“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!
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.
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
A Day in Paris
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.
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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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!