The French American Center of Montpellier
English book club – – discussion autour de The Safekeep de Yael van der Wouden.
Réunion en ligne – 23 Février 2026 à 18h30 (Zoom)
La lecture du livre et les échanges se feront en anglais.
Si vous souhaitez participer, merci de vous inscrire ci-dessous. Les organisateurs vous enverront ensuite le lien Zoom avant la rencontre.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE
(To the tune of Landslide by Fleetwood Mac)
We love the world that we live in now
We can climb a mountain or visit a town
We can see our reflection in the snow-covered hills
Or stroll by the sea at sundown
The sun in the sky up above
Yes the sun in the sky up above
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
In the changing seasons of our lives
Oh oh Yes I know
The climate it is changing ’cause of
all that we’ve built around us
But our world it is getting so much warmer
And we are in a corner now
So
Instrumental
And the climate it is changing ’cause of
all that we’ve built around us
Yeah the world it is getting so much warmer
And we are in a corner now
We have to make changes now
Soo
So make a change and make it now
If we made this happen it can turn around
If I see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
It’s not too late to change now
And if I see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
It is not too late to change now
No o it’s not too late
English Seems to be the only Words
How am I gonna learn to speak in English
How am I gonna learn to understand?
What do I do when someone talks to me
And they use completely different words
What have I got to do to speak in English
What can I do to make new friends?
What can I say when I meet somebody
And they don’t speak French but I want to blend.
It’s not so bad, not so bad
It’s an easy situation
All you have to do is learn with us
It’s not so bad, not so bad
And we can talk it over
And it now seems to me, that English is so full of easy words
How am I gonna learn to speak in English
How am I gonna learn to understand?
What do I do when it’s in VO
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When English seems to have the hardest words
To the tune of – Go your own way by Fleetwood Mac
I speak to you
I speak to you
And it’s the right thing to do
I speak to you
And my words are in English
Yes it’s good
Cos’ It’s the language of the world
Happiness is to be able to speak
I can speak in English
Speak in English
Because then I can travel anywhere
I can go anywhere
Go anywhere
Tell me why, everyone all around
Speaking all
speaking up all in English?
If I could you know I’d say it in these words
In the world, everything’s waiting for you
You can go your own way
Go your own way
You can travel to any other place
Any other place
You can go your own way
Go your own way
I can go anywhere
Go anywhere
You can travel to any other place
Any other place
You can go your own way
Go your own way
DREAMS
Now here we go again, and yeah, we’re speaking English
And having fun here with our friends
Because we know that in our future it’s important
To listen and to talk to other nations
And to make a world of peace to work together
And to stop the wars from happening
And what we’ll have is peace
And what want is love
And what we’ll have is peace
and what we want is love
Oh English is the language that we’re speaking
And playing with our friends is how we’re learning
Say we are dreaming of a better future
When the world can be a better place
To go
Now here we go again, we see a crystal vision
Of a green world where we all live
A better place where we all play and grow and dream now
Live in peace and breathe a fresher air.
Dreams of mother earth
And to stop the wars from happening
And to make the world a better home
And what want is love
And what we’ll have is peace
and what we want is love
English is the language that we’re speaking
And playing with our friends is how we’re learning
We are dreaming of a better future
When the world can be a better place
Oh English is the language that we’re speaking
And playing with our friends is how we’re learning
Say we are dreaming of a better future
When the world can be a better place
To go
To go
Oh oh oh to go
Speaking English
Speaking English
Speaking English,
Instead of French,
Every Wednesday at the Kid’s School.
I’m playing games,
I’m having fun.
Learning new words and singing songs.
All in English !
No, No French !
That’s the way we do it.
I learn so fast,
My brain’s so good,
I’m on my way to the promised land !
(Chorus)
SPEAKING ENGLISH
NO FRENCH ! (X4)
All in English !
I’m just a kid,
Yet I’m so strong,
There’s nothing that I can’t become.
All of my dreams,
They will come true.
To believe is all I need to do !
Hey Mama !
Look at me !
As I fulfil my Destiny !
Hey Papa !
No, No French !
I’m on my way to the promised land !
(Chorus)
Speaking English !
No French ! (X4)
All in English !
Lyrics by Robin Dhersigny for The Kids’ School
Patch and Chicken Song
Verse 1:
Patch and Chicken, best of friends, adventuring until the end
Let’s say hello and learn about what they like to do
They like to sing, adore to dance and even though they live in France
They love to speak in English and they’ll help us learn too!
Chorus:
Hello Patch and Chicken! Hello Patch and Chicken!
In the sun or in the rain
The best of friends they will remain
They love to speak in English and we love it too!
Verse 2:
Patch loves to bark and jump and play, he could stay at the park all day
Chicken likes to join him and find small things to eat
Chicken is an omnivore, Patch is vegan and we’ll explore
All the yummy foods they like, in English of course!
Chorus:
Hello Patch and Chicken! Hello Patch and Chicken!
In the sun or in the rain
The best of friends they will remain
They love to speak in English and we love it too!
