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Review of French Culture Volunteer Teaching in Spring 2025

06.09/2025 56

“Bonjour, kids!”

Review of French Culture Volunteer Teaching in Spring 2025

In the spring semester of 2025, the French culture volunteer teaching program of the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT) resumed its activities. SPEIT teachers and students visited Minhang Wujing Experimental Primary School and Shenghua Zizhu Bilingual School, delivering a series of extraordinary French culture courses to young students.

Teachers and students meticulously designed courses such as "A Day in Paris," "A Magical Night at the Louvre," and "Between Light and Shadow," covering French history, art, cuisine, music, and language knowledge. These courses opened a window to French culture for the children.

 

 

 

 

 

  Highlights

 

In the lively classroom atmosphere, the children developed a strong interest in French culture and gained unforgettable learning experiences. Now, let’s revisit these wonderful moments!

 

 

 

 

1

 

 

 

 Where is France? Where Did It Come From?

To give the children a basic understanding of France, first-year students Zhu Yixin and Hua Qiuji used captivating images and fun videos to introduce France’s geography and overview. Through interactive map games, they guided the children to identify France’s location, neighboring countries, and major cities. The kids actively participated, eagerly pointing out the Central Plains and the Seine River’s location.

In the "History of France" mini-class, student teachers used engaging stories to trace France’s development from the Gaul era to modern times. When asked, "Who are some famous French people you know?" the children enthusiastically listed figures they recognized.

Children listening attentively in class

 

French daily phrases and self-introduction lessons were particularly popular.

"Bonjour!" "Comment ça va?" The classroom echoed with the children’s earnest yet adorable French pronunciations. First-year students Jia Yizhen and Bao Chenchen used role-playing and videos to teach basic greetings in a relaxed atmosphere. During the self-introduction session, the kids eagerly chose French names and introduced themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

French Cuisine

Student teachers Zhao Xinyi, Chen Jingyi, and Yi Weihang introduced classic French foods like baguettes, macarons, and crêpes using vivid images and film clips, along with their French names. Volunteers then explained the history and process of making crêpes, and the children expressed eagerness to try making them at home.

During the table etiquette segment, volunteers demonstrated elegant French dining manners while comparing differences with Chinese customs. As the children imitated these gestures, they transformed into "young French ladies and gentlemen."

Children actively answer questions

 

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

A Day in Paris

 

First-year students Zhong Qile and Cai Xinyu led this session. Volunteers first invited the children to share their impressions of Paris, and hands shot up eagerly as they described the city from their perspectives.

 

 

Next, volunteers used quizzes to teach them about Paris’s iconic landmarks and architecture. Gasps of amazement filled the classroom as stunning images of monuments flashed across the screen!

4. Journey into French Art

 

Sophomores Chen Qian and Gu Yihong showcased photos taken at the Louvre, leaving the children in awe. Through interactive Q&A sessions centered on masterpieces like Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Mona Lisa, volunteers guided the children to speculate on the artworks’ historical contexts and creation eras. The kids participated passionately—some guessing boldly, others reasoning with prior knowledge—creating a dynamic atmosphere.

 

Volunteers also explained artistic features from ancient Greek, Roman, Renaissance, and Neoclassical periods using these works. The children shared unique interpretations and asked playful questions, all patiently answered.

 

 

 

5. Journey Through French History

 

 

Sophomores Yang Jiongling and Wang Jinbo narrated French history, starting with the question: "In medieval times, who held the most power—the Pope, the king, or knights?" This framed a broad overview of medieval societal structures. They also highlighted legendary figures like Napoleon and Joan of Arc, captivating the young audience.

Beyond historical events, volunteers painted vivid cultural scenes—from Bordeaux wines to Provence’s lavender fields—immersing the children in France’s romantic charm.

 

 

 

 

6. Journey into French Fairy Tales

 

First-year student Zhao Rong introduced The Little Prince through poetic video clips and storytelling, immersing children in its philosophical tale. They then studied French elements and vocabulary from the story, with kids diligently repeating phrases.

Next, the class explored The Adventures of Tintin, co-taught by physics teacher Delphine Delbarre, first-year Bao Chenchen, and sophomore Zhang Chengquan. They screened animations, guiding children to analyze characters and plots. Kids raised hands eagerly to share insights. Teachers also expanded on the Tintin series, sparking interest in further reading.

Delphine’s appearance thrilled the class! She greeted them warmly in Chinese, and the kids replied in French. Using Professor Calculus’ pendulum from Tintin, Delphine led a fun experiment to measure gravitational acceleration. She then explained three factors affecting it (altitude, latitude, and celestial mass) through everyday phenomena.

Volunteers provided seamless translation and patient answers, creating a vibrant interactive atmosphere! 

After class, the children lingered, chatting happily with Delphine and bidding farewell in French.

