Slowly but surely I am getting more and more hours to work. Right now a lot of them are temporary customers (meaning they only purchased between 10-20 hours of lessons) but I am hopeful that the year-long classes will start before too long. Things are really up in the air at the moment...I still don't have a contract and am supposed to start classes next week (but don't have any of them confirmed so I can't plan). This, too, shall pass.
Anyway, I am seeking any kind of formal curriculum guide that the state has for each year of English in public schools. At my workplace I was told to look at the samples of textbooks that they had on the shelf and figure it out myself, but I really do want to be able to look at the official version that the teachers (should) have. I would like to think that there is an easy-access website connected to the French department of education, but somehow I have a hunch that it won't be so clear-cut. But just in case there is, and one of you reading my blog has found it, could you please point me in that direction?
I want the basic guidelines of what students are exposed to and which language skills/vocabulary/grammar points they are expected to have mastered in each year. I'm too A.R. to be comfortable with "Oh, I think they do the present perfect this year" or "Just look at the textbook." I want to know exactly what the plan is, even if I'm not in charge of delivering it all, and I want more details than the grammar points. Plus, I don't know about you, but a few of those textbooks give me chills.
Also, does anyone know if the education nationale tends to follow the European Framework in reference to language education? Are those official guidelines or just suggestions? Last year I did try to go with the flow for the most part, but now I'm really ready to figure out how the system works and how I can get it more or less in sync with what I know is effective for kids.
Thanks for any help you can provide! I'll pass on anything I find out as well.
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4 comments:
You might want to check on the website of the Académie you're teaching in, or why not that of the Education Nationale, although I've never gone there...
If Internet doesn't pan out, try going - if you can -- to the CDDP (Centre Départemental de Documentation Pédagogique) of you département. That's the sort of thing they really should have.
As for textbooks, I agree -- they are very dense and dry, and often seem to be teaching more culture than language.
Finally, I know the Education Nationale is trying to fit the European References into their programmes somehow, but don't count on any major changes.
One little question -- what sort of structure do you work for? Camps, BTS, adults, official school curriculum...I'm a little confused about where you actually work. Maybe you have several employers like so many English teachers in France...anyway, I would be interested in knowing more.
Hi there. I taught English in France for ten years, and I got here via a link from D. -- From Florida to France.
France is not yet up to par vis-a-vis the European Framework, imho. Here's a link that explains the EducNat's goals.
The site for the CNDP will probably have some good info, but you might also try asking at the library of a local college or lycee. They usually have a copy of the current "programme." Also, sometimes the textbooks will have a page or two about the progression of the book; this usually follows the programme pretty faithfully.
Wait. Look here. And good luck wading through it. ;-)
I hope that helps. If I'd found your blog six months ago, I would have sent you all my curricula before I moved. Good luck!
Thanks to you both -- what a great help. As fate turns out, I'm not working with a lot of collegiens/lyceens at the moment but I will be working with them sporadically this year so still need to know.
Betty -- I'm still planning on e-mailing you and I'll give you details about my company there.
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