For me it is not easy at all to learn a new language, that is the reason why I use to research strategies outside my classroom, such as, listen to music, watch TV and others.
A learning strategie proposed by my French teacher was a funny walking tour in which all my classmates and I explained the history of the most important streets in the Old City. It is not only an untraditional way to learn French but also it is a useful idea to learn the history of your own city.
I am going to tell you my experience pre, during and post the tour. First of all, I had to learn new vocabulary, new grammar topics.
However, our professor is always encouraging us and tell us an easy way to do it. Finally, I decide to do it, and start to look for the information about my street “La Factoría”, and when I found the information, I started to study. Then, I brought my monologue to my class and ask for the Christophe’s help, and he help me with pleasure.
At the end we finished using a common speaking that was useful for me, due to the fact, it was easier for me to learn my monologue and also to get what I was traying to say about my street. The time of the walking tour came, and it was fantastic to have a class out side of the walls with a different atmosphere all my classmates and I were having fun in a good way. When we were telling your part of the history, the teacher recorded us on a camera. At the begging was a little stressful but then I remembered that the professor always was training us in class our texts in front of a camera to prepare us for this activity.
During this tour I felt great and fulfilled because of I understood what yours classmates said and also everybody was moving naturally and, in some cases, pointed towards something to show us what they were talking about.
At the end of all, we took a picture together and it was fantastic. Cartagena was gorgeous in each part of the background of the photo was as a magazine cover. I still have on my mind words and expression of my dialogue of my walking tour that I use in my job with the French tourists. They impress when I ask them something in French, and then they ask to me “Tu parles français?”, and I answer so proud: "un peu, Monsieur/ Madame”.
Keilin Sánchez: her second walking tour in French
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TOURISM TODAY
Academic Trek
By Keilin Sánchez