Hello, Bonjour – Stories of Language
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick wants to help students learn about our two official languages and the requirements of our Official Languages Act in a fun way through online interactive games. We have created two games geared to grades 4-5 and 6-7 that will allow students to learn more about official languages and bilingualism. The games can also serve as an educational tool about New Brunswick: who we are, where we live, and our history.
The goal is for students to play the game in the official language of their choice in order to learn more about official languages and language rights in New Brunswick, it is not a tool designed to teach either official language.
As part of the official launch of the Hello, Bonjour campaign, Commissioner MacLean visited several schools across the province to meet with students and talk to them about their language rights under the Official Languages Act, and show them the Hello, Bonjour – Stories of Language games! A total of seven schools, one in each school district, were included in the launch tour:
- Hartland Community School in Hartland;
- l’école Élémentaire Sacré-Cœur in Grand Falls;
- l’école l’Envolée in Shippagan;
- Tabusintac Community School in Tabusintac;
- l’école Abbey-Landry in Memramcook;
- Petitcodiac Regional School in Petitcodiac; and
- Forest Hills School in Saint John.
To encourage students to play and learn, the Office of the Commissioner launched a contest where students had the chance to win a laptop. To participate in the contest, students were asked to summarize, in a creative way, what they learned from the game. Students submitted their entries via the HelloNB.ca website before the deadline of March 22, 2024, and the winners were selected via a random draw the following week. A total of 10 lucky students, 5 from each age group, each won a new laptop!
Winners of the Hello, Bonjour – Stories of Language contest: