It is that time of the year again. My French kids hate it. It is the annual public speaking competition at school.
Learning how to become a confident, eloquent and engaging public speaker is an important part of education in Australia. It is also a major differentation point with French education.
In France, children do listen a lot. They do write a lot (running writing with a beautiful fountain pen). But they are not encouraged to speak.
In primary school, speaking is mostly about learning by heart poems from classic writers such as Jean de Lafontaine, Victor Hugo, Prevert... Poems are a great way to teach about the music of the language, the mystery of meaning and the beauty around us.
Are poems sufficient enough to prepare French kids for their adult life in the 21st century? I am afraid the answer in no.
I wish my French kids raised in Australia will take the best of both worlds. And be as convincing and entertaining as French street artist JR in this TED talk.
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