Writing is a skill that every student should learn, whether or not they decide to be a writer. There are many different ways to teach creative writing in French class, but following a few simple steps will ensure your students feel inspired to write.
Step one: Generate ideas
Like any other skill, writing is something that can be improved with practice. To get your students started, consider having them write short stories or poetry about the culture around them. You could even have them write letters to each other, or to people outside the classroom, in French. These are just a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing; you could come up with your own activities to encourage student writing.
Step two: Find a mentor
Encouraging creative writing is only the first step to becoming a successful writer. To continue developing their skills, your students will need someone to guide them, to help them find the words, and to give them feedback on their work. The best thing you can do for your students is to find a skilled French speaker who is willing to help them find their voice, polish their writing, and give them valuable feedback.
There are various ways you can go about finding a mentor. You can ask other French teachers for input, or you can ask the French consulate or an agency that provides language services to find someone natively English speaking who is also willing to help. A good French teacher can be both a writer and a mentor; they can help you find the right words, and give you valuable feedback on your students’ work.
Step three: Get inspired
It is always a good idea to get your students inspired by something, whether it is a short story, a play, a poem, or a painting. There are many different ways you can do this, but one of the simplest methods is to have them write about a time when they felt truly inspired. You can read the assigned story, then have them add their own perspective on what inspired them to write; this could be as simple as “The feeling I had when I watched that movie was such-and-such” or it could be something more complex “The feeling I had when I read that poem was so deeply moving because of X, Y, and Z”. Whatever the case, having students explain how and why they were inspired to write will help you and they become better writers for it.
Step four: Have confidence
The last step in the creative writing process is to have confidence in your students’ work. It is normal for students to feel nervous about putting their work in front of an audience, so give them some time to get used to the idea of public speaking. Once they have, have them read their stories and poems out loud; this will help them hear any deficiencies in their work, and help them fix them. Once they have done this a few times, have them read their work in front of an audience; this will help them gain confidence, and ensure your students leave class feeling inspired to continue writing.
As a teacher, you are best positioned to encourage your students’ creative writing. You can do this by setting the stage for writing, and by providing them with an environment where they can develop their skills. Setting aside some classroom time for writing is a good idea, as is getting them to interact with other writers and seeing how a skill such as translation can help them find their voice. You should also look into having a skilled French tutor come into the school to help you find your voice, and help your students develop their skills.