While older students who are learning how to speak French may be easily taught through involved activities and games, kids may benefit more if you teach them French through songs. This is because songs help improve one’s speaking and listening skills. Not only that, but they can also retain information more effectively through singing. But, just like teaching any new language, there are special considerations that you should remember, especially if you’re going to teach young children. That is why in this article, we’ve put together the best songs for teaching children the French language.
“Frère Jacques” (“Are You Sleeping?”)
This song is one of the most famous French songs, and it is one slick way to introduce not only the French language but also the French culture to your students. They may be familiar with the melody of this song because it is also used in a lot of modern nursery rhymes and education songs. This song is easy to remember because the first and second verses are the same, and it is sung around. “Frère Jacques” (“Are You Sleeping?”) is about a friar who overslept, and he is asked to wake up the matins for their midnight or early morning prayers.
“Nous n’irons plus au bois” (“We’ll Go to the Woods No More”)
This is an incredibly catchy and historic song that will surely bring your students closer to French culture. “Nous n’irons plus au bois” (“We’ll Go to the Woods No More”) was written by Madame de Pompadour in 1753, and it was dedicated to the children of the village of Evreux. This song has a joyous melody and lyrics that keep to the spirit of freedom. This is the perfect song if you’re teaching your students the negation and the present participle in the French language. This is because the sentences in the song are kept simple and have many words that describe nature, such as flowers, trees, and animals.
“Une souris verte” (“A Green Mouse”)
This song was written in the 18th century, and it is a popular song throughout the French-speaking world. There are several variations of the song, but its first verse remained unchanged throughout the years. “Une souris verte” (“A Green Mouse”) is a song about catching a green mouse then dipping it in oil and water to turn it into a hot snail. If you think that this is not the kind of song you want to teach your students, then do not worry because the origins of the songs are still uncertain, and most people believe that it isn’t as brutal as it may seem. Experts believe that this song may have been inspired by the 15-century British song entitled “Three Blind Mice” This is a great song to help you teach kids about present, imperative, and imperfect tenses. Not only that, but this song also alternates between dialogue and reported speech that can help guide your students about setting solid grammar foundations.
“Au Clair de la lune” (“By the Light of the Moon”)
This is a famous lullaby that was also written during the 18th century. Nobody knows who composed this song, but almost everyone who’s living in France knows this song and its lyrics by heart. It is also one of the most commonly taught songs for students who are just beginning to learn how to play an instrument. “Au Clair de la lune” (“By the Light of the Moon”) tells the story of a boy who cannot study at night because he cannot see well when it’s dark. This is the perfect song if you want to teach your students how to practice real dialogue in French.This song is sung in the first and third person, which makes it a great tool when you’re teaching your students how to start speaking French using “I,” “he,” and “she.”
“Le bon roi Dagobert” (“Good King Dagobert”)
This is a kid-friendly song that was written when the French were starting to question the French monarchy. This was written to mock royalty because it tells the story of a king who cannot put on his pants correctly and was so clumsy that he may cut himself with his own sword. This song is rich in vocabulary, and it can teach your students the proper way to name different pieces of clothing.