Lawless French

Francophonie Project

Long-term french class activity.

Researching a francophone region or country and writing a report or country study is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. This project is perfect as a long-term activity for intermediate and advanced students, though it can also be adapted for beginners.

Research a Francophone region or country and create a report / study.

Instructions

  • Assign a French-speaking region or country to each student, or allow them to choose from a list.
  • Pass out a list of required/optional sections, the desired length, and any other guidelines.
  • Students write up and turn in reports, with labeled sections for intermediate/advanced projects.
  • Students make a presentation on their country/region, and provide a brochure or other handout.

Customization

This project can be done by individual students, pairs, or groups.

Regions vs Countries

Teacher can choose category, such as all francophone countries , only French-speaking African countries, or regions of France .

Sections and Elements

Geography (e.g., continent, major cities, rivers/lakes, borders, maps), history, current events, imports/exports, population, languages, regional expressions, food , literature , famous people, weather, traditions, fashion, sports , technology, religion, education…

At least 6 sections.

  • Beginners: Pass out a worksheet with section titles and have students do research and fill in the blanks.
  • Intermediates: Assign sections and have students research and write up a report.
  • Advanced: Assign some sections and allow students to pick a others from a list; have them write a page or two on things like what they knew/thought about the country before they started, what they like/dislike about the region, how the region compares to their own country.

Post-presentation

  • Comparisons: One student might compare religion in the different countries/regions, while another looks at fashion and a third at food.
  • Detailed comparisons: Student compares own region with one or more of the others.
  • Summaries: Teacher could provide a set of handouts (one for each country, with section titles) for students to fill in while listening to the presentations, so that each student ends up with a sheet of salient facts on each country.
  • Francophone party: After the presentations, students could share a regional dish from each country, listen to music, discuss travels, etc.

A regional or country study is an excellent means of using French while simultaneously learning about the world of Francophonie. The reports can be put together as a sort of encyclopedia of francophone countries and regions.

This project is great for independent students too!

 Related features

  • French-speaking countries
  • Français dans le monde
  • Journée internationale de la Francophonie
  • Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie
  • Vocabulary related to French and France
  • Independent study

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Project Resources: Research Project Topic Ideas (French/Francophone)

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Project Resources: Creative Project Areas of Interest (French/Francophone) via Wikimedia Commons

IF YOU WANT TO IMMERSE YOURSELF IN FRANCOPHONE CULTURE:

  • Research some aspect of culture of a particular French-speaking country/region.
  • Research a national holiday in a French-speaking country.
  • Research a religious holiday in a French-speaking country.
  • Research a celebration in a French-speaking country (birthday, wedding, or other life-cycle celebration).
  • Research one of the regional languages spoken in France (Breton, Occitan, Provençal, Corsu, etc.) and the traditional culture of the people who speak it.
  • Research the indigenous culture of a French-speaking country (other than France).

IF YOU LIKE ART OR ARCHITECTURE:

  • Research a well-known Francophone artist.
  • Research a specific piece of art created by a Francophone artist.
  • Research a specific art form or art movement in a French-speaking country/region.
  • Research the architecture of a Francophone city.

IF YOU LIKE MUSIC:

  • Research a well-known Francophone composer.
  • Research a well-known Francophone musical group.
  • Research a specific Francophone musical genre.
  • Research a well-known piece of Francophone music (popular song, classical piece, opera, etc.)
  • Research the national anthem of a French-speaking country and the history behind it.
  • Compare/contrast the musical traditions of 2 different French-speaking countries.

IF YOU LIKE TO READ OR WRITE:

  • Research a well-known Francophone writer.
  • Research a specific Francophone literary genre.
  • Research a well-known piece of Francophone literature.
  • Research current events in a French-speaking country.
  • Research the literacy rates among French-speaking countries.

IF YOU LIKE HISTORY OR GEOGRAPHY:

  • Research the history of a specific French-speaking country/region.
  • Research a well-known Francophone historical figure.
  • Research a well-known Francophone world leader or political figure.
  • Research French/Francophone immigration in the USA.
  • Research the geography of a specific French-speaking country/region.
  • Research significant rivers, mountain ranges, or other geographical features of France or another French-speaking country.
  • Research the ways in which the geography and climate of a specific French-speaking country influence the diet of the people who live there.

