Ah, legends! They make us dream, they are sometimes world-famous, or more regional... In any case, French learners love them! They allow you to work on the language while discovering cultural aspects, and that's really great! So, to use legends in FLE class, here are 3 of my favorites!
The Arthurian Legend
A great classic, of course! Beyond its Anglo-Saxon origins, it is indeed a partly French legend, thanks in particular to Chrétien de Troyes. In class, we can talk about the characters, courtly love, how Morgane represents pagan magic, hence the inconsistent evolution of her character, we can also read excerpts from Chrétien de Troyes with advanced students, watch film excerpts, talk about the cultural object that the Kaamelott series has become... Not to mention the real places to visit, such as the forest of Brocéliande in Brittany! With the Arthurian legend, there is plenty to do!
The Beast of Gévaudan
This is a French legend that many learners will not necessarily know! The story of the Beast of Gévaudan is fascinating because of its historical and mysterious aspect. In class, we can of course read the legend, watch YouTube videos or listen to podcasts that talk about it, analyze it from a historical point of view but also use it to begin work on the imagination of monsters for example.
Melusine
What is incredible about Mélusine is that we don't really know where the legend comes from, and we find versions of it in a lot of European countries, but also in Asia! It is a multicultural legend, which deals with the imagination, but can also allow us to compare different cultures thanks to its many versions, and especially the usefulness of the legend: some versions are more like children's stories, while others are used to explain a historical or geographical phenomenon!
So here are three great stories to use legends in FLE class! And you, what are your favorite legends to practice French (or in general, for that matter!)?
Working with the imagination is a great way to motivate learners, to introduce them to culture, to exchange, to share and to help them rediscover their inner child while saving them for a few moments from the chaos of everyday life!
If you want more advice, and especially to know how I use nerd culture in my classes, I invite you to join my free newsletter "L'Epopée du Français" which comes out every Thursday at 4 p.m.!
