Learn French via theatre

and improvisation!

Learn French via theatre and improvisation!

The Happy French theatre workshop allows your children to flourish, all while learning to speak French in an enjoyable way.

In a cheerful setting where having fun is one of the main objectives, we will guide your children through their French language learning process, in a way that ensures that they have fun putting into practise what they’re learning as they go along.

The Happy French theatre workshop is a real theatre class where the body, the voice, expressions and attitudes are put to the test. The aim of the exercises is to improve the level of French language, the accent and most importantly its casual use, because learning to speak French via recreational activities makes the whole process a lot more fun, without the fear of being judged or making mistakes.

Tailor-made workshops

The workshops are progressive and follow the child’s evolution, whether it’s on a personal level or a linguistic one. The workshops in small groups allow close attention and customized solutions to the needs and demands of each child.

Participants: from 4 children
Open to all : from 4 to 11 years old
Length: 2h

Course of the theatre workshops

1. Warming up

Getting your body in motion: Release the day’s tensions, getting them out of your system, feeling aware of each part of your body, warming up your voice
Relaxation: Take the time to breathe so your attention is optimal
Concentrate: Learn to be attentive and to be in the present moment

2. Exercises

The exercises used during our workshops are constantly renewed and updated, and of course, they’re fun. For example, our mime activities allow the child to work on being at ease with their body, to develop their imagination, and to feel more comfortable with the way other people see them. As for linguistics, we study vocabulary by learning to name the mimed objects and situations.
Our work on speech allows accents to be perfected, as well as the way the French language is pronounced, along with its rhythm.
Our creativity and situation simulation exercises develop the child’s imagination and vocabulary thanks to interactions with other children and the instructor.
Our theatre games allow children to feel at ease in everyday situations, like asking a question in class, expressing a need or a feeling, or simply knowing how to order frogs legs in a restaurant!

3. Reminder of the linguistic notions learned during the workshop

At the end of each workshop, we go over the new vocabulary that was included in the latest workshop, to make sure it’s been easily assimilated.
The new vocabulary is graded by the instructor and sent via e-mail after the workshops.
This part of the process is also the time when the children can interact; they are free to express themselves, to ask questions or make their feelings known.

4. Relaxation

Each workshop ends with a short relaxation session to work on breathing and to calm the child down.

What is improvisation?

It’s a sort of spontaneous theatre that doesn’t follow a script, uses no costumes, no accessories or backdrops, and where everything needs to be created in the moment. To do so, you have to be open, take initiatives, be imaginative, and interact with others to create a story, all the while respecting rules, constraints, and above all, the other participants. Whether it’s creating a story, a character or an emotion, improvisation is both an exercise and a game.

Why practise improvisation?

First of all because it’s an artistic, cultural and often physical activity. It’s an activity that allows imagination and creativity to flourish via the creation of a story, characters or outrageous situations. And besides that, it’s always a fun exercise. Improvisation brings its participants together, stimulating activity; a personal development tool that instills expression, communication and social competencies.

What is theatre?

Theatre, in contrast to improvisation, consists of using scripts as means to play with. It’s the art of playing at life, expressing the most trivial everyday feelings, alongside the deepest and subtlest ones. It pushes you to search inside yourself to find the necessary resources to express your existence. It’s playing at showing fear, anger, joy, sadness and all the emotions we tend to keep bottled up. It’s a space where the body is free to express itself, far from society’s current conventions. It’s letting go, unafraid of being yourself or someone else. It’s learning a script and making it yours, but also modifying and fine-tuning the character.

Why practice theatre?

Because it’s above all a pleasurable experience that brings together body and feelings. It’s an activity that allows for personal growth, to find self-confidence, and to learn to tame your feelings and your body. It’s also a good tool to help people become assertive and self-assured, to laugh and have fun as a group, escaping the daily grind.