ?”4

Because I didn’t understand what she was asking about, I knew I hadn’t bought it. So, I asked, “Des pansements ? C’est quoi, des pansements ?”5

She explained that we were out of bandaids and that she had asked me to buy them before I left. Since I didn’t know the word pansements, I missed it when she told me earlier. That day was the day I learned the word pansements (bandaids).

📞 Phone Calls

Speaking in person is one thing, but answering the phone and having a conversation over the phone is a whole different challenge.

We would often receive calls from parents about student attendance or inquiries about available job positions. Our phone wasn’t the best, and I often had difficulty understanding people, even in English. Adding French to the mix was even more challenging, as I’d frequently hear new words I didn’t understand.

In September, a parent called early one morning. I answered the phone, greeted her, and she said,

“Mon fils ne viendra pas aujourd'hui, il est malade. Il a le nez qui coule, il tousse et il éternue.”6

I understood that her son was sick and wouldn’t be coming in, but I didn’t get the rest. Just knowing he was sick was enough for me to understand that he would be absent. I wanted to express my sympathy and wish him a speedy recovery, but I didn’t have the words. All I could manage to say was, “Ok, merci.”

That interaction stayed with me for months because I knew how empty my response must’ve sounded to the parent. It also stuck with me because I wanted to say more, but I couldn’t. At least not in French.

As months passed, I let myself respond in English if I couldn’t say something in French. Eventually, I started to recognize when the same parent would call to inform us of her son’s absence, and I got better at responding in French.

One afternoon, the head teacher complimented my ability to answer the phone in French and shared how, even now, she sometimes finds phone calls in English to be a challenge. It was encouraging to hear that. Now, a year later, instead of fearing phone calls, I eagerly pick up the phone.

🎉 Events

The events throughout the year became an opportunity to grow, not just as a teacher, but as a French speaker.

During one of our first events to invite parents into the classroom, a parent asked if I was from Montréal. He had connections to the French-speaking parts of Canada but was hesitant to speak French. I encouraged him, telling him that even a few words here and there were enough to get started. It was a strange moment for me as a non-native speaker, giving advice to someone hesitant to speak when I, too, felt unsure at times.

At the end of the school year, we held an end-of-the-year celebration at a park. All the current families and students were there, along with alumni families. It was the first event where I felt completely comfortable. I confidently approached Francophone families and spoke to them in French, no longer worrying about how they might perceive my language skills.

The past year has taught me that we only grow when we step outside our comfort zones and embrace the challenges along the way. It may be difficult in the moment, but looking back, we can see that it was worth it.

As I head into my second year, I know there’s still much to learn and improve upon. However, I can also see how far I’ve come and the progress I’ve made. If you'd like to share your thoughts or have any questions about my journey, leave a comment below! I’d love to hear your feedback and stories.