IF YOU LIKE DANCE OR SPORTS:

  • Research a traditional folk dance of France or another French-speaking country.
  • Compare/contrast the traditional folk dance forms of 2 different French-speaking regions.
  • Research the Tour de France, including its history and significance.
  • Research soccer in a specific French-speaking country and the differences in the culture, importance, fan support, player attitudes, etc.
  • Research a well-known Francophone athlete.
  • Research the national team of a particular sport in a specific French-speaking country.

IF YOU LIKE FOOD:

  • Research the cheeses of France, including their cultural and anthropological significance.
  • Research the breads or pastries of France, including their cultural and anthropological significance.
  • Research the history and cultural/anthropological significance of another specific food item or dish from a specific French-speaking country/region/people.
  • Research the typical diet of a specific French-speaking country/region/people.
  • Compare/contrast the cuisine of 2 different French-speaking countries.
  • Research the wine industry in a specific region of France.

IF YOU LIKE TV OR MOVIES:

  • Research the history, background, and significance of a specific French-language TV station.
  • Research the history, background, and significance of a specific French-language TV program.
  • Research the history, background, and significance of a specific genre of French-language TV programming (news, game shows, soap operas, etc.)
  • Research a well-known Francophone TV or film star.
  • Research a well-known Francophone film director.
  • Research the film industry of a specific French-speaking country.

IF YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL:

  • Research the attractions in a specific French-speaking city/region/country (monuments, museums, nature, geography, cultural/historical sites, etc.).
  • Research the travel and tourism industry in a specific French-speaking country/region.
  • Research study abroad opportunities for your area of study in a specific French-speaking city/region/country.
  • Research job opportunities in a French-speaking country for 1 or 2 specific careers.
  • Research and explore French influences in the USA.

IF YOU LIKE SHOPPING:

  • Research the products for which a specific French-speaking country is known, including the history and significance of each product.
  • Research the French fashion industry.
  • Research a well-known French fashion designer.
  • Research the well-known department stores of France.

IF YOU HAVE NATIVE FRENCH SPEAKERS IN YOUR FAMILY / OR CLOSE FRIENDS:

  • Research your family history.
  • Research the family history of your French-speaking close friends.
  • Research the French-speaking country that your family member/close friend came from.
  • Research the historical, political, economic, religious, and/or other conditions that led your family members/close friends to emigrate.

Category: Project Resources , Resources · Tags: creative , francophone , french , ideas , interest , LEAF , project , synthesis

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francophone country research project

Due to the colonizing efforts of metropolitan France (and Belgium) over the centuries, French is spoken on five continents, however it is most prevalent in Europe and Africa. There are over 300 million French speakers in the world and about 80 million native speakers. Francophone literature spans the entire globe. Works hail from diverse countries ranging from Lebanon in the Middle East to Canada in North America, and Senégal in Africa. There are also French speakers in Oceana, Asia and South America. At present, France has territories of the French Republic such as Corsica, as well as many overseas territories and collectivities. These include the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Saint Berthélemy (known popularly as St. Barts); French Guiana (located on the northern coast of South America); Saint Pierre and Miquelon (south of Newfoundland in the Atlantic Ocean); the island of Réunion (in the Indian Ocean to the East of Madagascar); Mayotte (located in the Mozambique Channel); French Polynesia; New Caledonia (a special status island off the coast of Australia); and Wallis and Futuna (in the Pacific Ocean). Apart from these overseas territories and regions, there are many areas of the world that have fallen under French influence at some point in history—much of it unsolicited.

Both Asia and the South Pacific, for example, have experienced French rule and influence over their long histories. In Asia the history of French involvement has left a legacy of French language and culture. Known as French Indochina until its demise in 1954, the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were under colonial rule by France to varying degrees. For more book selections on this topic see French Indochina . The French presence in India in the mid-18th century was primarily a commercial venture, but also has a complicated history. For more books on this topic see India-Relations-France . In the South Pacific, French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France, includes almost 120 islands and archipelagos. French Polynesia is often controversial for a number of reasons including its use by France in nuclear trials in the mid-20th century. The French government under President Emmanuel Macron finally addressed this debt in a visit to the former territories in the summer of 2021. The island of Tahiti became famous through the paintings of French artist Paul Gauguin, who traveled there after his time in Martinique, and has been criticized for exploiting his position of power over young native women who were often models in his paintings. A manuscript by Gauguin External which contains his critiques on Western culture and the Catholic Church, as well as illustrations, was written in Tahiti towards the end of his life. The Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) has digitized a beautiful reproduction of the original illustrated text painstakingly transcribed by the eminent Gauguin scholar Elizabeth C. Childs, and Etta and Mark Steinberg. It has a full-length English translation by Stamos Metzidakis, Professor Emeritus at Washington University, St. Louis. For more book selections from the Library of Congress on these topics see French Polynesia .

