Teaching French Through Music: How Menya Jefferson's Middle Schoolers Learn Grammar Without Realizing It

The first time Menya Jefferson tried Roxxem, her classroom went silent. This was a class full of talkers, including a group of boys who never stopped chatting.

"They were so concentrated," she says. "And I'm like, what is this sorcery?"

Menya now teaches middle school French in Savannah, Georgia, and she has brought Roxxem to every school she's taught at since the 2022-2023 school year. This year, her classes won the Manie Musicale classroom competition. Here's how she uses music and authentic content to make French stick.

Watch Menya’s video and hear how Roxxem changed her French class.

Why Teach French Through Music?

Menya has always been a big advocate for learning languages through music. Before Roxxem, she tried another lyrics website, but it felt clunky and one-note.

Roxxem clicked right away. Her students were quiet because they were focused, and the more they played, the more the lyrics got stuck in their heads.

From Song Lyrics to Full French Sentences

Soon, Menya noticed her students saying entire French phrases on their own. They weren't stopping to worry about conjugations or verb endings.

"Kids, you do realize that you're speaking French right now, right?" she'd tell them. "You didn't even have to think about it."

She credits the way Roxxem layers its activities. Students see the same sentences and structures again and again, which builds both listening and reading skills.

Teaching Grammar Through Songs

Music changed how Menya approaches grammar. "I don't have to teach as much explicit grammar as I used to," she says. "It's already in the song."

Direct objects and the past tense show up right in the lyrics, and students hear them many times. Idiomatic expressions stick too, and her students walk around repeating a lyric about life having its ups and downs.

Sometimes Menya says a phrase in class that matches a lyric, and her students instantly break into the song. "It's really neat to see how they connect the dots," she says. "Roxxem helped me connect the dots."

Making March All About Music

Menya designs her own curriculum, so she plans for music from day one. Her syllabus tells students that March belongs to Manie Musicale, a French music bracket competition. "Just trust me," she tells them. "The kids will love it."

She goes all in, using Roxxem alongside her own music activities. She loves how easy the bracket is to follow.

When Roxxem adds new game changes, her students complain for about a minute. Then they get determined to beat their classmates, and every round reinforces more French.

Bring music into your French class. [Try Roxxem free] and see how fast your students start singing along.

French Class Projects Built on Song Lyrics

Menya prefers projects where students show what they've learned. Her biggest one right now is a class film festival.

Students create short films using only song lyrics from this year's Manie Musicale songs. "The bulk of what's in your head right now is music," she tells them, "so let's just use those."

Roxxem's slides and handouts help here. Students use the translations to understand each line and pick the ones they want for their films. In December, her classes also sang winter holiday songs in French at a student assembly.

Go Beyond Songs with Authentic French Videos

Music is one part of authentic content. Menya is excited about Roxxem's newer YouTube video lessons, where students hear real French speakers talk about things like food and hobbies.

Students still get the same activities, with practice in writing, reading, and listening. It gives them a wider range of real French to learn from.

Keeping French Going Over the Summer

Menya gives her students Roxxem assignments over the summer. She keeps it low pressure, asking for just a couple of minutes at a time.

Students can spread it out or do one big week whenever they like. The goal is steady exposure to French until school starts again.

When Colleagues Start Asking Questions

At her new school, the upper school department head came to observe Menya's class. Students were singing along with the lyrics while playing Whack-A-Word.

"Oh my gosh, those are real sentences," the department head said. Now she plans to start using Roxxem next year.

A colleague next door joined Locura de Marzo, the Spanish music competition, and asked Menya for more ideas. They're now thinking about bringing the whole middle school department on board.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach French through music?
Start with songs that match your students' interests and your themes. Pair each song with activities that repeat the lyrics, so students see and hear the same structures many times.

Can songs help teach French grammar?
Yes. Songs are full of grammar in context, like direct objects and past tense verbs. Repeated exposure helps students absorb structures naturally.

What are good French class projects using music?
Try a film festival where students build short movies from song lyrics. A class performance of French songs is another great option.

What is Manie Musicale?
Manie Musicale is a French music bracket competition held each March. Classes follow the bracket and play Roxxem activities with the songs.

Does Roxxem include more than music?
Yes. Roxxem turns culturally relevant content into lessons, including music, videos, and authentic YouTube content from native speakers.

Help Your Students Connect the Dots

Roxxem serves over 2 million students across more than 4,000 US districts. Give your French students the songs and videos that make the language stick.