Making New Friends:
To the tune of ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ by the Beatles
What can I do to be friends with someone
when I don’t know if they will like me?
I could teach them a dance or I’ll sing them a song
And I’ll try not to sing out of key
Oh, I’m gonna try to make some new friends
I won’t cry when I make some new friends
I could fly with help from new friends
What if they laugh when I tell them a joke?
What if they teach me how to jump rope?
We could go to the park and we’ll play all day
We’ll tell secrets and then I can say
Hey! I tried and I made a new friend
Yeah! I don’t cry when I’m with my new friend
I can fly with help from my friend
Do you need anybody?
Now I’ve got a new friend
Could it be anybody?
We’ll be good friends ’til the end!
Hey! I tried and I’ve got a good friend
Yeah! I don’t cry when I’m with my good friend
I can fly with help from my friend
SHOPPING SONG
Ooh I like buying food
Whatever is fresh and seasonal
I find just what I need
Ooh I like buying food with money
Ooh I like buying food
Yeah and I eat bread whenever I can
I slice it up in the morning
With some nice jam
Or I make sandwiches
And take it for lunch
I really love it!
Yeah, it’s the best thing!
I like to wander around
To buy my food
In rain or shine
I’m happy to go
To the market
I love to go to the shops
To buy good things to eat at meals
Yes I love to go to the shops
I love buying food with all my money
Ooh I love to buy food
To see colours
And smell all the smells
I know I’ll never be hungry, or thirsty
And I love the things, I really love the things
From the market
All the nice fruit and veg
All the nice fruit and veg
It’s the best thing!
Ahh, It’s the best thing!
I love shopping.
Things I Like:
To the tune of ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong
I like flying kites
Bike riding too
I like to bake
I like go to the zoo
I like going to the park
To see this wonderful world
I like playing games
I like to write
I like reading bedtime stories at night
I like dreaming sweet dreams
Of this wonderful world
I like the colors of the rainbow
I like looking at the sky
I like drawing the faces
Of loved ones of mine
I like making new friends
Saying, « How do you do? »
I like singing and swimming too
I like to learn
I like to grow
I like to build on the things that I know
But most of all
I like this wonderful world
Let’s play, put on your school shoes
and join your friends.
Let’s play, with balls or games or just
join hands.
Let’s play, games we imagine or games
we know.
Let’s play skipping with a rope fast
or slow.
If you say run
I’ll run with you
And if you say hide
We’ll hide
Because we are all friends
And friendship never ends
When we can play games together
No matter what the weather!
Let’s play, put on your school shoes
and join your friends.
Let’s play, with balls or games or just
join hands.
Let’s play, games we imagine or games
we know.
And our games will change too as we
grow.
Let’s play
Birthday Month
January, February, March and April, May June July
These are the months of the year right here
And your birthday may be one of those ahead
Or those we just said
August September, October, November
and December
You must remember
These are the months of the year right here
And your birthday may be one of those ahead
Or those we just said
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
Here at the kids’ school we will have lots of fun
Playing some games learning English songs
So just watch and learn, Repeat words and play along
Singing
This is my message for you ou ou
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
You’ll learn to describe things and ask for what you want
All in English, just repeat things
So just watch and learn, Repeat words and play along
Singing
This is my message for you ou ou
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
Speak English instead of French
Then play draw and sing with your new friends
YESTERDAY – To the tune of Yesterday by the Beatles
Yesterday was a school day with less time to play.
But I saw my school friends any way
But now today it is Wednesday.
Suddenly I’m not speaking like I used to be
People are speaking English to me
Oh Wednesday is an English day
I play games and paint
And repeat the words they say
I’m not sure what they mean
But I say them anyway
Yesterday, French was in the other games I played
Now in English I have cakes to bake
Oh I have fun on English day.
I play games and paint
And repeat the words they say
I start to understand
And I learn them while I play
Yesterday
French was in the other games I played
Now in English it is fun to play
Let me Sing
If you want to make new friends in English
You will have to learn to speak
Learn new words in English
Every week
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak, let me speak,
Saying works in English
Let me speak
And when you go on holiday
And no one can talk French to you
You can speak their language
You will see!