This guide makes an effort to group these many diverse countries and territories into categories for research purposes only. Far from relegating them to less visible corners, it seeks to lift them out of the enormous corpus of French-language literature. Needless to say, each country and culture has its own unique and often contentious history with France and with the French language. While France has historically been the center for French-language literature, authors from various Francophone countries are shifting this spotlight. Alain Mabanckou, a well-known Congolese author, laments this separation between French literature and Francophone literature. He notes that Francophone literature “naturally calls to mind the idea of a distant literature, a literature created outside of France, most often by authors originally from the former French colonies.” For many people this is changing. Francophone literature is far from being distant or irrelevant, as shown by the sharp increase in writers from various French-speaking countries winning prestigious awards and seeing their works gain popular and critical acclaim on a global scale. Francophone literature portrays a beautiful array of perspectives and narratives, often from marginalized groups such as women and people of color. They explore concepts like adolescence, love, complex family relationships, gender, and racial identity as well as post-colonial history and theory. Many French authors who have African, Caribbean (or any non-European) heritage examine the notion of French identity in a country where their nationality is expected to erase their race. Until recently race was often lost or ignored under the idea of universalism — to the detriment of progress towards the republican ideals of libérté, egalité et fraternité. Progress is being made in the form of public debates, scholarship and recognition of the full history of France in the world. Rather than suppress the conversations that arise or fear that one story is replacing another, one may consider professor Mame-Fatou Niang's analogy of certain pages of the French history book — long glued together — are opening up for all to see, creating a complicated but more authentic story. Fortunately, in recent years, many works have become available in English translation, giving access to non-French speakers.

For purposes of findability, this guide covers the four typically recognized regions of the Francophone world: The Maghreb , Sub-Saharan Africa , the Americas & Caribbean , and Europe . This is a starting point for locating literature by authors from these regions, as well as finding general reference resources, listed below. For assistance from librarians covering French-speaking African countries, contact the specialists in the African and Middle Eastern Reading Room , and for an overview to those resources, please see the research guide, African, Jewish, and Middle Eastern Studies: Digital Resources at the Library of Congress . For the French-speaking Caribbean countries, and for French Guiana, contact librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room , part of the Latin American, Caribbean & European Division (LAC&E). The Library of Congress also published Country Studies that have been digitized covering countries from Algeria to Madagascar .

Library Resources for Francophone Studies

The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog . Links to additional digitized versions are included when available.

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Related Digital Resources on Francophone Studies

The following web-accessible resources provide access to collections of Francophone books, resources on Francophone studies, and a map showing the Francophone regions (countries where French is spoken, or is the official language).

