Episode 155: Students Who Love Learning Another Language

Anthony Godfrey:
Bonjour and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. It is a classroom where you will find students fully engaged, speaking another language and loving every minute of it. On this episode of the Supercast, we take you to Fox Hollow Elementary School where sixth grade students share their experience in a French Dual Language Immersion class. We have some fun together speaking French and the students deliver a lively performance using the language they have truly grown to love.

We're here at Fox Hollow Elementary to talk about the Dual Language Immersion program with two of the students participating in the program and one of our teachers. Introduce yourself, tell us what grade you're in and just a little bit about yourself.

Lily:
My name is Lily and I am at the dual French Immersion at Fox Hollow Elementary. And I really like it here because the teachers are so kind and yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay.

Spencer:
I'm Spencer. And I'm in sixth grade and I do the French Immersion as well. And I like it here too, because our teacher is really nice.

Anthony Godfrey:
Let's talk to that nice teacher.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Hi, my name is Madam Fa’asu or Lydia, and I've been at Fox Hollow for five years now in sixth grade. And it's been an amazing experience.

Anthony Godfrey:
And can you describe the Dual Language Immersion program for those who may not understand it?

Lydia Fa’asu:
Absolutely. So the students have half of the time in English and half of the time in French. So they start for example, in the English class and do ELA and math, and then they switch and go to the French class where they do science, social studies and French, everything in French.

Anthony Godfrey:
And when you say everything in French, everything is in French. There is no English spoken by the teacher or the students, because part of the way you learn language is when you need it to survive. Is that right?

Lydia Fa’asu:
That's correct. They know that the rule is when they step in the classroom, everything is in French, and I send them back if they don't.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, and I've seen as I've observed over the years, even in first grade classes where students are just starting out and they need to ask permission to go to the restroom, they need something in class. And when they have to do that in French, that really forces them to put their brains into high gear and think about how to express that in a foreign language.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Yes, so in first grade when they arrive and they don't know a word of French, one of the basics is to teach them those key sentences. To ask to go to the bathroom or to ask what time it is or things like that. And so they learn little by little and usually by the end of the year, they know all the basics. Instructions or sentences that they need to be in a French class.

Anthony Godfrey:
Which grades have you taught since you've been here at Fox Hollow?

Lydia Fa’asu:
Fox Hollow I only did sixth grade, but I taught in fourth grade in Canyons School District for five years as well.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, great. And were you a teacher in France previously?

Lydia Fa’asu:
Yes. I was already an elementary school teacher in France and I taught pretty much every grade level there before I came here.

Anthony Godfrey:
And did you teach primaire or?

Lydia Fa’asu:
Primaire. So elementary and kindergarten even.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, even kindergarten. And how long did you teach in France before coming here?

Lydia Fa’asu:
About five years.

Anthony Godfrey:
What made you want to come to Utah to teach?

Lydia Fa’asu:
At first it was really the experience of trying something new. I was by myself in France . I was like, ‘you know what, if they give me the opportunity to come two years in the US and try new strategies for teaching, why not?’ And the plan was for me to go back to France after two years, but I got married.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, you got married. So do we get to keep you for a while?

Lydia Fa’asu:
I'm staying.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Outstanding. That is great news. I've heard so many great things about your teaching and your connection with students and your support of other teachers.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:
And that you really are at the center of making this program successful. Tell me what it's like for you and for the teachers that you work with to come over here to a new country, new school system. I know that a lot of support is required even in finding housing right away.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Exactly.

Anthony Godfrey:
So tell, tell me about what that's like.

Lydia Fa’asu:
It is very difficult when we get there. I would say until December, Christmas, it's an adjustment. We have to figure out cars, driving license, finding a house, understanding the insurance process, absolutely everything. And at the same time, you have to adapt to classrooms that are completely different from what we do in France. In France, the kids are not really allowed to get up or play on the floor or things like that. It's not as positive reinforcement like we do here in the US. So we really do have to adjust and adapt to the way we teach in the US.

Anthony Godfrey:
So there's a cultural adjustment to the country, but also to what the classroom looks like here versus in France.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Tell us more about the differences between school here and school in France.

Lydia Fa’asu:
There is absolutely everything that is different. So first of all, our boss is not our principal. There is usually someone in what we call the academy and that person is in charge of several schools. And that's the person who is the boss pretty much. So we don't even have an interview when we become teachers, it's a diploma and they choose where we're gonna go, but we don't have interviews to go to schools. And then the schedule is very different as well. Some of the schools don't have school on Wednesday, so they go Monday, Tuesday from maybe sometimes 8:30 to 5:00 PM.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. It's a longer day.

Lydia Fa’asu:
It’s a longer day.

Anthony Godfrey:
And a longer lunch too, though.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Yep. We have two hours break for lunch, usually.

