From June 9 -13, the district’s foreign language department held a free summer camp at Spring Woods Middle School for the first time ever, thanks to a generous $3,500 grant from the French government.
The goal of the camp was to introduce French language and culture to students who are entering 6th and 7th grade this fall. The camp also helped increase the awareness of the French language as a valuable tool for communication.
“Many people forget that bilingual doesn’t mean only English and Spanish,” says Janet Smith, the lead teacher of foreign languages in Spring Branch ISD.
Smith says that learning French gives students of every background an advantage in several ways. For example, she says French is useful for English-speaking students because it improves English vocabulary. Many English words are taken from the French language. Spanish speaking students would also benefit from learning French, as the language is closer to Spanish than English, and would therefore make learning French simpler for these students.
Overall, the camp was a first-year success. Around 100 students participated in the camp, attending French classes, modeling in a fashion show and taking a field trip to the Galleria for a picnic and scavenger hunt.
Smith said the district hopes to add another language summer camp next year, possibly teaching German.
Written by Communications Intern Kelli Trapnell.