In Rouen, a picture book to help young Ukrainians learn French
Learning French is difficult, especially for the thousands of Ukrainians who have arrived in France since March due to the Russian aggression reported on February 24. So, Franck Dubois, the founder of the communication agency Le Perroquet Bleu in Rouen (Seine-Maritime) decided to act by developing a sound Franco-Ukrainian imagination. A year, he had already released in digital format books available on Apple or Android for children to help them discover about fifty common words in Portuguese, English and Spanish. And, the conflict in Ukraine happened.
“We all followed the news and I said to myself what can I do at my level? Éléonore, an intern, known as Christina Butchynsky, born in France to Ukrainian parents and student in the first year of a political science degree at the Fac Pasteur in Rouen. She agreed to make the bilingual recording of the words,” says Franck Dubois. “It was important for me to help with my knowledge,” adds Christina Butchynsky. I have all my family in Ukraine and at the moment, we are welcoming a cousin to my home. »
It is therefore a slave voice that young people hear as soon as they activate the application, whether for the words in Ukrainian French and in: “These are the same 50 words as in the other booklets. A list drawn up at the time by teachers. Simple everyday words. I drew the illustrations, the Roman and Cyrillic spelling was translated by Éléonore and therefore the voice is that of Christina, adds Franck Dubois. In the end, it gives a friendly and free application that can allow little refugees to integrate better. It also has to be acceptable to the parents. It can also help young French people to interact with their new friends. It is an opening to the world. »
Moreover, he plans very quickly to go to a hundred words and add a few standard phrases. And regardless of the success, “I consider it useful. Early feedback is encouraged. This motivates me for a project concerning native languages such as Wolof or Berber. Languages that many people living in France speak, but which are not taught. This is a development path for these digital booklets. »
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