Anthony Godfrey:
A two hour break for lunch because of the importance of that meal in France.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Yeah. And then in the teaching as well, everything is very different. We don't use as much technology. I was very impressed when I saw all those Chromebooks or video projectors and all of these things were new to me.

Anthony Godfrey:
I was actually a student in France in sixth grade.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Wow.

Anthony Godfrey:
My dad taught French and we were able to be on a Fulbright Exchange. So we lived in another family's home and they lived in our home for a year. We just did a swap and my dad swapped jobs. And it was really interesting for me to attend school. He just dropped me off, my dad did, and then I traveled class to class and tried to make my way.

Lydia Fa’asu:
That explains why you're so good in French.

Anthony Godfrey:
Well, that was a long time ago, but I really loved France and I loved living there and I loved being in school. And it's interesting when I have sat in on Dual Language Immersion classes, it has had a little bit of that feel. And even though it was decades ago, I was reminded of what it felt to be in a French classroom. A lot of a lot of focus on the language in France.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Yes, absolutely. And what I like about the program as well is that those kids learn the culture as well. Because I'm teaching them those French traditions that we have, right. Like the day we eat crepes in France or things like that. And I would say when they go to France, it's not gonna be a cultural shock, because they're used to having French teachers who are really native from France.

Anthony Godfrey:
Sure. I think that's a great aspect of the program, that you learn about how people live differently and how culture varies from country to country. Where it's hard to imagine unless you experience it in a way that dual language immersion students get the chance to. We're very fortunate to have you here, and it sounds like, to have you here for a long time.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Hopefully.

Anthony Godfrey:
That's very exciting.
Stay with us. When we come back, a special student performance you won't want to miss.

Break:
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Anthony Godfrey:
What are some of the things you think that surprise students the most about French culture?

Lydia Fa’asu:
Hmm. That's a really good question. I should ask them that question.

Anthony Godfrey:
Let’s bring it to the kids. What has surprised you the most as you've gone through now, six years of Dual Language Immersion about the French language or the French culture?

Lily:
I have no idea.

Anthony Godfrey:
Surprise after surprise, huh?

Lily:
Yeah. It's just like, when we learn about all this, it kind of just like clicks in my brain because all around the world, things are different. Like time, how everything has gone by.

Lydia Fa’asu:
History..

Lily:
Yeah. History

Anthony Godfrey:
And French is spoken in many countries. So I'm sure you've learned about just how France and French has influenced the world over the years. Tell me, what are your favorite words that you've learned in French? One of mine is anana, is it yours too?

Spencer:
Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Spencer, tell me about that.

Spencer:
There's like this French show I once watched and it was like about this talking pineapple, Anana. And I liked watching it and I also liked the word anana because I like bananas and it kind of sounds like the word banana.

Anthony Godfrey:
Right. It's full of surprises.

Lydia Fa’asu:
I think there is another one that they like. It's vert because vert in French means green.

Anthony Godfrey:
It means so many different things.

Lydia Fa’asu:
It means glass, it means worm and it means towards.

Anthony Godfrey:
Yes. So that's a favorite of yours as well. Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire?

Lily:
It means, I think it means a ripe blackberry murmurs to a wall.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh yeah. That's right. Mûre, right. Very good. Now I will just say that when you can manage puns in another language that shows a great understanding of the language. What  have you liked most or what are some of your favorite words Lily?

Lily:
I like the word canard because it means duck and I like ducks. Plus it's just a fun word.

Anthony Godfrey:
Canard. It is funny when you learn a new language that some words just kind of seem to click. Tell me what it's like to spend half of your day speaking only French.

Lily:
It's fun because I'm able to learn some of my favorite subjects, not just in English, but also in French. Because it gives me like, new ideas. And when you learn another language, it can really help you through life. If you ever wanna go somewhere new, and you don't know what to do, you can always talk to the people there when you know their language.

Anthony Godfrey:
Very good. Spencer?

Spencer:
I like that in history we've learned about the French Revolution, which I didn't know a lot about before. But now I know a lot about it, and I found it really interesting.

Anthony Godfrey:
What is your favorite subject to learn in French? What seems to fit nicely with French?

Lily:
History or science, or just the entire class?

Anthony Godfrey:
The entire class. All right. Fair enough. Spencer?

Spencer:
Our teacher's great. I love history. Like it's really fun. We, yeah, our teacher makes it really fun.

Anthony Godfrey:
What do you love most about your teacher? Elle est bien amusant les gens?

Lily:
She is just the best. I don't know. She just, she makes everything so fun. Like when we were doing science, she would have us do like fun experiments with like food. Sometimes when we like the lunar phases, it was fun. Cuz we had to do Oreos and she just makes everything so fun.

Anthony Godfrey:
Oh wow. So the double stuff became the waxing and waning moon? Yes. Wow. That's really cool. Spencer, how about you?

