FR LG Why learning foreign languages is important

When 3 young Polish girls arrived at the Jean Bart High School for one month's immersion, they took part in the Erasmus+ workshops. To facilitate their integration, the 2nd year Erasmus+ class was divided into 6 groups, with each young Polish girl integrated into 3 of them. 

Each group was asked to write a scenario in their mother tongue or in English (in English in the groups with the Polish girls) illustrating that learning foreign languages is important in everyday and/or professional life. 

Firstly, the students in each group worked together to imagine a situation and find arguments to justify the importance of learning foreign languages. After that, they write a short play in which they present these arguments. The situations they invented were very varied : scenes in the street, guided tours, a scientific conference, an interview with a journalist, a school open day, a job interview, etc. Here are just a few examples of the arguments put forward : travel easily, meet new people, academic and professional advantage, adaptability, encourage openness to others, develop your critical mind, get rid of preconceived ideas and prejudices, develop tolerance.

Secondly, they thought about how they could stage the play (2-3 minute stage play) in which each of the students in the group would speak and play. 

Each group presented its play to the other groups. It was a funny moment because each group wrote their scenario and performed their play in a comical way. After each play, the arguments for why learning a foreign language is important were written on the board.  At the end, when all the arguments had been listed, the students were encouraged to find that one argument had not been mentioned : the cognitive abilities that are developed by learning a new language (improved memory, concentration, creativity). It was added that studies show that those who speak several languages are better protected against neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia. 

They were given a final document about benefits of language learning and commented on it, and the activity ended with the group creating a tag cloud using the key words from the workshop.

Erasmus Théâtre :

Scène 1:

(Phrase qui sera dite "Où est le monument")

Natalia:  gdzie jest pomnik

Daphnée : Που είναι το μνημείο???

Camille : Wo ist das Denkmal?

Lyla : 纪念碑在哪里

Sophie : Hey, Hey, everybody calm down!! I’m here to help you.

You all want to go the same place,to the St Chair, right?

Every one look at each others.

Everyone: Yes

Sophie: All right! I’m going to show you, then!

Go see the st chair.

Natalia : święte krzesło

Daphnée: Άγιος καρέκλα

Camille :heiliger Stuhl

Lyla : 圣椅

Scène 2 :

At the airport

Daphnée : Bonjour, j’aimerais postuler pour cette compagnie de voyage. Je souhaiterais travailler dans le domaine du voyage.

Sophie: Il n’y a pas de soucis, nous allons tester votre niveau en langue, allez au guichet aider nos clients.

Daphnée : Hello

Camille : Wo sind bitte die Toiletten?

Daphnée : Q….Quoi? What?

Camille : Wo sind bitte die Toiletten?

Daphnée : Euh……

Lyla : Where is the gate

Daphnée : On the right…. Euh…. No Euh Left

Natalia : Chciałbym kupić bilety na Hawaje

Daphnée : English English

Natalia : Chciałbym kupić bilety na Hawaje

Daphnée : Euh….. Hawaje?

Natalia : Chciałbym kupić bilety na HAWAJE

Daphnée: Euh Hawaje? Hawaje?!

The manager comes

Sophie: Je suis désolé, mais tu devras revenir quand tu sauras tes langues

Daphnée : Mais je peux peaufiner mes langues

Daphnée/Natalia/Sophie/Lyla/Camille

1er: Faustin and Zuzia

-Vous avez fait tomber votre téléphone madame.

-O, bardzo dziękuję!

-Oh, you don't speack english?

- Yes I speack

- Why you're in frensh?

- Because I want to discorver the country...

- Oh ok, and what's your name?

- Zuzia and you?

- Faustin, how old are you?

- 15 year old.

- I'm also 15.

- So we can see that thé english language is do importante for to make yourself understood. This also allows develop our vocabulary and have more confidence.

2eme Milo et Marius:

Milo: Hello, we finally neet

-Yes it's amazing

-What did we do?

-Let's go to my house for become friend

-Let's go

3eme Milo, Nicola, Faustin, Marius:

-Syracuse is amazing.

-Yes!

-Look of the theatre.

-Hello! I am your guide for present Syracuse theatre.

-What is the date of creation of this place?

-This is created in 5 before J.C.

-Who created the theatre?

In the Greek.

-Which pieces of theatre were playing in this place? -There were tragedi and comedi pièces, so, It's the end.

Hamama

Okay we're going to start the meeting about the fishes in Siberia.

Welcome Mr Missue, Mr Huygue, Mrs Boubert, Mrs Friscourt, and me of course Mrs Dzair.

Maxime

What do you think of the situation Mrs Friscourt?

Leana

Je pense que c'est inadmissible, ce que nos poissons subissent ça enrichit des entreprises de caviar, pendant que des milliardaires se remplissent les poches sur le dos de nos pauvres poissons, c'est bouleversant.

Lalie

Je suis complètement d'accord, c'est complètement insensé, il faut à tout prix trouver une solution !  

Hamama

And you Mr Missue what do you think ?

Matheo

“euh”

“yes “… “no…”

Maxime

Do you get it ? This is a typical example of why everybody should speak English, or simply a foreign language.

Matheo

When you go to a country, it is essential to speak English to make yourself understood and not appear as a monkey.

Léana

Making ourselves understood and understanding what is said to us all over the world is essential, especially in Erasmus class travelling to Europe

Lalie

Tous ces arguments montrent à quel point c’est primordial de parler anglais dans toutes les circonstances possibles

Sort of Open Day to present the erasmus class to people that don't know about

Annabelle/ Valériia/ Viktoria: Hello

Maxine/Lison/Agathe: Hello

Annabelle: Are you interested by Erasmus project?

Lison: Yes we do but we have some questions to ask you to learn more about erasmus

Valériia: Yes no problem, we’ll answer

Maxine: Erasmus is only travel to discover new cultures or not?

Victoria: No, it’s much more than just discovering new cultures. Obviously it’s a part of it, but you come to a new country and you’re surrounded by new people and traditions in your host family that you actively learn by being there. You can notice differences and similarities.

Lison:Why is important to travel all around the world?

Valériia: Travelling is important because you can discover new languages, culture, also improve and may new friends.

Agathe: Are you interested in by erasmus project?

Annabelle: working on projects between different countries will allow you to work on innovant  Projects on which you will not be used to working using different media such as videos or posters and develop your critical thinking and creativity.

Annabelle: Did we answer all your questions?

Maxine: Yes, thanks goodbye.

Others: Bye