French Fridays

On Fridays my students and I like to play what we call "Vendredi Français," or "French Fridays." So far I play with my level 2s and up, but my 1s will be starting very soon!  I think I got this idea from somewhere else on the internet, but I can't remember the blog/pin where I found it...


I set a jar of clothespins on the desk nearest to the door.  As students enter the room, they grab a clothespin and attach it to their clothing (shirt sleeve or collars are most preferable).  Once the clothespin is attached, the game begins!  I explain the rules like this:

1.  Your clothespin must stay attached to clothing only at all times.  You cannot fiddle with the clothespin on your fingers.  Though tempting, this always leads to clothespins breaking, flying apart, or flinging across the room.  You cannot put the clothespin on your hair, earlobes, lips, nose, tongue, etc... I explain to the kids that someone else has probably already absentmindedly put the clothespin on their own body.  This grosses them out and they immediately pin them back to their sleeves. :)

2.  While wearing the clothespin, you must speak only in French.  English is allowed if they are asking a question about the lesson (but first they must ask in French if they can ask a question in English, and I'm allowed to turn them down) or if I ask them to translate something from French to English.

3.  If someone says an English word, the students closest to him/her are allowed to steal the clothespin.  The student who is stealing must say "Donne-moi" (give me--good practice with commands!) and hold out his/her hand for the pin.  A student across the room may have heard it first, but I limit it to the closest students based on some kids-leaping-over-desks experiences.  The students are not allowed to attack one another and snatch away clothespins--they must be handed over willingly.  If kids start arguing about it, I get the clothespin.

4.  If your clothespin gets stolen, it is not a "Oh well now I'm free to speak in English all class period" event.  I remind the students that this is a challenge moreso than a game.  Even if you have no clothespins, you should try to remain in the target language.  Plus, you can always steal clothespins back if you listen carefully!

5.  The student with the most clothespins at the end of the class period gets a piece of candy.  If no one wins or if it's a tie, I don't give out any candy.



You'll probably encounter a VERY quiet class the first one or two times you play French Friday.  After that, the students will begin to realize that they HAVE to figure out how to communicate.  Overall, the kids usually feel a mixture of dread/anticipation for French Friday.  My levels 3-5 students always speak in French anyway, but they still slip up from time to time and the clothespins keep it fun.  My level 2s know that it is practice for next year.  


Let me know if you do something similar or if you try it out in your classroom!  :)