Spencer:
Like, I don't know. I don't know how she makes history so fun. But, I agree with Lily that she makes science really fun too because we get to do a lot of experiments. And we also did like a play like a couple days ago and it was really fun. It was about like some kids that built a time machine and like went back in time to like each time period. Like prehistoric, then like Egyptian times, and then like medieval times and then like the modern times. And then we also went to the future in it and that was really fun.

Anthony Godfrey:
Wow. She has really taken you on some serious field trips it sounds like. So I've heard about this play. It really made a big impression on people who saw it and I'm just sad that I didn't realize I was missing out. I heard there was some rapping in French. Is that correct? Could either of you give us a sample of that?

Lily:
We could.

Spencer:
Okay, I’ll go first.

Le vent souffle sur les plaines de la Bretagne armoricaine
Je jette un dernier regard sur ma femme, mon fils et mon domaine
Akim, le fils du forgeron est venu me chercher
Les druides ont décidé de mener le combat dans la vallée
Là, où tous nos ancêtres, de géants guerriers Celtes
Après de grandes batailles, se sont imposés en maîtres
C'est l'heure maintenant de défendre notre terre
Contre une armée de Sumériens prête à croiser le fer
Toute la tribu s'est réunie autour de grands menhirs
Pour invoquer les dieux afin qu'ils puissent nous bénir
Après cette prière avec mes frères sans faire état de zèle
Les chefs nous ont donné à tous des gorgées d'hydromel
Pour le courage, pour pas qu'il y ait de faille
Pour rester grands et fiers quand nous serons dans la bataille
Car c'est la première fois pour moi que je pars au combat
Et j'espère être digne de la tribu de Dana.

Anthony Godfrey:
Hey, très bien. Formidable! Parfait.

Spencer:
Merci.

Anthony Godfrey:
Incroyable.  Et toi Lily, vas-y.

Lily:
Okay.

Anthony Godfrey:
Un, deux, trois.

Lily:
Le vent souffle sur les plaines de la Bretagne armoricaine
Je jette un dernier regard sur ma femme, mon fils et mon domaine
Akim, le fils du forgeron est venu me chercher
Les druides ont décidé de mener le combat dans la vallée
Là, où tous nos ancêtres, de géants guerriers Celtes
Après de grandes batailles, se sont imposés en maîtres
C'est l'heure maintenant de défendre notre terre
Contre une armée de Sumériens prête à croiser le fer
Toute la tribu s'est réunie autour de grands menhirs
Pour invoquer les dieux afin qu'ils puissent nous bénir
Après cette prière avec mes frères sans faire état de zèle
Les chefs nous ont donné à tous des gorgées d'hydromel
Pour le courage, pour pas qu'il y ait de faille
Pour rester grands et fiers quand nous serons dans la bataille
Car c'est la première fois pour moi que je pars au combat
Et j'espère être digne de la tribu de Dana.

Anthony Godfrey:
Bravo! C’est super. Wow. That's amazing. I could not do that in English, much less in French so you guys have done great. I know we're running out of time. What would you say to a student who's thinking about doing this? Or parents who are thinking about having their child participate in Dual Immersion?

Lily:
I’d tell them to do French Immersion, or just on any immersion because it really can help you in school. I think for me it did because when you're bored in English, you can go have fun in French.

Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, fair enough. You can spice it up by adding that extra layer to learning where everything is in a different language.

Lily:
The teachers in French are so good. They're like so nice.

Anthony Godfrey:
That makes me so happy to hear that. That's no surprise, but it's great to hear that from a sixth grader ready to move on to middle school. Spencer?

Spencer:
I’d tell 'em they should definitely do it. Because it's definitely a really cool experience. Just speaking French with all your friends and it's just really fun. And I think it's really cool how we even do different subjects other than French in French. So yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:
Any final thoughts Madam Fa’asu?

Lydia Fa’asu:
No, I just think that it's an amazing program myself. I love to see how their results in science on the RISE test are amazing as well. And that blows my mind that those kids are learning science in French and do so well in the state tests. I'm just impressed with everything they do, how well they speak French and I'm not worried about them going to France one day.

Anthony Godfrey:
They'll do great. There's no question about that. And my hat is off to both of you for learning French so well and working so hard. And to you, Madam Fa’asu also for making this such a great experience for everyone.

Lydia Fa’asu:
Thank you.

Principal Amy Adams:
Our French grades 1-6, who are going to showcase all of the things that they have been learning this year and up through sixth grade.

Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us for another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there. Bonne journée!

Students singing Si j’allais en Chine in French

Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine

Avec mes copains, mes copines
Tout ‘monde en avion
Le temps de la récréation
Arrivée Pékin, me voilà dans un palanquin
Messieurs, allons vite pour voir la cité interdite
Si j’allais en Chine
Sur les collines de Gui lin
Où l’on dit “je t’aime” en se récitant des poèmes
Direction Shanghai
Et après la Grande Muraille
Soyons à midi au tombeau de Qin Shi Huangdi

Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine
Si j’allais en Chine

Dire bonjour aux Moines Shaolin