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Exploring Poetry, Deepening Engagement
In Grade 8 French, students moved beyond memorization, using literature as a lens for language mastery. Diving into Jacques Prévert’s iconic poem, Déjeuner du matin, they sharpened their linguistic skills while gaining insights into French culture and history.
Poetry offers a unique package: it is short and compelling, yet rich with the grammar and vocabulary essential for Middle School learners. To analyze the text, students engaged in a range of activities that developed their reading, writing, listening, visual and critical thinking skills. After reading the poem, they identified verbs and completed activities to refine their understanding of grammatical concepts like passé composé. They then watched a film version in order to match physical actions to key vocabulary.
The poem also offered the opportunity to examine themes of gender and post-World War II alienation, and consider the importance of literature and film in French culture. In a final reflection, students crafted a persuasive answer to a question about the narrator’s emotional state at the end of the poem, with clear examples to support their thinking.
By applying a critical literary lens to a simple breakfast scene, students connected basic grammar to historical and cultural themes, giving real meaning to their language lessons.
