MLA Projects 2015-16

1. PENPAL AND MEETING PROJECT
Organised by Isabelle Rivard, with the help of
French teacher Mrs Shona Stables &
English teacher Mrs Nancy Bédard
East Ayrshire
Short description of tasks:
The pupils had to write a letter to a French Canadian pupil. Half of the letter was in French and half
was in English, in order to make them practice their French and make the French Canadian pupils
practice their English. The French Canadian pupils did the same. Then, the French Canadians
traveled to Scotland and met with their pupils in Glasgow on the 5th of March 2016. On that day, the
pupils visited Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis and Pollock House.
Aims and Objectives
• Writing/Reading in French
• Learning about French Canadian culture
• Realising the importance of learning another language
• Meeting a foreigner and speaking in French
Language: French
Target Pupil Group: S3-S5
Number of pupils involved: 42 Scottish pupils and 42 French Canadian pupils
Start and Finish: 25/01/16 - 09/03/16

2. Relevance to CfE capacities
This project helped students to:
- Realize the importance of Foreign Languages : They saw that it was
interesting for them to learn a new language because they could
communicate and meet with someone from another country and
make new friends.
- Become more confident in their capacities : They saw that even if their
French was not the best, the French Canadian students were also not
perfect in English. They understood that even if they made mistakes
(grammar, spelling...) they could still understand each other.
- Learn more about French Canadian culture : In their letters, the
penpals talked about their school, their subjects, their country, etc; on
both sides, each student could learn something new. In person, the
penpals talked about themselves and also about their culture and
offered gifts to each other.

3. Quotes from
learners/teachers
• "Both groups of young people had a wonderful and very special day and we hope that
they will continue to keep in touch with their “twin” and take the opportunity to practice
their French with a native speaker." (Mrs. Stables, teacher at Kilmarnock Academy.)
• " Une superbe rencontre qui leur a permis d’échanger avec de jeunes étudiants de leur
âge du Kilmarnock Academy. [A wonderful meeting that allowed the students to spend
time with pupils their own age from Kilmarnock Academy] Nul besoin de dire que
plusieurs ont déjà tissé des liens d’amitié avec leur nouvel ami! [Many have already
developed a new friendship with their penpal!]" (Mrs Bédard, teacher at École
secondaire De Rochebelle.)
• “Isabelle gave us a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends." (Alex, a 15 years old
pupil.)
• “The pen pal meeting was fun and very good to meet native French speakers.” (A 4th
year pupil.)
• “Isabelle arranged the French Canadian penpal meeting which I will always be grateful
for as I now have a new friend!” (A 4th year pupil.)
3

4. Additional details cont’d: pictures!
www.britishcouncil.org 4
The pupils and teachers in front of the Kelvingrove Museum

5. Shared Lunch Time
www.britishcouncil.org 5
The Scottish pupils brought an
extra lunch for their penpal to make
them discover Scottish food.

6. Additional details cont’d: Cathedral & Necropolis
www.britishcouncil.org 6