PDF created on 18/06/2017
- European Commission
A French language learning scheme based on an entertaining approach
Thematic
SOCIAL COHESION
Social inclusion
EDUCATION AND CULTURE
Out-of-school education incl. life-long learning and distance education
Language competencies
Cultural activities and diversity
Target Group
AGE
RESIDENCE STATUS
Newcomers
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
Students
Geographic Area
City
Language
Type of
France
Mulhouse
French
Case studies of integration practices
Information
Organisation
Contact Person
Papin recreation centre
Sémiha SIPAHI (Login to send email)
Contact Person
Function
Project Start
Ongoing Project
Project End
Summary
01/01/2007
No
30/12/2000
When immigrant children first arrive in
France, they face challenges such as
learning French and finding their bearings.
In particular, they operate through the
school system. This scheme is piloted by
associations in an area of Mulhouse and
offers help for school integration and
mastering the French language by getting
them involved in leisure activities. This
work with these pupils allows us to then
work with teachers and parents.
In Alsace, in Haut-Rhin department,
looking after non French-speaking
schoolchildren having just arrived in the
country demands special attention. When
PDF created on 18/06/2017
- European Commission
they first start school they go into both an
“ordinary” class (corresponding to their
academic level but not necessarily to their
age) and into a “specific” class generally
dedicated to learning French. However
assessment has revealed that certain pupils
encountered difficulties learning French or
integrating into a group. The recreation
centre in a district of the town of Mulhouse
has piloted a scheme alongside local
institutions enabling these young people to
build a different relationship towards
learning, knowledge and language through
their participation in extra school activities.
The pedagogical approach used to set up
these workshops depends on the young
people’s involvement and develops their
knowledge. The children can also have
their non-academic skills recognised. In
this way the aims of the scheme are:
- To work towards successful integration
into school and mastering French;
- To promote a better attachment to
learning by building their confidence back
up;
- To help young people establish their
place in society and to develop their
capacities to settle in to their new
environment;
- To introduce them to and help them
understand the culture and lifestyle of their
new home country;
- To rediscover and promote the wealth of
their home country to be able to compare
various elements.
Issue/Challenge
and
Goal/Assumption
In Alsace, in the Haut-Rhin department,
looking after non French-speaking
schoolchildren having just arrived in the
country demands special attention. When
they first start school they go into both an
“ordinary” class (corresponding to their
academic level but not necessarily to their
age) and into a “specific” class generally
dedicated to learning French. However
assessment has revealed that certain pupils
encountered difficulties learning French or
integrating into a group. The recreation
centre in a district of the town of Mulhouse
has piloted a scheme alongside local
institutions enabling these young people to
build a different relationship towards
PDF created on 18/06/2017
- European Commission
learning, knowledge and language through
their participation in extra school activities.
The pedagogical approach used to set up
these workshops depends on the young
people’s involvement and develops their
knowledge. The children can also have
their non-academic skills recognised. In
this way the aims of the scheme are:
- To work towards successful integration
into school and mastering French;
- To promote a better attachment to
learning by building their confidence back
up;
- To help young people establish their
place in society and to develop their
capacities to settle in to their new
environment;
- To introduce them to and help them
understand the culture and lifestyle of their
new home country;
- To rediscover and promote the wealth of
their home country to be able to compare
various elements.
How does it work
The first step is to locate these young
people. This is done through intercultural
mediation carried out by the recreation
centre, by teachers identifying those with
learning difficulties (especially in French)
and by word of mouth. The second step is
to assess their level of French. This must be
carried out with the pupils and their
parents’ agreement and takes their
background and non-academic skills into
account. Once these elements have been
gathered, the young person is invited to
attend to workshops. The workshops
characteristics are:
- They are various workshops designed for
crafts, sport or artistic expression;
- They are organised out of school time
and during the holidays;
- They take place at the recreation centre;
- Their content is designed with the young
people and in accordance with their
expectations and hobbies.
Organising a workshop (day to day
working, aims, practical details…) is then a
pretext for working on mastering the
French language and the time
management. The teaching methods used
depend on the young people’s involvement
and develop their knowledge. In parallel
PDF created on 18/06/2017
- European Commission
with the workshops, these young people
can come with someone to help evaluate
their progress. Generally, informal
meetings allows them to share issues, to be
offered help with schoolwork and then to
be registered to a workshop. Two or three
workshops can work simultaneously and
take the level of autonomy of the young
people into account. This initiative also
works through the link between the
activities offered by the recreation centre
and the school activities. Indeed, the skills
and knowledge acquired out of school can
be used at school. A partnership with the
teachers is required. The project also
implies the parents’ commitment, through
information sessions about the project.
Thus a link can be created with the school,
especially when the school has informed
the association about the situation of these
children.
Results
In 2007, fifty-one young people benefitted
from this scheme. They were aged between
6 and 25 (20 girls and 31 boys). Evaluation
showed an improvement in their autonomy.
A number of them have started attending
sports clubs, some work on Saturdays
whereas others have prepared to enter or
have entered the workplace. Young people
were involved in a series of projects or the
neighbourhood party where they discovered
a workshop based on stories from their
various home countries, compiling a book
related to their backgrounds.
Evaluation
By their involvement in these activities, this
scheme allowed young people to get to
know themselves and to create a link with
other young people. The teaching methods
are based on young people’s level of
involvement and develop their knowledge.
It involves them positively and actively, and
allows them to learn better (especially
French). The partnership formed by
teachers and parents also conditions the
pertinence of the scheme and gives a
reason for it.
Who will benefit?
Foreign children, whatever their juridical
status is (child entering France with family
reunification, child of refugee parent, child
of immigrant parent without working
PDF created on 18/06/2017
- European Commission
papers…).
Children arrived in the last two years and
being registered at school with a foreign
language and culture.
Source of funding
and Resources
used
Funded by the State through the
Departmental Direction for Health and
Social Affairs (Direction Départementale des
Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales) and the
National Agency for Social Cohesion and
Equal Opportunities (Agence Nationale
pour la Cohésion Sociale et l’Egalité des
Chances). The scheme also mobilised
activity organisers and mediation staff from
the recreation centre.