Giving oral feedback is one of the most powerful tools we have as French teachers—but when done in French, it becomes even more valuable. If we are trying to teach in the target language, learning how to provide feedback in French is super important! When we are able to give oral feedback in French, we are also modeling real-world communication and encouraging listening skills.
A question I get a lot is: How can I give oral feedback in French without overwhelming my students? Here’s how you can strike the right balance in your secondary French classroom.
Why Give Oral Feedback in French?
Speaking French when we give oral feedback provides students with authentic exposure. It’s an opportunity to reinforce vocabulary and structures in meaningful contexts. The more French they hear, the better they’ll get at listening! It also helps normalize communication breakdowns and shows students that they can understand—even when they don’t catch every word. It’s a really great way to build student confidence in French.
Strategies for Effective Oral Feedback
1. Use Clear, Repetitive Language
Keep your feedback structured and predictable. Phrases like:
- << C’est bien, mais… >>
- << Fais attention à… >>
- << Tu as utilisé le bon mot, mais le verbe … >>
Over time, students will internalize these patterns, making the feedback more accessible and instructional.
2. Focus on One or Two Points
You don’t want to overwhelm students. If they make multiple errors, pick one or two to address orally. Prioritize the most critical errors—those that affect meaning or are tied to recent instruction. If they are in French 1 or 2, don’t worry about correcting things that should be in the subjunctive. Even if they are more advanced, they will probably need correction on those common mistakes like <<Quand j’étais cinq...>> instead of << Quand j’avais cinq ans… >>
Find ways to use more immersion with your core French or FSL classes here.
3. Use Gestures and Visual Cues
Non-verbal cues are super helpful when students are not fully understanding. It’s a great way to give oral feedback in French while providing support for better comprehension. Use hand signals for tenses (past = motioning backward, future = pointing ahead), or gesture toward a French verb chart or classroom poster.
4. Echo and Recast
If a student says something with an error:
- Echo the sentence, exaggerating the error slightly so they notice it.
- Repeat it, correcting the mistake in a natural way.
Example:
Student: << Je vas à la piscine. >>
You: << Ah, tu veux dire: ‘Je vais à la piscine, oui ? >>
This maintains flow and comprehension while reinforcing the correct form.
5. Use Peer Feedback in French
Train students to give simple feedback to one another. Use phrases like:
- << Je suis d’accord. >>
- << Est-ce que tu peux répéter ? >>
- << Je pense que… >>
These help involve the class in language-rich reflection, not just correction. It might take time to get them fully speaking to each other in French, so don’t stress if it doesn’t happen right away! The goal here is always to increase their effort, so even if they aren’t in full French, make sure to praise them when they try!
I love using these conversation rings as a way to help students find the right words. I print them out on cardstock, put them on key rings, and then put them at each table so students always have the expressions right at their fingertips. It’s a way for students to give oral feedback without even knowing they’re doing it!
Should you ever switch to English?
Sometimes, it’s just way too complicated to explain in French, or the student is not nearly proficient enough to understand what you need to say. It’s okay to speak English when needed, but try to move back to French as soon as you can.
Giving oral feedback in French isn’t just about correction—it’s about communication, modeling, and encouragement. When students see feedback as part of real conversation and not just as criticism, their confidence and comprehension will just get better and better!
By building routines, using student-friendly language, and being intentional with your focus, you can give oral feedback in a way that will really help improve your students’ language acquisition!
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