1 Simple System to Encourage French Speaking in your Classroom

As French teachers, we all know how important it is for students to be speaking French in class. It’s essential for building oral fluency, expanding vocabulary, and improving their writing skills. After all, if they don’t have the words to say what they want, how can they write it?

But let’s face it—French speaking can feel intimidating for students, and getting them to consistently speak French can be tough. Left to their own devices, most will slip back into English unless we provide encouragement. And while it’s tempting to let them, we know that speaking English in class won’t help them build the language skills they need to succeed in French.

I’ve put together a simple system to encourage students to keep speaking French. With a few rewards and bit of structured learning, it works wonders!

Types of Systems for Encouraging French Speaking

When encouraging students to speak French in class, two main systems can be used:

1. Individual System: Students receive individual points towards a reward and then get the reward when they meet the goal.
2. Whole-Class System: Students work towards a common goal, and the whole class gets a reward at the same time when they meet the goal

I personally prefer a whole-class system because it’s easier to manage, and more inclusive. Rewards can be given to everyone at the same time, simplifying logistics. Once students understand the routine, it often runs itself with minimal effort. Additionally, rewards can be non-material, such as extra game time or fun class activity, making it more cost-effective.

Why Use a Whole-Class System?

A whole-class system is much easier to manage than an individual system because rewards are given to everyone at the same time. Once you’ve got a good set-up and students understand the expectations, it tends to run itself with minimal effort.

Another advantage is that prizes can be non-physical items, saving you the hassle and expense of a prize box. Rewards like extra recess, a movie day, or a class celebration are engaging and cost-effective while still motivating students.

How My System Works

1. Start with Prizes: Before starting, we brainstorm as a class to create a list of possible prizes—ideas like a free period, PJ day, or popsicles. Once the list is complete, students vote on their favourite, which keeps them invested and excited to work together.
2. The Jar and Clothespins: I use a large jar filled with dried beans as a visual tracker for progress. Each student starts the day with three clothespins (I prefer clothespins because they’re durable and easy to handle). If a student speaks English, they lose a pin to the person who caught them.
3. Second Chances: Even if a student loses all their pins, they can earn them back by catching others speaking English. This creates a sense of fairness and keeps everyone accountable.
4. Daily Rewards: At the end of the day, beans are added to the jar based on how many pins each student has left. To keep things balanced, students can earn up to a maximum of three beans per day. This prevents the whole class from maxing out rewards regardless of effort.

How I Make the System Less Overwhelming

To make the system feel manageable for students, I include myself in the process. If I speak English, students can take my clothespins, which creates a sense of fairness and models how the system works. We also start small, restarting the system after each learning block—before breaks and at the end of the day. As students become more comfortable, we reduce the frequency of resets, eventually moving to once a day.

Every day is a fresh start, which helps students feel less discouraged if they struggled the day before. I also tell them that staying silent is an option if they’re not confident speaking French. While this might seem counterproductive, it’s only temporary. Students tend to be quieter at first but gradually gain the confidence to speak more French as they become familiar with the system and learn new vocabulary.

Sometimes, I intentionally say a few words in English so that struggling students can take my clips. This not only helps them stay engaged but also shows that it’s okay to make mistakes. Within a few weeks, students are speaking more French and feeling much more confident. Starting small and offering plenty of support makes the system a positive learning experience for everyone.

Why It Works for Us

This system works well because it’s simple, fair, and promotes responsibility. Each clothespin is numbered, so every student knows which are theirs, and they’re responsible for retrieving them at the end of each period. If a student loses their clips, they’re gone for the day, which helps reinforce accountability and prevents others from taking them. The system is only used in the classroom, making it manageable, and students can speak English during recess and lunch.

I’ve successfully used this system with grades 1–3. Even for students who struggle to speak French in class, everyone has a chance to succeed—at the end of the day, the class earns beans based on collective effort. This ensures prizes aren’t limited to stronger French speakers, creating a positive and inclusive environment.

How I Handle Disagreements

Disagreements are bound to happen, especially over whether someone speaks English. When conflicts arise, I encourage students to resolve them on their own. If they can’t, I take a clip from both students involved. Often, other students overhear and can confirm what actually happened, which helps settle disputes.

The students are also great about coming up with creative ways to problem-solve on their own. For example, I’ve seen students play rock, paper, scissors to solve a disagreement. Learn more about French literacy with other posts for primary students