  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF).
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Sub-saharienne External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Maghreb External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on Northern Africa (Maghreb).
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Caraïbes External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on the Caribbean.
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Europe External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on Europe.
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Amériques External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on the Americas.
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Asie/Pacifique External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on Asia and the Pacific.
  • Site d'actualité sur la francophonie et les collections francophones à la BnF: Moyen-Orient External News site on the French-speaking world and French-speaking collections at the Bibliothèque national de France (BnF) focus on the Middle East.
  • CARAF Books: Caribbean and African Literature translated from French External The CARAF Books series is designed to make available to a public of English-speaking readers the works of contemporary francophone writers in the Caribbean and Africa that have been heretofore unavailable in English. For students, scholars, and general readers, CARAF offers selected novels, short stories, plays, poetry, and essays that have attracted attention across national boundaries, offering valuable insights into a highly varied group of complex and evolving cultures.
  • Francophonie in Brief External The Francophonie refers to men and women who share a common language: French. We estimate over 300 million French speakers across five continents. The Francophonie is also an institution, dedicated since 1970 to promoting the French language and political, educational, economic and cultural cooperation among the 88 member countries of the Organisation internationale of la Francophonie (OIF) [International Organisation of La Francophonie]. The Charter of the Francophonie defines the institution; its highest authority, the Summit of the Francophonie; and its cornerstone, the Secretary General of the Francophonie, a position currently held by Louise Mushikiwabo.The OIF implements multilateral francophone cooperation projects alongside the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie [Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie] and four operating agencies: Agence universitaire de la Francophonie [Association of Francophone Universities], TV5MONDE, Association internationale des maires francophones [International Association of Francophone Mayors], and Université Senghor [Senghor University] in Alexandria.
  • French and Francophone Literature Commons External This site is part of the Digital Commons Network. It helps researchers locate digitized articles on French and Francophone Literature. It provides an interactive map which gives the location of each author and other relevant information for conducting research.
  • French Literature from Africa External This large-scale scholarly enterprise gathers together all the French-speaking literature from sub-Saharan Africa it was possible to collect: oral and written literature from the origins (end of the 18th century) to Independence (1960, as date of authors’ death). The written literature gathered comes either from works benefiting from a wide distribution or from publications with a local or temporary distribution and kept on short-lived media (press, periodicals, parish bulletins, pamphlets, etc.). The oral literature was collected by monks, civil servants, soldiers, French, foreign or local academics. It was edited on various media as different as a report from a commanding office or a collective work assembled by a Parisian publisher. We also often find this oral literature in dictionaries, grammars, or in early 19th century teaching methods of African languages. Educational works are treasure-stores for the keeping of the most ancient cultural heritage, both popular and scholarly. They also have the extreme advantage of being bilingual. That is why a bilingual version is given for every French text that has a counterpart in an African language. In all, this exhaustive corpus of more than 11 000 texts covers the whole of sub-Saharan francophone Africa, that is some twenty countries and more than a hundred ethnic groups and brings together the most diverse genres of this literature which has yet to be discovered and studied (novels, tales, short stories, narrative accounts, theatre, poetry, myths, legends, fables, proverbs, riddles, songs). Built up from a vast bibliographical research, followed by the collection and edition of the texts, the Corpus is both a scholarly database and a precious collection of Africa's cultural heritage.
  • Le roman africain: Novels of North and French West Africa External The title of this list suggests a niche, but the massive square mileage occupied by the former French colonies in Africa, the number of French nationals who moved there, the subsequent, post-colonial emigration to France, and the indelible mark of the French language on African society are unavoidable. The titles represented here have been translated into English—itself, in an anglo-centric kind of way, an indication of this literature's significance—rendering linguistic comparisons between these diverse authors more or less moot. Nonetheless, they share an elusive and often fraught cultural ancestry that, taken as a whole, constitute a fascinating canon.
  • Map of La Francophonie External This is a map of "la francophonie" the countries where French is spoken or is at least one of the official languages.
  • Salon du livre africain de Paris External This salon is intended to be an annual meeting that will take place over a series of three days in September in Paris for the discussion of African literature in all languages. Publishers and authors will be present for book signings and presentations.
  • Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies External Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies (SFPS) is an international organization which promotes, facilitates and otherwise supports the work of all scholars and researchers working in colonial/postcolonial studies in the French-speaking world.

francophone country research project

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Materials in Stacks are described and managed through other metadata systems, primarily the Library of Congress Online Catalog.

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The following titles link to fuller bibliographic information in the Library of Congress Online Catalog  and a link for viewing the digitized version of each item onsite at the Library of Congress.

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French and Francophone Studies: Research guide: Francophonie

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Francophone countries

The L'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie Map of French Linguistic Zones

Francophone Africa (online): Current Events

  • Afrik.com This Paris-based website, created by black African and Maghreb-based journalists, is available in both English and French. Afrik.com is an Afrocentric news website covering current events, culture, and economics, especially focusing on Francophone Africa.

Francophone Africa: Research Tools for Culture, History, Linguistics, Literature, and Politics

  • Africa Research Central A gateway to archives, libraries, and museums with important collections of African primary sources. The searchable database can be browsed by country, type of repository, and type of primary source. The website was founded in 1998 by Dr. Susan Tschabrun, Coordinator of Library Instruction at California State University, Fullerton and Dr. Kathryn Green, who is currently doing research in Africa related to archives and museums.

francophone country research project

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francophone country research project

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Professional development, 10 ways to teach about francophone countries.

Blog header image. The text reads '10 ways to teach about Francophone countries and cultures'. The header contains 4 small photos. 1 of a small street in Senegal, a photo of a church in Martinique, traditional food from Cameroon and a residential street in Vanuatu with lush rainforest in the background.

