Vif du sujet (Eng: heart of the matter) is a brand new initiative from Canadian Parents for French BC & Yukon Branch (CPF BCYK) aimed at encouraging French Second Language (FSL) classrooms to develop French language proficiency, teamwork, and presentation skills.
Teachers can participate with their classroom(s) by creating a French presentation in the popular Pecha Kucha style: 10-30 image slides with oral commentary for 20 seconds per slide. This set structure encourages concise communication in a simple framework, and the result is short, engaging presentations that can be collected to create a resource of French videos for and by students.
Vif du sujet is a non-competitive group activity designed to value various types of learners, support them in their journey to proficiency of the French language and practice communication skills that foster appreciation for team diversity. Through their experience building their presentation alongside their peers, students can become more engaged in their learning, acquire teamwork skills to adapt and overcome challenges, and gain confidence to create new opportunities throughout their lives.
We’ve heard from teachers and parents who want more curriculum-based French resources for young people outside the classroom. We hope that in addition to being a fun activity where students can demonstrate what they have learned, Vif du sujet will generate an online resource that can supplement French learning.
Monday, September 9th, 2024 – Submissions open for semester 1
Friday, December 20th, 2024 at 11:59pm Pacific Time – Submissions close for semester 1
Monday, January 6th, 2025 – Winners announced for semester 1
Monday, February 3rd, 2025 – Submissions open for semester 2
Friday, May 16th, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time – Submissions close for semester 2
Monday, May 19th, 2025 – Winners announced for semester 2
Teachers are invited to submit Pecha Kucha-style presentations made by student groups. Teachers should assist their students in the choice of subject matter, size of the student group and how the presentation will be made into mp4 format.
All eligible submissions will be entered into a draw for virtual cultural prizes or funds for a classroom celebration. Video submissions will be made available online as a resource for the FSL community.
Video Requirements
- Must be presented entirely in French
- Must be presented in a Pecha Kucha-style format: 10-30 image slides with spoken commentary for 20 seconds per slide
- Must have a full transcript for closed captioning to be accessible for all learners
- Must be completed in student groups
- Presentation topics should pertain to the B.C. and/or Yukon curriculum
- Creativity is welcomed and encouraged
- As one of the goals of this activity is to create a video resource, please do not submit presentations containing incorrect information
Submission Requirements
- All entries must be submitted via the submission form between the opening and closing dates*. The submission form can be found at vifdusujet.ca.
- Submissions will close at exactly 11:59 PM Pacific time on the closing date*. No late submissions will be accepted. Please plan ahead and submit your video early, and keep in mind that videos may take some time to upload.
- All videos must be in mp4 format and will be posted publicly as an online educational support tool for students across B.C. and the Yukon.
*Please see “Important Dates” for exact dates.
Contest Eligibility
All French language classrooms in B.C. and the Yukon with students in Grade 1 through Grade 12 are welcome to participate.
Prize Details
All eligible submissions will be entered into a draw for funds for a classroom celebration. Two times per school year, one entry per grade will be chosen to win a prize of $100, which can be used towards a classroom activity or celebration.
- Cash prizes will be distributed via eTransfer addressed to the submitting email. Instructions for prize redemption will be sent to winners.
- Winners for semester 1 will be announced in early January*.
- Winners for semester 2 will be announced in late May*.
*Please see “Important Dates” for exact dates.
Still Have Questions?
Please contact Robin at projects@cpf.bc.ca with your specific inquiry.