While Spanish is an obvious language choice for many around Utah to learn and most high schools in the Nebo School District offer Spanish, German, Japanese, and Mandarin; yet, few to no secondary schools offer their students the chance to learn French. French has a rich history in the world--at one time being THE dominant language of the aristocracy in Europe and Russia, and the language of most colonized African countries. While most of Europe and Russia are now learning English, most African countries still remain speaking their native dialects and language or the language of their former colonizer, France. French is an important language in the world today, being the only other language spoken by announcers at the Olympics besides English and the native language of the country where that year's games are taking place. Recognizing the importance of French and the advantage of learning it, like any other language, at a young age, Mrs. Beth Knudsen began a French Club at Barnett Elementary this school year.
After seven months of French Club for fifth and sixth grade students who chose to come, French Club finished with a tasty ending on March 28. Since learning about greetings, get-to-know-you questions, classroom vocabulary, adjectives to describe their looks and personality, the students were ready to write a script in French. The French Club participants wrote their scripts in the weeks leading up to March 28th. Then on that day, four volunteers from BYU came to talk with the fifth and sixth graders, read through their scripts, and learn about French culture firsthand from two native French women. The party was only complete with the creme puffs, crepes, chips, and root beer that were volunteered by their French Club teacher and the students. A big thanks to Professor Robert Erickson from BYU and his student volunteers, Heidi, Heidi, and Gania! Hopefully the love of French will carry on and the students will continue to learn French in their future schooling.