Teaching about Francophone countries is arguably one of the most important aspects of teaching French. Today I am going to be sharing with you all of the ways in which I teach about Francophone countries & Francophone cultures in my own classroom! I have the problem of actually having way too many ideas than I have time with my students to do them all!

Before you scroll – don’t forget to grab your freebie!

Why should we teach about francophone countries.

It’s pretty simple actually. Francophone countries should be the “meat and potatoes” of French class. You may be wondering why and it’s pretty simple :

Francophone countries and cultures make French class interesting and meaningful

A language does not exist in a vacuum. As a matter of fact, a language is intricately connected to culture as culture is connected to language.

It is not fun to learn grammar and vocabulary solely and to never learn of the people, values, cultures, traditions and practices associated with that language.

Every year, my students comment that their favourite learning opportunities in class were ones where they learned about the people who speak French.

The people and countries who speak French are diverse and not showcasing this diversity is whitewashing

I know – my words sound strong. However, we are not doing the language and the people justice if we only ever represent white francophones.

First of all, places like France, Quebec, Belgium, Switzerland are also incredibly diverse. On the other hand, African French-speaking countries also deserve to explored and discovered in French class. Then there’s also the French Antilles and the resilient cultures and people that live there.

How should we teach about francophone countries?

Avoid tokenizing francophone countries and cultures.

What does this mean? Well, it means that francophone cultures and countries are incredibly unique. Therefore, no one “resource” or “unit” can cover the complete uniqueness, complexity and diversity of the francophone world.

Ideally, every single one of our units and lessons should be sprinkled with francophone cultures.

Be conscious of the colonial nature of our work

Francophone cultures and countries should be studied for their diversity and uniqueness, and not solely because “they speak French”.

Remember that the French language and French Empire were incredibly violent and destructive to the people and cultures who now speak the language. When we are teaching French, we should try to avoid the perspective that the French language is inherently superior.

“But there are no diverse French resources”

Before we get on to my 12 ideas for teaching about la francophonie , I want to quickly address this statement I often hear from French teachers.

It is not true! There are actually so many incredible resources that exist out there. It is just a matter of finding these resources.

1. Manie musicale & French music in general

One of my favourite ways to “sprinkle in” culture is through French music! First of all, Manie Musicale was not my idea. It was actually the original idea of two French teachers who have generously created resources based on the activity. They also have an awesome Facebook group you can join.

Chanson de la semaine

The premise is simple. Each week I introduce my students to two new French songs. These French music videos always featured artists from diverse backgrounds. In addition, I also try to choose songs on topics that make my students think critically and creatively about the world around them.

I have a YouTube playlist with all of my favourite songs if you’d like to check them out!

Additionally, music in general is such a fantastic way to analyze different cultures.

Radio.garden is an international radio station where you can tune into radio stations from around the world. Last week we listened to the radio in Guadeloupe and Senegal and compared accents and musical preferences in comparison to our own! Each green dot on the map represents a radio station you can listen to!

There are actually so many ways to teach with French music. I have a whole blog post dedicated to ideas and resources. You can also find a blog post with some of my favourite diverse singers.

Screenshot of the website Radio.garden. the screenshot shows a paused radio station in Guadeloupe.

2. Francophone countries map assignment

One of the very first assignments my High School French students do is a map assignment. I am a millennial teacher who did tons of map assignments in my History undergrad. Contrary to popular beliefs, I actually learned so much from them!

Pick 30-40 francophone places around the world and have your students colour in these places on a map. I also have my students label them in French. Here is a website with free black and white map printables if you need one!

3. Francophone countries flag assignment

This is one of the assignments my students do in the beginning of their studies. They research one francophone location around the world and create these lovely flags with all of the information they find.

francophone country research project

4. Francophone countries game – can you place the country on the map?

francophone country research project

I LOVE playing this game with my students. It’s so simple. I divide my class into two groups and have 1 member of each group come up to the front.

Next, I project a map of the world on my whiteboard. Above this map, I list the name of a francophone country in French.

Both members have to run up to the board and circle where on the map they believe that country is located.

Team members are allowed to vocally help their teammate. This game is so fun because students learn a lot about how much they actually know the world map and where countries are located!

My students always beg me to keep going once the game ends. That’s how much they love it!

