Synopsis
This light-hearted children's film takes us to a "low-functioning" 6th grade classroom in Québec. Miss Charlotte (Miss C) is assigned as a substitute teacher to the class after their lack of cooperation drives their last teacher comically screaming out of the school. From the beginning, Miss C is seen as an oddball; she talks to a rock named Gertrude, and her
joie de vivre
is unheard of here. Although the students in 6D are resistant at first, she inspires them to be active, to study lessons every morning so that they can have fun doing what each of them wants to do in the afternoon. This plan produces wonderful results, but does not endear her to the selfish, self-promoting principal with a personal agenda contrary to that of student education.
Miss C has an odd 'problem.' She loves to read, and when she does, she gets transported into the story, falling into a coma-like sleep. Confused at first, the students learn to accept Miss C because she really seems to "get" them. Her love of books fosters one in them, and as a class they create their own, kid-friendly library. When the principal's scheming threatens their library
and
their teacher, we see how much these "delinquents" in 6D have grown, as they devise a plan to save the day. The character of Miss C has been likened to
"Amélie"
in the classroom, and her zaniness
is
contagious. At times, however, she
comes off as more inconsiderate than effervescent (when she wrings her soaking skirt out
inside
the school foyer, for example!) This actually gives Miss C more depth, and the film, oddly, more believability, as the "hero" has real flaws.
In the end, Miss C must leave. During final exams the next day, we see a pan shot of the students asking various inanimate objects for help and strength, and this class of students who always used to fail tests received B's and C's, and even one A+.16
NOTE: DVD is available in French and English, but without subtitles. I recommend showing some parts in French (those that rely more on imagery and less on heavy dialogue, like the opening scene) and the rest in English. Some of those parts could then be replayed in French. There are many ways to approach this, as the DVD comes with a copy of Dominique Demers' French language youth book
La Nouvelle Maîtresse
, which is part of the basis for the film storyline. Vocabulary can be extracted from the novel, studied, practiced, and then identified by watching the film in French; students can watch in French, guess what's happening, and then watch in English to see if they were correct, etc. Thought prompts can explore the concepts of using books and films as vehicles for exploration and as tools for coping.
Country Information
Canada is the second largest country in the world (next to Russia), not much larger than the United States. Its capital city is Ottawa, although Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are notable, highly-populated cities. Approximately 85% of Canada's population resides within 300 kilometers (186.5 miles) of the U.S./Canada border. It is comprised of 10 provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan; and 3 territories: Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon Territory.17 The government is a constitutional monarchy with a federal system, a parliamentary government with heavy democratic tendencies. Although the phraseology is quite different, it functions fairly similarly to the U.S. system.
Québec is fairly close to New England in its climate, although the northern territories are artic, like Alaska. This harsher landscape is characterized by
tundra
, which can be seen as a layer of muck and moss covering the frozen soil beneath it, and
boreal forest
, which is a preponderance of pine trees and evergreen shrubs.
Canada has 2 official languages, English and French.18 About 60% of Canadians use English primarily, about 23 % French (17% use another language primarily.) As of January 2002, the population of Canada was broken down as follows: British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%.
Canada shadows the U.S. in terms of commercialism, technological advancement, economical growth, and high standards of living. Past trade agreements between the U.S. and Canada were integral to this growth. In 2001, 86% of Canadian exports went to the U.S., in the form of motor vehicles and spare parts, lumber, newsprint, metals, natural gas, crude petroleum, and wheat. 76% of Canadian imports came from the U.S. The United States exports to Canada more than to any other country. Because of this economic interdependence, when the U.S. suffers economic change, either through hardship or prosperity, that trend carries over into Canada. Additionally, it is worthwhile to explore the way Canada loses skilled workforce to the U.S., because the U.S. will offer higher pay, lower taxes, and a more comprehensive high-tech working environment. The exchange rate is about 1.5 Canadian Dollars (CAD) to 1 U.S. Dollar. Over the last several years, that rate has been going up, in the U.S.' favor.
The province of Québec struggles with its identity. In the last 15 years, Québec has attempted and failed at 2 constitutional initiatives for sovereignty, or independence. France's first colony in Canada was Québec. When, in 1759, "New France" fell to Britain, Québec felt it worst, and continues to feel it this day.19
What Makes a Good Teacher? A Good Student?
The opening scene of a low-functioning classroom is a striking example of poor students
and
a poor teacher. Prod students to point out what the teacher
and
the students would have done differently if they were being good examples of a teacher and students. Address reasons why each person does not behave in a better manner. When Miss C arrives, discuss her unconventional methods, debate on whether they are methods or just quirks, explore different students' initial reaction to her, and how each student grows. Ask students what they think of the Principal, and of Mrs. Lafferty (Mme. Lamerlotte.) Have students create a class list of qualities of good students and teachers. Provide that vocabulary in French for class posters. See also
Lesson 2 - Mini-book Starter.
Non-Verbal Language, Regional Accents, and Slang
Guide students to recall the experience of watching the beginning of the film in French. Invite discussion of how the images, music and camera angles help tell the story. Show sections in French that the students will not understand verbally, but choose ones with expressive faces and gestures. Have students guess what is happening, with explanations. Point out differences between the way kids and adults talk; include word choice, rate, clarity, accent. Does Miss C resemble the kids or the administrators more in the way she speaks? Address the difference between Québecois and Parisian French accents, likening it to the degree of difference between the accents of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Use Demers' book to pull out slang that the kids will enjoy. Have students act sections out.
U.S.-Canadian Relations
Use the facts set forth in the "Country Information" section as a springboard for analysis of U.S.-Canadian Relations. Prompt students to think about what "reasons" Canadians might think they have to like or dislike America, and how such economic reliance might surface as a power struggle. Send for Canadian tourist brochures of the U.S., and U.S. tourist brochures for Canada. Compare, contrast, and discuss. Students could devise plans of partnership between the 2 countries to further strengthen the existing relationship. Using the bilingual Canadian websites in the
Resources
, students could prepare presentations on data not provided in the unit, in French or English.
