6 Ways to Use Flash Cards to Boost French Immersion Students Reading

Learning to read is a long process. An individual's ability to comprehend what they read depends on their phonological awareness, knowledge of phonics, fluency, and familiarity with the words that they encounter in the text.

Our French immersion learners have one extra challenge when learning to read: the words they are trying to decode are often new. They have never heard or seen it, making fluency and comprehension very difficult to attain.

Developing vocabulary is essential when learning a second language. One way to do just that is to use vocabulary cards—Cartes éclairs, printed or digital. They can be used in many ways, from flashcards to online memory games.

Here are 6 ideas for using them in class or at home.

1. Traditional use

Les cartes éclairs can be used as flashcards in the traditional sense. Look at the picture and say the words. When the word is memorized, take the card out of the deck. Repeat daily for better retention.

2. Alphabetical Order

Organizing words carried in alphabetical order can be played individually, as a team or as a whole group where one student gets one card.

Research has shown that spaced repetition (active recall, spread out over a period of time) helps learners learn more quickly.

3. Memory Game

Arrange all cards facing down. Take turns turning two cards. Take the matching cards out. Ensure that students say or read the word on the card each time they turn a card.

4. Silly Sentences

Lay out the cards on the table. The student picks a card and makes a silly sentence using that word. This can be done orally or by writing.

5. Missing cards

Place 5 to 10 flashcards on the table, facing down. Mix the cards and take one away. Students have to find the missing card.

6. Hedbanz

This game is always a hit! The first student wears a headband. They pick a card, and without looking at it, they tuck the card behind the headband they are wearing so their teammates can see it, but they can’t. They ask yes/no questions to determine what item is on their card—e.g., “Suis-je un animal?” ”Suis-je un objet?”, “Suis-je rouge?” Using their teammates’ answers, they try to guess what item they have under their headband.

Learning can be fun!

There are so many ways to use flashcards in the classrooms or at home. As students actively engage with flashcards, they will enhance their vocabulary, improve sentence structure, and develop a deeper understanding of French.

You can find the Cartes éclairs in our store in our Étude de mots (ÉdM) section if you are an educator.

If your child is part of the MpM French reading program, you can get free sets of flashcards by asking your child’s teacher to send them to you.

Reading difficulties in French Immersion? Should you “Wait & See”?

When parents of French Immersion (FI) students realize their child is struggling to read in French, they often wonder, “Should we just wait and see? Maybe things will resolve on their own.”

The truth is, sometimes problems resolve themselves as the child progresses in their new language. In most cases, however, the difficulties worsen with time.

By waiting, you might be missing a window of opportunity. Early intervention has been shown to be the best practice for helping struggling readers.

The optimal time for intervention is as soon as the difficulties are noticed.

The prevention and reduction of reading difficulties and disabilities can be achieved through early, one-on-one interventions.

Research shows…

• By grade 1, teachers can predict which French Immersion students are at risk of developing reading difficulties.

• Most of the children at risk for reading difficulties will become successful readers if given early, individualized, explicit, and intensive interventions

• The interventions should focus on word recognition (phonemic awareness, decoding, frequent word decoding & recognition) and French language comprehension (building background knowledge, developing vocabulary, etc.)

5 Things You Can Do Now!

If your French immersion child struggles to read, it is important to act immediately.

1. Set up a meeting with your child’s teacher to discuss what difficulties they are noticing.

2. Ask to see the reading assessment and discuss the meaning of the results.

3.If a French Immersion reading specialist is available at the school, ask that your child be added to the program. It is best if they are offered at least three sessions per week to have adequate “spaced repetitions.”

4. Read to/with your child as often as you can. If you don’t speak French, read in the language spoken at home. Many literacy skills can be transferred from one language to another.

5. Think outside the school box! Reach out to a French immersion specialist outside the school system. Programs like ours are highly effective in targeting your child’s reading needs.

Do not Lose Hope

Your child will become a confident reader with the proper system in place! Do not "switch" your child to the English program; do not give up. Bilingualism is a gift. Our team of FI reading specialists is here to help. See if your child would fit into one of our programs.

Why Taking French Reading Classes during the Holidays is a Good Idea!

It would be easy to think that taking a break during the holidays would benefit your child. Slowing things down a bit and taking a short breath is actually a good thing.

However, research has demonstrated that children who do not practice academic skills over an extended period see their abilities decline. It also takes them a few days, sometimes weeks, to catch up to where they were before hitting pause.

More and more parents and teachers are seeing that dedicating a few minutes to school work each day, especially during breaks, can significantly improve academic performance.

Here are a few advantages of taking classes during the holiday period.

1. Use it or lose it!

While other students are "switching off," our students consistently review concepts and learn new skills. They use their French language skills daily and continue to progress. When it comes to second language acquisition in particular, exposure and consistency are key to success. Even when students are not in school, they can work on improving their grades by keeping knowledge "fresh" in their memory.

2. It's all about the routine

For most students, maintaining a routine is an important part of learning. Instilling discipline and maintaining a learning schedule during holidays makes it easier for students to develop and maintain good study habits.

3. Smooth transition

Students who take classes during the holidays have an easier time going back to school because they did not “switch off”. No time is wasted on returning to the swing of things and re-learning what has been forgotten. They are ready to continue right where they left, often feeling more confident and ready to take on the new semester!

4. Daytime classes

During the holidays, students often can schedule their classes during the daytime. During morning and afternoon sessions, students have more energy and are more open to learning than during classes after a long day at school.

5. It's fun!

Holiday classes are often more laidback and fun! Students develop a stronger relationship with their teacher, which, in turn, facilitates learning.

A balance between resting and continuing to progress is key to long-term academic success for French Immersion students.

Book your classes now for the holiday period to ensure your child continues progressing on their bilingual journey!