5.Teaching about the French Antilles via Compagnie Créole

I spend weeks in French 9 teaching all about the French Antilles. It is actually one of my favourite things to teach about.

La Compagnie Créole is a very famous Zouk band from the French Antilles. La Compagnie Créole was very famous all around the francophone world in the 1980s. I take three of their songs and have my French classes analyze them to the T. We analyze :

  • Le bal masqué
  • Ça fait rire les oiseaux
  • Au mariage de ma femme

To begin, we analyze the meaning of the lyrics. These lyrics are honestly so fun, especially the last song, and my students find them super entertaining!

Next, we do what we can as a class to understand the significance of the lyrics. We ask ourselves the following questions :

  • what do the lyrics say about what is important to the people of the French Antilles?
  • why are the people dressing up for Bal masqué? Why is that important?

6. Teaching about Francophone countries via films

Using French films in your classroom is one way to have incredibly meaningful discussions. Here are some of my favourite French films for French class :

Monsieur Lazhar

Monsieur Lazhar is a Québecois film about the story of an Algerian refugee. This French movie was really popular several years ago and for good reason!

TW : suicide

Le sac de billes

Le sac de billes is a French film about a Jewish family in Paris during WWII. We watch this French movie in my Intermediate French class and my students love it!

Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard is an awesome French movie on the life of the greatest hockey player of all time, Maurice Richard.

Kuessipan is a book written by Innu author Naomi Kuessipan. It was turned into a film and released in 2020. It was one that I have not watched, however, I have read the book and it was one of my favourites of 2020!

7. Francophone celebrations and traditions

Another way to teach about francophone cultures is through francophone celebrations and traditions! I don’t just mean the usual (e.g. Christmas, Mardi Gras, etc.). There are so many unique and beautiful francophone celebrations that deserve more love!

If you are looking for a resource, I have one that is prep-free and ready to go in my TPT .

A Core French Project. Text reads ' francophone celebrations and traditions'. Photo of a student project on Mardi Gras.

8. Teaching about racism, identity, and Verlan in France

This next idea has one of my most successful unit ideas. In my intermediate French class, I teach about verlan, youth identities, and systemic racism.

It may feel as though this is a heavy unit, however, my students told me that it was the most meaningful thing they have learned the whole school year!

So many of my students who had previously never loved French and/or were never engaged in projects completed their final project EARLY AT HOME BY CHOICE . TEACHERS (sorry for yelling) — you know exactly how much of a win that is!!

I actually have a whole blog post dedicated to this unit. In this blog post I share the template for the one-pager final project, videos, podcasts and articles I used with my intermediate French students .

francophone country research project

9. Introducing interesting topics and themes via reading comprehension articles

francophone country research project

Another way we explore francophone countries & francophone cultures is via interesting French reading comprehension articles.

First off, my reading comprehension activities are well-structured with pre-reading & post-reading activities. These strategies actually repeat in all of my comprehension resources.

This enables our students to practice these reading comprehension strategies over and over again. It has made a HUGE difference in my students’ reading comprehension skills!

Examples of engaging reading comprehension topics :

  • Le petit-déjeuner, plats typiques et desserts francophones
  • Francophone places around the world
  • Seasonal Francophone readings (Halloween, Noël, Mardi Gras)
  • Francophone cul tural topics
  • Fêtes culturelles et religieuses – Vaisakhi, Ramadan, Nouvel an lunaire, etc
  • Fêtes francophones
  • Monuments francophones
  • Colonial injustices with lasting legacies

10. French videos, short films and documentaries on la francophonie

Lastly, I love using French videos, short films and documentaries to showcase complex identities and perspectives. I have shared some of my favourite French video recommendations on Instagram and I am leaving them below for you!

francophone country research project

11. Do a unit study on a specific Francophone country

Focusing one specific Francophone country is such a great way to expand students’ understanding of the Francophone world in all of it’s complexities.

Once they graduate, they will forget how to conjugate verbs or explain the difference between être and avoir. However, they will never forget about tagine or Léopold Senghor!

francophone country research project

  • Read more about: Francophone Cultures , Ideas & Inspiration , Representation & Diversity

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US Francophone Country Research: Home

Research guidelines.

1) Search the databases and websites linked below for your Francophone country.

2) When using a search engine to find additional sources, be critical of the sources you find. 

Use the ABCs of website evaluation to determine if the source is credible:

A = Authority    Who is the author or which organization created the website?

