French staff meeting

[Jane]

Hi all, I'm looking for advice again. As a student nearing the end of my GTP course, I am going to hold a staff meeting on teaching French. It is this Thursday, and I have loads of notes and a handout of 9 pages long so far, and I am a little concerned about what I really need to say. I am at an Infant school, so obviously that influences our MFL teaching, and the staff don't want me to make them play games! Has anyone run a MFL staff meeting before? Do you have any ideas about what I can tell people which is helpful and useful without being too time consuming? I thought about sharing websites, basic classroom language, simple songs, games to play with the children and also discussing the MFL policy, which I am writing.
Thank you!

[Jane]

Thank you Jo! It wasn't too bad in the end. I did what you said, and went for a couple of simple ideas to get people started. No feedback on the policy yet, though!

[Jo Rhys-Jones]

I think what you've got sounds greast - it's easy to get carried away and over-prepare so do not panic. I'd go for a hearts and minds approach if they saythey do not want to play games. As in this is why we are thinking about language learning and this is the benefit for you and your chilcren. ie. The hugre knock on effect in attainment in every subject, the concentration on building listening and communication skills which will show in every area of the curriculum, etc.
Also people who say they do not want to be made to play games are telling you they are TERRIFIED and may well have hideous memories (scars even) of being embarrassed in front of their ownb language classes as children. So concentrate on making a safe classroom techniques - speaking aloud in chorus and in pairs/groups but not in front of the class, opportunities to make safe guesses at words where if the guess is wrong it could be because the answer is wrong not the language (eg what animals do you think I have in this bag? Can you guess in French?) and lots of praise. Playing a song or video and everyone joins in with an action but explain first WHY the action is crucial to learning - ie connecting both sides of the brain, memorisation techniques, language learning strategies.
And go for baby steps. Somethng tiny and easy they can try out or suggest they choose just one idea and come back in a few weeks to say how they got on. eg play a game in PE but with the colours in French. Or do the register and say 'bonjour'. Or put a map of the world on the wall and children circle where they have been.

Love the idea of discussing the policy as it involves the staff and makes it more in their interests to participate, but give them some starter ideas / facts and figures if possible. Also you could show them this from teachers tv http://ttrb.ac.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?Keyword=Modern+Languages&SearchOption=Phrase&SearchType=Keyword&RefineExpand=1&ContentId=13556