 

7. Journey into French Music and Dance

 

 

 

 


      Yang Haochen, Chen Qingyu, and Hua Qiuji introduced French music and dance culture. Starting with French vocabulary (e.g., danser, chanson), they helped kids grasp cultural roots through language. With gentle corrections, the children’s pronunciation grew fluent and accurate.

 

 

Volunteers traced French music’s evolution—from Gregorian chants and Flemish polyphony to French operetta, Impressionism, and modern styles—discussing composers like Couperin, Lully, Offenbach, and Debussy. Children shared fresh, imaginative perspectives on each style.

Finally, they taught the classic song Les Champs-Élysées. To its lively rhythm, kids mastered the lyrics while absorbing French culture’s lightness and vitality. Many volunteered to sing solo on stage!

 

 

Special Session

 

 

 

 

On May 21, SPEIT students visited Shenghua Zizhu Bilingual School for the first time, teaching French culture to third-graders. Volunteers introduced the Louvre’s "three treasures"—Mona Lisa (La Joconde), Venus de Milo (Vénus de Milo), and Winged Victory (Victoire de Samothrace)—through images and games, practicing their French names together.

During an interactive segment, children eagerly struck creative "Venus poses" and imitated the Victory’s wings, filling the room with laughter. They not only discovered world-famous art but also learned that art could be this fun!

 

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Volunteer Reflections

"It was a joy to spend such a fulfilling time with SPEIT’s volunteer team! We introduced The Little Prince and Tintin to primary schoolers. I demonstrated a simple physics experiment using Professor Calculus’ pendulum to measure gravitational acceleration and explore its influencing factors. The children were intensely focused—their curiosity and lively interactions delighted me. Special thanks to Thierry for bridging communication and to Anaïs for organizing. To all volunteers: this beautiful experience is unforgettable. May you continue sharing French culture’s magic with more children!"

— Delphine Delbarre, SPEIT

 

 

"Discussing with kids is fascinating! We must step into their world, find common ground, and communicate descriptively. Their unexpected answers require open-minded affirmation and dialogue. It’s not one-way knowledge transfer but two-way intellectual exchange—we learn to understand them better too."

— Hua Qiuji

 

"Returning to a primary school via this volunteer program felt incredibly lucky! Seeing rows of hands shooting up (a stark contrast to university lectures!) and hearing choruses of ‘Teacher!’ reignited my passion. Their focus was heartwarming. I believe we not only unlocked French cuisine’s secrets but planted seeds of curiosity. In group photos, their smiling, squinting faces filled me with pride. Education isn’t just knowledge—it’s about sparking interest and sharing joy. Cultural exchange is mutual: we brought foreign hues, but they gifted us pure, vibrant sunshine!"

— Chen Jingyi

 

"Teaching French at Wujing Experimental Primary was a brand-new experience. The kids’ passion surprised me—they raised hands eagerly and shared original thoughts. Their deep interest in French culture thrilled me. I’m glad they learned about French music and dance!"

— Yang Haochen

 

"This volunteer experience was wonderful! The kids showed huge curiosity about France. I loved sharing French history—their constant questions gave me immense fulfillment. I discovered the joy of teaching and truly shared meaningful stories with them."

— Yang Jiongling

 

"This program was a magical journey. Seeing the children’s curious eyes reminded me of the responsibility. Each topic sparked lively debates. Their whimsical yet innocent questions challenged my knowledge and showed education is two-way dialogue. Witnessing their awed smiles warmed my heart—knowledge truly has power to ignite exploration. Their pure joy strengthened my resolve to continue volunteering."

— Wang Jinbo

 

 

 

Group Photo of Volunteers and Students

 

 

 

 

Since 2016, SPEIT has partnered with primary schools near SJTU’s Minhang campus to run French culture volunteer programs. Leveraging its engineering-French bilingual strengths, SPEIT exemplifies volunteerism and social responsibility.

Through edutainment-style classes, volunteers blended language learning with cultural immersion, letting children experience France’s charm in a relaxed setting. This is not just knowledge transfer but a living practice of Sino-French exchange! The children’s boundless curiosity and expressiveness also gifted volunteers with heartwarming moments.

Moving forward, SPEIT will enrich its curriculum, using volunteer passion to deliver even more diverse and exciting cultural experiences!

Appendix: Spring 2025 Volunteer Participants

 

Jia Yizhen, Bao Chenchen, Zhu Yixin

Hua Qiuji, Chen Jingyi, Zhao Xinyi

Qiao Sining, Yi Weihang, Cai Xinyu

Zhong Qile, Li Shimeng, Zhang Chengquan

Chen Qian, Gu Yihong, Zhang Shuchang

Yang Jiongling, Wang Jinbo, Wang Mengyang

Zhao Rong, Yang Haochen, Chen Qingyu

Delphine Delbarre, Zhou Xiangyu

Yao Zhiyi, Ge Aijia

 

Thank you to all participants!