B = Bias     Is the website biased by its creator's purpose or mission? What can you tell about the purpose of the site based on the domain name (.com, .edu, .gov, .org)?

C = Current Content     Was the content created recently enough for your research needs?

3) Create MLA citations in NoodleTools . Use your RPCS email to log in. Once you have added your sources, you can export them to add them to your project.

Helpful Databases

  • Explora Secondary Schools This link opens in a new window Designed specifically for middle and high school students, this database provides access to popular full-text magazines, books, images, and journals for middle and high school research. Username: roland Password: ParkCS2023!

WorldBook online

  • World History: The Modern Era This link opens in a new window World History: The Modern Era (covering history from the Renaissance to today) is the latest update of the reference standard of electronic history reference materials for high school and high-level middle school coursework. Username: rolandstudent Password: student
  • World History in Context This link opens in a new window Gale World History in Context reaches back to the ancient world — and forward to today's headlines — to deliver a chronicle of the great cultures and societies that have formed the history of the human race. Rare primary sources, reliable reference, and multi-media content put this vast topic into context for students. Username: balt23720 Password:balt23720

Relevant Websites

  • Africultures The website for the print journal of the same name, Africultures covers the arts, cinema, literature, music, theater, and other cultural topics for many African countries and other countries in the world, but focuses mainly on Francophone Africa.
  • Afrique Francophone A website produced by Lehman College, CUNY with a plethora of links to Francophone Africa (as well as other Africana) resources.
  • CIA World Factbook: Countries List
  • Qui Parle Français dans le Monde? This website was created by Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie and Laval University in Québec.
  • Last Updated: Aug 29, 2023 9:07 AM
  • URL: https://rpcs.libguides.com/FCR
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Intro to Francophone countries+ research project

Intro to Francophone countries+ research project

Subject: French

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

rosaespanola

Last updated

29 April 2014

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Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

Very useful introduction to French speaking countries. Thank you for your hard work.

Just what I wanted for last term to occupy those who won't be taking French GCSE! Merci :)

Looking forward to using this . Thank you.

Rubyjayneelizabeth

Merci. This will be very useful:)

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French Speaking Countries Project Activity

French Speaking Countries Project

How much do your learners know about Francophone countries? Invite pupils to research different countries and teach one another about the different regions though a brochure and presentation. French language learners can work together or with a partner to research a  country, put together a brochure with images and words, and present the information to the whole class. Useful materials are included.

Additional Tags

  • Comes with a rubric, research worksheet with guiding questions, checklist, list of Francophone countries, and list of specific requirements for the brochure
  • Does mention a specific school name a few times; edit the Word document so that is reflects your school name and information

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COMMENTS

  1. Francophonie Project

    This project is perfect as a long-term activity for intermediate and advanced students, though it can also be adapted for beginners. Project. Research a Francophone region or country and create a report / study. Instructions. Assign a French-speaking region or country to each student, or allow them to choose from a list.

  2. Teaching about the Francophone world: Francophonie Unit Ideas

    research and describe a Francophone country or region for their flag project Activity 1 : start your Francophonie unit talking about WHY French is spoken around the world This two-page reading comprehension article is designed to teach your students about the history of the Francophone world.

  3. Project Resources: Research Project Topic Ideas (French/Francophone)

    Research a specific Francophone musical genre. Research a well-known piece of Francophone music (popular song, classical piece, opera, etc.) Research the national anthem of a French-speaking country and the history behind it. Compare/contrast the musical traditions of 2 different French-speaking countries. ….

  4. Francophone Country Research Project by Madame Copp

    Students will conduct research on assigned French speaking country. Final product consists of a paper and a presentation. Excellent cultural activity. Materials included: *Assignment instructions *Essay structure directions *Writing practice *Essay rubric *Sample exemplar paper *List of francophon...

  5. French countries research project les pays francophones

    This French countries research project (les pays francophones) is designed for French language learners in grades 4-8. Your students will perform in-depth research on one country in which French is an official language. Students will become more aware of the prominence of the French language throughout the world, and the customs, geography and ...

  6. Francophone Studies

    For assistance from librarians covering French-speaking African countries, contact the specialists in the African and Middle Eastern Reading Room, and for an overview to those resources, please see the research guide, African, Jewish, and Middle Eastern Studies: Digital Resources at the Library of Congress.

