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  • Essay / The Chorists: a film review

    The teaching is universal throughout the world. Beginning teachers can learn not only from teachers in their own society, but also from those in other countries, as in the foreign film The Chorists (2004). This French film revolves around Clément Mathieu, a failed musician and new prefect of Fond de l'Etang, a boarding school for boys in difficulty. Faced with the challenge of managing a class full of unruly and moody boys, Mathieu learns that the path to their hearts is through music. He begins teaching them to sing, forming a choir and changing their lives forever. The Chorists (2004) is not only an artistic masterpiece, as it also contains several significant messages about teaching: the importance of a positive attitude towards children, the need for a teacher/student relationship solid and the way a teacher grows and learns from his students. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay As soon as he sets foot at Fond de l'Etang, Clément Mathieu, as a stranger, notices the negativity that permeates the school. The principal, Rachin, punishes the boys, even those he knows to be innocent, by beating them and forcing them to do an excessive amount of school chores or locking them behind bars in solitary confinement. Rachin, like the majority of other teachers, considers boys a lost cause and, as Mathieu points out, “sees evil everywhere” (Les Choristes, 2004). However, "if a teacher expects a student or group of students to behave in a certain way, the teacher's attitude can serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy, i.e. say that students can behave in the expected way in response to the teacher's attitude. » (Ryan and Cooper, 2010, p. 175). Because adults assume that boys will be wild and crude delinquents, students act that way. They are not used to being expected to do good things from them, and when Mathieu treats them with kindness and believes in them, they don't know how to react. Mathieu, unlike the rest of the administration, places great hopes in them and appears outwardly optimistic. It shows boys that they are more than petty thieves, liars, or juvenile delinquents and that they can excel through the power of music. By maintaining a positive attitude towards the boys, Mathieu manages to tame them while bringing out their good sides. Leclerc and Pépinot, two radically different boys, form a friendship, a bond that did not exist before Mathieu's arrival. Morhange, initially described as a little devil with the face of an angel, learns to overcome his innate jealousy and selfishness under Mathieu's guidance. When Mathieu finally allows him to sing his solo, he notes: "Morhange's eyes followed my tempo, and in them, I suddenly read many things: the pride and joy of my forgiveness, but also something of everything completely new to him. A feeling of gratitude” (Les Choristes, 2004). The troubled boy and his peers changed for the better, all thanks to Clément Mathieu's deep conviction and faith. As a teacher, it is of the utmost importance to believe in your students, have high expectations of them, and not be prejudiced against them because of their history. In order to overcome their fears and truly excel, a child must be aware of their teacher's support and realize that someone is there for them, even when other adults have written them off as a lost cause. In addition to a positive attitude towards students, the student-teacher relationship is an essential aspect of teaching. Clement Mathieu.