By Darren Lum
Published Oct. 11 2016
The Trillium Lakelands Haliburton Chapter of Canadian Parents for French invites its members and non-members from kindergarten to Grade 12 with their parents grandparents or guardians to learn French in a fun way at their first monthly game event Jeuxdi.
Open to CPF members for free and by donation to non-members the event features an opportunity to play games such as bingo twister and hedbandz –except instead of English they are played in French. Participants will also be offered crepes and a chance to interact using any level of French language knowledge from 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at J. Douglas Hodgson Elementary School in the library on the second floor on Thursday Oct. 13.
Nancy Ballantyne president of the local CPF chapter for the past 16 years said this evening is an opportunity for students to practice their French being learned in school.
This event will show how “the kids can teach their parents. It’s a fun way … you can use French outside the class room” she said.
Jeuxdi isn’t about making participants speak French so much as encouraging the use of it in a fun and light environment. Ballantyne admits she is not fluent in French and that others like her with poor will benefit even if they only use and learn a few words.
Speaking another language she said is an important life skill that gives a person a cultural perspective whether it is Canada’s official language or not.
The event will also feature locally billeted two exchange students Antoine Larzul 15 of France and Barbara Colomb 14 of Switzerland.
Ballantyne said the two will meet with participants and serve as an example of the importance of learning another language and how it can be used to travel.
The CPF chapter is a non-profit group that was started by Mary Wilcox 16 years ago. It advocates provides French resources and offers grants for cultural experiences and opportunities.
Last year the local chapter received $500 from CPF Ontario to help with bringing Fana Soro a bilingual performer originally from French speaking Ivory Coast. He performed for students in Minden and Haliburton including a public concert.
Parents guardians and teachers are encouraged to join CPF. The organization is funded by membership dues which are $25 per year or $60 for three years and donations. Sixty-five per cent of the funds raised through the dues is spent locally for French activities entertainers and resources such as dictionaries. CPF offers a variety of online resources through its website: on.cpf.ca. This chapter supports French for everyone whether it’s the French immersion students or the core French students from Grades 4 to 8.
See more information through the local chapter’s Facebook page CPF Haliburton.
With files from the Haliburton Echo.
