Awake and dreaming: Eveillé et rêvant

Subject: French
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 9116

An original collection; ten poems in English with their ten French counterparts, plus worksheets, which demand study, reflection and understanding at an achievable level of work. There is variety and humour enough, plus ample opportunity for small group work and whole class input. The topic is enjoyable and mostly light-hearted, but the main advantage is the opportunity to improve linguistic confidence and ability. The whole package will ensure that sufficient speaking and listening in both English and French will take place to ensure some progress for all students.

The topic could well be introduced through another subject (biology or science) with pictures or actual specimens, perhaps video, to enhance understanding.

Personal anecdote will enliven discussion before or after reading the poems, preferably in English. When the children are sufficiently familiar with the English version, the French version can be introduced.

Both English and French versions are best studied side by side, enabling direct cross-references of words and phrases. It will be seen that some translations can be direct and literal, while others are only approximate.

A mixed ability group can easily be accommodated within the demands of the worksheets, which are aimed at varying levels of achievement, but could be enjoyed by all. It is hoped that coming together for whole group discussion will inform and enable students to attempt more challenging work, or indeed to write their own poems on this of other subjects, and then attempt a translation.

There is every reason to hope that drama and art could also be used to express their reactions to these poems, or to their own experience of the subject.