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French Intensive Courses: from a Teacher’s Perspective!

Here at Alpine French School, we have several teachers who teach on our French Intensive Courses every week. We decided to ask them some questions about our French Intensive Courses to see how things look from their perspective!

Describe a typical day teaching a French Intensive Course at Alpine French School?

During the summer season, the French Intensive Courses run from 14h-17h15 and in the winter season from 15h-18h15. Sometimes we also have lessons in the mornings, sometimes we have planning to do and sometimes we manage to get some free time to head out hiking, cycling or skiing! In the interseasons, the French Intensive Courses run in the morning from 9h-12h15. So then It’s a case of getting up, having breakfast and then heading into school for any last minute planning for the morning’s lesson. In the middle of the course, there is always a 15-minute coffee break which is much needed by the students and gives the teachers a chance to tweak the second half of the lesson and do any last minute photocopying!

What do you enjoy about teaching on the French Intensive Courses?

I love meeting the different students from different nationalities. Sometimes on the first day of meeting a new group taking a French Intensive Course, I feel a little apprehensive but I haven’t ever had a group who I didn’t love teaching! I like getting to know my students and trying to find ways to help them progress and to overcome any obstacles they encounter when they are learning French. 15 hours a week is a lot of time to spend together, so I do my best to try and make sure that there is a friendly atmosphere in the classroom so that everyone feels at home and comfortable to speak French.

Tell me a little bit about how you choose what to teach and which subjects you choose on each French Intensive Course?

We evaluate all of our students before the French Intensive course starts to find out a bit about them, to know their level and their interests. We have a curriculum to follow also to make sure that the standard of our teaching and the quality of courses stays high and is uniform amongst all of the teachers. So from all of that information, I select appropriate and interesting teaching material. I also try and include themes such as what is happening in France at the moment, or in Morzine and also modern themes such as comedy sketches. Above all, I try to keep the lessons interesting and varied to make sure the students are enjoying themselves as well as learning!

How do you feel at the end of the week?

I’m usually sad to say goodbye to some students who I have met and got to know. Our students come from far and wide and some stay with us for 10 or more weeks taking our French Intensive Courses, so they become more like friends so of course it is sad to see them leave. On the other hand, it is always nice to see how far students have come and how far they have progressed during their time with us. Of course, I also enjoy my weekends off and making the most of the mountains and the beautiful area of France that we live in!

What is your best memory from 2015?

Looking back on my groups, there are too many to choose a favourite, but when I read the feedback from my students and they have really appreciated all of the efforts I have put into preparing my lessons and making sure they have really got the most of the course possible, it really makes me smile. I think all teachers go into teaching hoping to teach students who want to learn and who enjoy learning and when this happens, it makes my day!

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