STARTING A FRENCH CLUB: TIPS, ACTIVITIES, AND MORE

PURPOSE OF THE CLUB

In order to promote and encourage the French language in schools, the French
Department has to put in place a French club for all the students. The club is a space to
have fun as well as a space to explore ideas unable to be expressed in class, and to discuss a
variety of topics. All these will help the students to generate a wealth of conversation or,
what other might call rich and meaningful conversation.

When there is a lesson, you have to do your lesson but it is also nice to know you
have a place where the point is just to talk and to know that the language is not so much an
innocuous tool for mankind but its master, controlling what is possible in deed and action.
Finally, the students will be able to see and express themselves in the language by keeping
an open mind.

Important steps to take

Find Members: The best way to find member is to advertise. Get news about your club out
there by posting in the school newsletter, on bulletin boards at your school or in your
community, or in local paper. You can also inquire at local French restaurants if they will let
you post something. Make announcements during assembly. Another tactic is to recruit
from French classes. Ask teachers at your school and others in the area, including schools
geared towards adults, if they will help tell students about your club.

Decide on a Meeting Place: Where you have your meetings will depend a little on who your
members are. If your club is made up only of students at your school, you can request
permission to meet in the school cafeteria, an unused classroom, or the library or
community center. If you have members from the community at large, you might suggest
meeting at a local café, restaurant, or bar (depending on ages) or at members' homes (take
turns). In fine weather, a local park is also a good option.

Plan Meeting Schedule: At your first meeting, agree on a day and time for future meetings
and discuss the types of meetings you'll be having.

Lunchtime Table française: Students and people from the community can just drop in when
they have the time. Hopefully, French teachers will offer extra credit to their students who
attend.  Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly meetings, Outings to plays, opera, movies, museums

Tips

There needs to be at least one person in semi-charge who speaks fairly fluently. This person
can help everyone feel comfortable no matter what their level, help others with their
French, encourage conversation when it lags, and remind everyone to speak French. Asking
questions is a good way to get everyone talking.

 Have a set meeting time and date (every Thursday at noon, the first Sunday of the
month) to help keep the routine.
  Meet for at least an hour, preferably two, to make sure it's worth people making the
effort to show up.
 Collect members' names and contact info so that you can remind them about
meetings. An email mailing list is an excellent way to do this.
 Stress the fact that all levels are welcome and that it's in everyone's best interest to
talk.
 Just for fun, you could decide on a club name and get T-shirts made.
 Be strict about French only.

MEETING AGENDAS

OK, so you've figured out your meeting time, place, and venue and you've got a bunch of
interested members. Now what? Just sitting around and talking in French is a good start, but
there are lots of things you can do to spice up the meetings.

Eat : Brunch, lunch, dinner at a restaurant, Cheese tasting,  Crêpe making, Dessert tasting,
Fondue,  French-style barbecue, Picnic, Potluck, Wine tasting, also initiate a week for culture
: Le monde francophone: Week 1: France, week 2: Belgium, week 3: Senegal, etc.

 Music and Movies : Listen and/or sing (get lyrics from internet), Rent or stream movies to
watch at member's home, Make a trip to the theater

Literature : Plays: Take turns reading, Novels: Take turns reading, or copy extracts to discuss
at the next meeting, Poetry: Read or write

Presentations :  French culture,  French-speaking countries, Regions of France, Trip photos,

PowerPoint

Games :Boules, Culture and history quizzes, Twenty questions, Taboo: put a bunch of
random French words in a hat, pick one, and try to describe it while others guess what the
word is.

Parties : Bastille Day, Christmas, Halloween, Mardi Gras, Poisson d'Avril, National French
Week, visiting museums, etc.

Get together with other language clubs

There are no hard and fast rules for French club activities, but these are just some ideas to
help you get started.

Membership
 Membership should be open to any currently enrolled student, not just those
studying French.
 Ensure that only currently enrolled students are allowed to run for club offices.
 Officer positions are president, vice president, and secretary.
 To maintain order, ensure to create Bylaws