Mrs. Lori Keller and Ms.
Stephanie Mikesell, Greenville High School teachers, have a combined forty-five
years of experience teaching foreign language. In the past, both teachers have put their foreign language skills to
practical use by traveling abroad.
Currently, these GHS
instructors and a group of Greenville High School students studying French and
Spanish are sharing their knowledge regarding foreign language each Wednesday
afternoon with fifteen third and fourth grade students at Greenville Elementary
School. The purpose of the Foreign
Language Enrichment Club is to spark interest in French or Spanish by exposing
the language to students in a casual, fun atmosphere. The students are learning Spanish and French
through songs, stories, games, and crafts.
During the eleven-week
program, students will study a specified category each week. The first five weeks of instruction have been
dedicated to French with Spanish instruction following the remaining five
weeks. On the eleventh week, there will
be a celebration. The first lesson was
on “greetings/introductions.” To add to
the excitement, students were assigned a French-sounding name. Future lessons include numbers, colors,
fruits and vegetables, and animals. It
is hoped that this basic knowledge will continue to be exciting as students can
begin taking a foreign language as early as eighth grade. It is also noteworthy that when applying for
colleges, the more selective colleges and universities prefer students with
three or even four years of completion of successful foreign language
classes.
Commendations are
extended to the GHS students assisting with the Foreign Language Enrichment
Club as they have graciously volunteered their time. This is not a requirement for a portion of
their grade in the high school French or Spanish classes. The older students have expressed that they
truly enjoy giving back to the young students, and the younger population is
entertaining and fun.