About the Course
What exactly is an NBC? It is an opportunity to renew and/or practice your French from high school/college class learning. Our NBCs are not for introducing you to French. Participants will need a basic knowledge of all high frequency verbs--have, be, go, take, want, need, be able, see, there is/are, like--as used in the present and past tenses. For each session of 25-35 minutes your advance prep is to ensure that you comprehend one brief assigned reading from a magazine Bien-dire (you subscribe) or that Jeanette shares in pdf format. The readings will be shared with you after your payment has been received. Be sure to email me the dates/times you hope to attend. I will also share links to optional videos that enhance the readings for each NBC. Some of the readings will be conversations.
Our goals? Immerse ourselves in French frequently by connecting, conversing, reading. These mini sessions help us refresh our love of français. One assigned reading for each mini-session helps participants focus on a given target vocabulary. Topics address “likely to happen in France or Quebec” situations.
TERM: September 11-November27, 2023
Your subscription guarantees 12-weekly 25-35 minute sessions between September-December
Miss a session? You earn a credit for make-up sessions that will be offered in December
JANUARY | Let's be Detectives!
NEW: Our many songs about winter clothing items, cold weather words, snacks, and body part names introduce us to Spanish. Playing copycats shows us how imitating each other’s actions helps us play and learn Spanish. Picture clues in mini poems and stories introduce us to names for a few months and recycle other vocabulary we learn. Good detectives listen, watch and participate during our lessons.
FEBRUARY | Monsters are Lovable!
NEW: Señor Cocodrilo, our friend, introduces us to some colors (blue, black, red, yellow, orange, green, pink, white). We learn words for our feelings and Valentine’s Day.
REVIEW: We add March, October to our list of months & review and recycle vocabulary from January.
MARCH | I Like Snowmen!
NEW: Let’s talk about our friends, the Snowmen, at different times of the year. Spanish detectives pay attention to gestures and sign language to help learn new words and practice ones we have been hearing. Our games incorporate this learning as well. Actions and friends are the focus of this month’s stories.
REVIEW: We will do a review and recycling of January and February’s vocabulary in the review portion of the class.
APRIL | Counting in the Desert!
NEW: Counting desert cactuses in our desert stories helps us know the numbers from 1-10 in and out of order. As we read about the desert, we will become familiar with some desert animals.
REVIEW: We will review and recycle previously talked about colors, weather phrases, months, colors, feelings, body parts.
MAY | Desert Sights and Sounds!
NEW: As we continue to visit the desert, we learn about its weather during the day and night, the sounds of the animals, and its plants.
REVIEW: A review and recycling of previously introduced vocabulary will help us compare the desert and the outdoor spaces near our homes.
Your Instructor
Jeanette Borich
Mrs. Borich's has taught French, Spanish, and ESL to middle and high school students as well as adults - spanning a career of 40+ years. That includes 14+ years of experience teaching Spanish and French for children both remotely with ages 4-6 and inside public and private schools at the K-2 grade levels. Her bachelor's degree is from South Dakota State University in Spanish and French, and she holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Iowa State University as well as a certificate in the teaching of reading. Second language learning and teaching and traveling with family are her passions. She is also a Student Teacher Supervisor for Iowa State preservice education students. She looks forward to sharing her love of language and culture with your young and older participants as well.