Growing up as a French Immersion student is definitely a unique experience. From baking French bread in class, to taking trips to Québec and France, to watching French films when the teacher would run out of things to teach, French students have done it all.
Now that I’m in university, and everything is taught in English, I sort of miss being in French Immersion and reminisce about these past memories. Thus, here are 11 experiences and nuisances that myself and other French Immersion students would understand:
1. Playing pétanque, the most competitive sport ever
Pétanque season arrives and all of the sudden your senses are heightened, everyone’s an enemy, and you’re wearing athletic clothing for a sport that doesn’t even require much movement.
2. Going through the Le Concours D’Art Oratoire every year
This was French student storytelling and public speaking at its finest. It was also every French student’s worst nightmare, except for that one person who talks a lot and who can actually speak and write in French.
3. Listening to other people insist that their French pronunciation is correct and that you are the one pronouncing words wrong
Friend: How do you pronounce this word?
Me: L’-Ock-si-tenne.
Friend: No no, I think it’s pronounced L’-Oss-e-taine.
Me: Oh, uh… I don’t think that’s how it’s pronounced.
Friend: Yeah, I’m right!
Me: Oh, okay.
Friend: Yeah.
Me: Yup, you’re right.
Narrator: The friend was not right.
4. Seeing your friends’ expectant-looking faces staring at you when they see a French word or sentence they don’t understand
You are automatically nicknamed “Monsieur” or “Madame Translator.”
5. Feeling the honour of being a part of the annual Verbathon
Nothing says genius like being on the Verbathon team! Just kidding. We all know that nobody actually knew what they were doing. (I know this because I was on the team back in grade two.)
6. Being called French Fry back in elementary school by the English students
Don’t call me that! You… you…
7. Calling English students English Muffins
I said we were French, not mature.
8. Singing at elementary school Christmas concerts… in French
Vive le vent, vive le vent, vive le vent d’hiveeerrr! *sings with attitude*
9. Studying math, science and social studies… in French
It’s all fun and games until your teacher starts using big French words you’ve never even heard before.
10. Speaking English in class with your friends even after you’ve been reminded 100 times that you must only speak French
I’d like to take this moment to apologize to all of my elementary, middle and high school teachers because I most definitely spoke English in class. Sorry!
11. Finally getting your bilingual Dogwood diploma
Bonjour, suis-je Français yet?