  7. French Country Research Project Teaching Resources

    The French Nook. 4.8. (24) $4.00. PDF. This French countries research project (les pays francophones) is designed for French language learners in grades 4-8. Your students will perform in-depth research on one country in which French is an official language.Students will become more aware of the prominence of the French language throughout the ...

  8. French and Francophone Studies: Research guide: Francophonie

    Afrobarometer, a research project that can be traced back to 1993, is funded by the Center for Democratic Development (Ghana), the Institute for Democracy in South Africa, and the Institute for Empirical Research in Political Economy (Benin). ... Francophone Africa countries included are Benin, Burkina-Faso, Cape Verde, Madagascar, Mali, and ...

  9. 10 ways to teach about Francophone countries

    5.Teaching about the French Antilles via Compagnie Créole. I spend weeks in French 9 teaching all about the French Antilles. It is actually one of my favourite things to teach about. La Compagnie Créole is a very famous Zouk band from the French Antilles. La Compagnie Créole was very famous all around the francophone world in the 1980s.

  10. PDF French speaking country or region RESEARCH PROJECT

    Research online and produce either a PowerPoint or poster on your findings You can use any of the below points for guidance & remember to include pictures). Produce a summary A4 mini poster on a French or Spanish speaking country in the world, which must include the following elements amongst others: Map, with location in the world. Population.

  11. Francophone countries research project

    Francophone countries research project. Subject: French. Age range: 11-14. Resource type: Worksheet/Activity. File previews. docx, 31.61 KB. doc, 45.5 KB. My Y8s did a project on Francophone countries - they each had a different one and had to find out about it and make a powerpoint to present to the rest of the class.

  12. La Francophonie Project Booklet

    La Francophonie Project Booklet. Subject: French. Age range: 11-14. Resource type: Worksheet/Activity. File previews. docx, 235.42 KB. To help engage students to study about French speaking countries, to set up a research project. Accompanies LNortcliffe's powerpoint on The Congo (see Francophonie PROJECT) and compiles info in one place for ...

  13. French Speaking Country Research Project Teaching Resources

    French with Elise. This research project (ALL IN FRENCH) will introduce your students to 10 iconic dishes from different French-speaking countries/territories. This is a great activity when studying la Francophonie. These printables are suitable for French Immersion and Core French students.

  14. About

    An independent chapter of a world-wide organization, our Alliance Française is the 6th largest in the United States. AFMSP plays a pivotal role in representing the global diversity of the French-speaking world in the Twin Cities and Rochester. Regardless of your language proficiency, nationality or background, everyone is always welcome.

  15. Institut français des relations internationales

    Overview. Ifri was established in 1979 by Thierry de Montbrial, who was inspired by the American model of research institutions. Ifri aims at gathering decision-makers and researchers to develop research and debate on major contemporary international issues. In 2011, for the fourth consecutive year, Ifri was the only French based research ...

  16. LibGuides: US Francophone Country Research: Home

    US Francophone Country Research: Home. Research Guidelines. 1) Search the databases and websites linked below for your Francophone country. ... Once you have added your sources, you can export them to add them to your project. Helpful Databases. Explora Secondary Schools This link opens in a new window. Designed specifically for middle and high ...

  17. Intro to Francophone countries+ research project

    Subject: French. Age range: 11-14. Resource type: Worksheet/Activity. File previews. ppt, 474 KB. Explanation of Francophone countries all over the world, plus instructions for a research project to find out about them. Creative Commons "Sharealike". See more. Report this resource to let us know if it violates our terms and conditions.

  18. French Speaking Countries Project

    This French Speaking Countries Project Activity is suitable for 6th - 12th Grade. How much do your learners know about Francophone countries? Invite pupils to research different countries and teach one another about the different regions though a brochure and presentation. French language learners can work together or with a partner to research a country, put together a brochure with images ...

  19. Francophone Countries Research Project Teaching Resources

    Browse francophone countries research project resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.

  20. India and Francophone Africa: Challenges and Opportunities

    India & Francophone countries. Francophone Africa, in contrast, had become a sort of "blind spot "in India's African policy, in the words of analyst C. Raja Mohan, in the initial years of independence due to language barrier and lack of traditional contacts. ... setting up of pilot projects and research centres in agricultural ...

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    A battle for influence. The wave of anger against the French in its former colonies in Africa presents an opportunity for Russia as it seeks to extend its influence across the continent, said Remi ...

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