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Saying words in English
Let me speak
And when you do English at school
You’ll already know all the rules
And many words in English
You will speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Saying words in English
Let me speak
When you wake up on a Wednesday morning
You’ll remember instantly
I have fun at kids’ school
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Let me speak
Saying words in English
Let me speak
Red and yellow and pink and green
Purple and orange and blue
I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow too
Listen with your eyes
Listen with your eyes
And sing everything you see
I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing along with me
Red and yellow and pink and green
Purple and orange and blue
I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow too
Listen with your eyes
Listen with your eyes
And sing everything you see
I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing along with me
Red and yellow and pink and green
Purple and orange and blue
I can sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow
Sing a rainbow too
I LIKE IT – SONG TIME
I speak in English on Wednesdays
I learn new words and I play some games
And I like it, Ye ye yes I like it
I make cool crafts and I have some laughs
All in English No I speak no French
And I like it, Ye ye yes I like it, Ye yes I like It
I speak in English on Wednesdays
I sing some songs and I learn new things
And I like it, Ye ye yes I like it
I got the best teachers, the best directors
My English’s getting better, better faster stronger
And I like it, Ye ye yes I like it, ye ye yes I like it
CHORUS
I love to wake up on Wednesdays
And make myself beautiful
I swear today I’m gonna learn new things
Mama, Papa, I’m gonna be bilingual
I speak in English on Wednesdays
I learn new words and I play some games
And I like it, Ye ye yes I like it
When I’m older I can travel the world
And make new friends ‘cause I speak English
And I like it, Ye ye yes I like it, Ye yes I like It
To Bombay
A traveling circus came
They brought an intelligent elephant
And Nellie was her name
One dark night
She slipped her iron chain
And off she ran to Hindustan
And was never seen again
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And said goodbye to the circus
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And trundled back to the jungle
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
Night by night
She danced to the circus band
When Nellie was leading the big parade
She looked so proud and grand
No more tricks
For Nellie to perform
They taught her how to take a bow
And she took the crowd by storm
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And said goodbye to the circus
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And trundled back to the jungle
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
The head of the herd was calling
Far, far away
They met one night in the silver light
On the road to Mandalay
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And said goodbye to the circus
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And trundled back to the jungle
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And said goodbye to the circus
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
Nellie the Elephant packed her trunk
And trundled back to the jungle
Off she went with a trumpety-trump
Trump, trump, trump
The animals went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah.
The animals went in two by two,
The elephant and the kangaroo
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in three by three, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in three by three, hurrah, hurrah.
The animals went in three by three,
The wasp, the ant and the bumble bee,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in four by four, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in four by four, hurrah, hurrah.
The animals went in four by four,
The big hippopotamus stuck in the door,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in five by five, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in five by five, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in five by five,
By hugging each other they kept alive,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in six by six, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in six by six, hurrah, hurrah.
The animals went in six by six,
They laughed at the monkey because of his tricks,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in seven by seven, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in seven by seven,
The little pig thought he was going to heaven,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in eight by eight, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in eight by eight,
The turtle thought he was coming late,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in nine by nine, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in nine by nine,
Marching up in a long straight line,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
The animals went in ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in ten by ten, hurrah, hurrah,
The animals went in ten by ten,
The last one in was the little red hen,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain,
And they all went into the ark, for to get out of the rain.
Today is going to be the day
that the trees are going to get some leaves
By now the sheep pigs and cows
are saying it to the bees
They are all saying that it’s time
for spring to hear their pleas – Spring is here now!
The winter’s over and the sun
is warming all the flowers and plants
The animals are feeling happy
and so are butterflies and ants
They are all saying that it’s time
for spring to hear their pleas – Spring is here now!
And all the buds on all the trees are growing
And in the grass the wild flowers are showing.
Today is going to be the day
that the trees are going to get some leaves
By now the sheep pigs and cows
are saying it to the bees
They are all saying that it’s time
for spring to hear their pleas – Spring is here now!
I see the eggshells that I’m going to be painting
But I must wait till Easter
And look at the egg and I see it needs eating
But I must wait till Easter
I don’t know how I can resist it
Cos I just love chocolate.
Easter is fun we can do painting for celebrating it.
Chocolate is yum and we can hide some then you can find it.
The easter bunny is really quite funny cos noone knows where he’s from.
And then there’s the chicks and baskets and the bell but we don’t know why it’s rung.
Easter is fun we can do painting for celebrating it.
Chocolate is yum and we can hide some and then you can find it.
Easter is fun we can do painting for celebrating it.
Chocolate is yum and we can hide some and then you can find it.
Speak English everywhere
and when you travel you’ll know that you can really share
Just to know it is to speak it anywhere
English will help you to know
Countries around you and understand more
To meet foreign friends
Learn cultures and open doors
Speak English everywhere
Because you’re a child you can learn it easily
You can sing and say new words so eagerly
English will help you to grow
To meet other people and see other things
To open your mind
And see you can do anything.
Speak English everywhere
And then at your school you’ll show that you have lots of flair
Just to know it is to speak it anywhere
A school day.
I open my eyes
stretch out my arms and I’m awake,It’s a brand new day
I get up and dressed
then I have MY breakfast and I brush my teeth,It’s time to go to school it’s time to leave,
it’s time to leave leave leave
turn out the lights
We leave with our parents in our cars or on our bikes
Such a lovely day the sun is shining in the sky and off we go to school
We all go to school All day
Every week, only a week day ayyy
Our school is a very very very fine school
We learn to read and write
We play sports and eat our lunch
And at the end of every day we go home
Then we go home la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la
Our house is a very very very fine house
We go home to eat and play
At the end of a school day
Yes at the end of every day we go home
I open my eyes
I open my eyes
and stretch out my arms and I’m awake
It’s a brand new day