description, video testimonials, written testimonials
Charles Mayer’s French Through Acting Workshop is designed to develop and accelerate students understanding and facility of the French language through acting monologues and scene work – entirely in French! It allows them to practice and improve their French in a serious yet playful and relaxed atmosphere, without any pressure for a result, training their spontaneity, imagination, and sense of originality.
The scenes are taken from existing scripts and original material and are available in advance to the participants so students can familiarize themselves with the material prior to Day One if they choose. Short monologues may be assigned prior to Day One for students who wish to perform them for the first class.
It is absolutely not necessary to be an actor to participate. But Drama students who also study French are welcome of course!
Ideally the workshop takes place over five days, with five hours a day, but it would be possible to fit it to two, three, or four days.
Introduction and discussion of acting and the students are asked to interview each other in French, like a talk-show host – so that we all get to know each other and we can see where the students are in relation to their understanding of French.
The scenes are assigned and cast according to the number of students. Students who have the prepared monologues will perform them and if time remains we can start first readings of the scenes.
Students do a first reading of their scene(s) with their partner(s); the teacher lets them go till the end without stopping them. Then they read the scene again, and this time the teacher intervenes through commentaries and/or questions while the students keep their focus. At the end of the reading the teacher has a conversation with the students asking them how they think it went before making his last comments.
Also the students bring pieces of clothing for their characters. With the available pieces of furniture and props they arrange the set like they think the characters’ place would be like. Dressed as and in the set of their character they get more familiar with the world of the scene and start developing their relationship with their scene partner(s).
Now the students have become more familiar with their lines which will allow them drop the script and get even more involved into their character while continuing the exploration of the scene. They might also be asked to put down the script and continue the scene using their own words, switch partners, or characters. The students work during these three days just like actors would start working on a project, as if it were the first three days of rehearsal process.
Each student being different, the teacher respects everyone’s personality and adapts himself to each participant, focusing on developing his/her specific capacities.
At any time during the workshop, fellow students and teachers are welcome to come by and observe the work.
- Elise Newcomer – Student at Mount Holyoke
- Yulia Vozzhaeva – Student at Yale University
- Teachers testimonials
- Student testimonials
As they are taken from the students evaluation forms, testimonials are anonymous.
“This workshop completely changed how I look at acting, both for the screen and for the stage, and my inspiration and motivation to continue learning and studying French. Charles Mayer is a fantastic teacher, an artist at the top of his craft, and a great inspiration and role model to me. I am so incredibly blessed to be in this picture and to have participated in the workshop!”
Anonymous
Participant
“I loved the communal spirit of the class, but best, I liked the teaching method. It encouraged self-evaluation and self-honed growth and development, which seems to me to be the most natural way of developing one’s skills with reference to theatre.”
Anonymous
Participant
“I especially enjoyed the language immersion experience. The improvement in my French speaking skills was very evident to me. I didn’t expect that in such short period of time I would be able to overcome the language barrier so quickly. What is even better is that this confidence in my speaking French continues even after the workshop and helps me to participate in my French 150 class in a more productive way. Additionally, I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the acting and cinematography in general. I did learn quite a lot about the francophone society in Canada, which is also a huge plus.”
Anonymous
Participant
“Mr. Charles Mayer knows his stuff and what’s more, he is absolutely liberal in sharing it. [He is helpful] in coaching the participants, he is attentive to each person’s specific questions as they try to immerse themselves in the scenes. Our instructor is a wealth of helpful advice useful for now and for the future.”
Anonymous
Participant
“Mr. Mayer was very motivating which made the entire experience not only educational but also very enjoyable and fun. All in all, I would certainly sign up for this workshop should it take place next semester. If there is anything I can do to help spread word around or promote in any other way, I would be very glad to help!
Dear French Department, thank you very much for this amazing opportunity!”
Anonymous
Participant
“Mr. Mayer was very helpful and motivating during the entire workshop. He was always eager to answer our questions with regards to scripts or French language. It was a great pleasure learning from him.”
Anonymous
Participant
“It was a great opportunity to improve my pronunciation and helped me to feel more natural when speaking French.”
Anonymous
Participant