For two years, the Zacharie-Lafage school in Cahors has been implementing an innovative program to facilitate English learning. An early immersion approach that renews teaching methods and captivates students.
“The white ones, you stay on the ground. The orange ones, I need a captain.” The sports session for the small CP students at the Zacharie-Lafage school is intriguing. This classic ball game between two teams is conducted entirely in English. For the past two years, the downtown school in Cahors has been involved in the Emile program, which stands for Teaching a Subject Through a Foreign Language according to the education ministry.
In practical terms, CP and CE1 students receive an extra 1.5 hours per week of English practice compared to their peers. It’s not a traditional lesson from a textbook, but rather learning another subject, such as sports and music, in the language of Shakespeare. Anne Margaix, a teacher of a CM1-CM2 class, volunteered to lead the younger classes during this special time.
Having traveled extensively in England, her profile perfectly fit the Emile program. “At first, the children would say, ‘I don’t understand anything’,” she smiles. But after a few weeks, the apprehension of listening fades away. Incorporating gestures and physical movement facilitates vocabulary assimilation. Simple instructions like “Catch the ball” and “Listen to me” make the language more familiar.
Anne Margaix immediately embraced the program. “It’s very stimulating for me as well,” she says. “And for the students, it’s a great added value,” adds the school director, Patrick Cujus. This initiative contributes to the school’s identity. Every year, Emile gains more traction, with new CP students joining the program. Within five years, all classes at Zacharie-Lafage will benefit.
However, the program is still limited in Lot schools. Jean-Moulin in Pradines was a pioneer a few years ago; schools in Figeac are exploring the use of Spanish. The goal is to harmonize the development of the program across the eight departments in the academy. Karim Benmiloud, the academy’s rector in Toulouse, highlighted the importance of reinforcing language education, especially in rural areas during a visit to schools on May 7, accompanied by local officials.
Ensuring continuity with secondary education is also crucial. In Cahors, Gambetta and Clément-Marot schools offer European sections in English (and Spanish at the high school). This aligns well with Zacharie-Lafage’s area of influence, creating a seamless transition for students.
The visit from the academy’s rector in Cahors on Thursday had three main themes: language learning, music, and memory. After observing the students at Zacharie-Lafage engaging in sports and singing in English, Karim Benmiloud visited the Clément-Marot high school. Sections for Euro English and Spanish, Bachibac program, choir and orchestra concert, and a student mural on World War II – the downtown high school covers all aspects. The visit also extended to Oradour-sur-Glane, where the rector joined fifty students on the ruins of the historic village.
