“I focus on what my participants actually need”
Tailor-made French lessons
When learning a new language, participants usually follow a fixed program. But sometimes it works better the other way around: adapting the program to the participants. That’s exactly what Crescendo CVO did, developing a French course tailored to the needs of the von Karman Institute.
This research centre in Sint-Genesius-Rode specialises, among other things, in fluid dynamics. Engineers and PhD students from all over the world collaborate there on research projects.
“Learning French helps them both at work and in everyday life. It allows them to settle in more quickly and get more out of their stay in Belgium,” says Valérie Nyssens, French teacher at Crescendo CVO.
Less theory, more real-life practice
“The levels vary widely: some already have a solid foundation; others are starting almost from scratch. As a teacher, you constantly have to adapt.”
“I focus on what they actually need to function well: understanding a colleague, talking to a technician, asking for something in a shop, communicating with a landlord. In short, everything you need to manage daily life.”
“The classes take place at their workplace from 5.30 to 7.30 pm. After a full workday, it sometimes takes a moment to switch gears. Participants can arrive tired, which is only natural. But they’re also highly motivated: no one is obliged to attend. They come after work because they want to and for me, as a teacher, that makes all the difference.”
Films, music and games really work
“I use a lot of variety to keep their attention. For example, I work with film clips. With The Intouchables, we focused on job interviews: How do you introduce yourself? What attitude do you adopt? As soon as you show a real-life example, it becomes much more practical. People react spontaneously and the discussion flows naturally.”
“Music works just as well. For the present conditional, I use Si j’étais un homme by Diane Tell, and for the past conditional, C’est dommage by Bigflo et Oli. Some participants even go on to explore more songs on their own afterwards. That’s when you know it sticks.”
“For grammar, I often use games. With a board game, they practice conjugations without it feeling like a chore. For vocabulary about professions, I have them act things out. It’s fun and sometimes we lose track of time. When you’re actively involved and enjoying it, you remember things better.”
French in class and especially beyond
“You really see the participants grow. At first, they struggled to find words and hesitated to speak. Now it’s much more natural. They speak up spontaneously and aren’t afraid to make mistakes. They also use French more often outside the classroom. To me, that’s the clearest sign that it works.”