Margaux Schmidt knew nothing about American football. Now, in addition to being a fan of the discipline, she shares her passion with her CM1 students, who discover the basics of English through this. And, this April 25, this sharing will allow him to attend one of the most important events of the season of this sport, from a stadium in the United States.
His gateway to this discipline, so complex seen from France, is his meeting with Jim, his companion, Pygargues player, the Troyes team (Aube). “I didn’t understand anything at first!” Remember the school teacher in Buchères (Aube). “It seemed complicated to me, but by dint of following TV matches, I got caught up in the game and I loved the atmosphere in the stadiums. »»
In addition to following the NFL matches, the North American championship, on screen, she now practices Flag Football, a watered down version of the discipline where contacts are prohibited. In full development, the Flag will be on the official program of the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.
Trainee teacher at Pont-Sainte-Marie (Aube) During the previous school year, the young woman set up a project to teach English to her CM1 students thanks to American football. “It fell all the better as we were in the year of the 2024 Paris Games. In addition to the English, they were able to discover where the main cities in the United States are, and the culture of the country. »»
A trip to the United States thanks to its students
To give an additional motivation to his students, Margaux Schmidt set them the goal of ultimately commenting on the Super Bowl sequences, the final of the American championship. “They were even more diligent and happy to see that what they learned was concrete,” smiles the teacher.
The story does not stop there. A big fan of the Saints of new Orleans, and the Lys Fleur which symbolizes them, Margaux Schmidt made small montages of the comments of his students and sent them to the French antenna of the NFL. “I had obviously asked the authorizations to parents! », She hastens to specify. Thanks to the performance of apprentice commentators, she won an international fans competition. A supporter of each of the 32 teams of the North American League was selected. Margaux Schmidt was the only French winner.
At the end of April, she flew to the United States with her companion. In Green Bay, in Wisconsin, she took place in the stadium where the Packers team usually evolves to attend the annual selection of new players by each team, the “Draft”, on April 25. A key moment in view of the following season, followed all over the world … during which the young teacher even had the honor to announce on stage one of the choices of her heart club.
His assignment to the school of the “three feathers” in Buchères in September 2024 did not alter his desire to combine his profession and his passion for American football. With the approval of her hierarchy, she continues to initiate her students to the language of Shakespeare based on “touchdowns”, the equivalent of rugby tests, and “prevent defense” (preventive defense).
But, if she had so far remained discreet on the team she supports in front of her students – “We cannot make propaganda! -, she can no longer hide, her experience during the selection having been relayed on social networks.
