- How important is it for my child to participate in French class?
- Why should my child learn another language?
- Where can I find more information on learning another language?
- What should I do if my child is new to French?
- Is it okay for my child to use an online translator for French class assignments?
How important is it for my child to participate in French class?
Participation counts 50 percent of your child's French grade
(Behavior is a part of the participation grade). In our
elementary foreign language program, we place the stress on oral
proficiency and comprehension. In other words,even if your
child's behavior is angelic in class, he or she may still earn a
B, if I rarely hear him/her making an effort to speak French.
Please encourage your child to watch my gestures and non-verbal
cues. The key to success in French or any foreign language class
is watching, imitating or repeating and taking risks by
volunteering to participate in class activities and discussions.
Why should my child learn another language?
At Sarah Smith Elementary, we are committed to developing open-
minded and curious global citizens. One way in which we do this
is by learning about other countries and cultures through the
French language. In addition to broadening your child's horizon,
there are many academic advantages to learning another
language. Statistically, children who study a second language
score higher on verbal standardized tests conducted in English.
Language students also perform better in math and logic skills
than children with just one language. Natural absorption of
another language occurs before children reach puberty. So now is
the time to build a strong base for learning many more foreign
languages!
Where can I find more information on learning another language?
Parent's Press
www.parentspress.com/edulanguage.html
Center for Applied Linguistics
www.cal.org/earlylang/benefits/a_case_for_foreign_languages.html
What should I do if my child is new to French?
Don't panic. A positive attitude goes a long way. Although the
class is taught completely in the target language, almost
everything I say is complemented with gestures and/or visuals.
By being an active participant in class, looking and listening to
what is going on, and taking a few risks in speaking, your child
will catch up amazingly fast.
It should be noted that he/she will be evaluated based on his or her individual level. A new student, for example, will be evaluated at the novice low level; whereas, a child who
began in 1st grade should be performing at a higher level (based on prior target language contact hours).
Is it okay for my child to use an online translator for French class assignments?
NO!! I do not encourage or authorize students to use an online translation application to complete French assignments, for several reasons. Here are just a few. First, the translation is usually literal and does not always reflect the meaning that the student intended to convey. Also, I want to know what students can produce with the knowledge and vocabulary that they currently possess. For every project or assignment, I expect students to use the current unit vocabulary and any other expressions or phrases they can recall from past exposure. I don't expect perfection, because I'm not perfect. Most projects have a written and oral component. When students translate chunks of language using a dictionary or online translator, they struggle through their oral presentations to pronounce these unfamiliar terms. Please encourage your child to come see me, if he or she needs help with anything relating to French work.