Overview
For over 60 years, French has been an integral part of what makes the Marion Cross School a special place. The mission of the elementary language programs in SAU 70 is to prepare students to communicate and express themselves organically and confidently in another language. We approach second language learning with the same elements that dominate first language acquisition: children hear the language before they begin to produce it themselves. We use stories, songs, props, and gestures to provide students with opportunities to hear the language. We immerse students in a language-rich environment to help students acquire vocabulary and simple phrases. Teachers present content with repetition, energy, and creativity, building our lessons around students’ interests; this allows us to meet the 90% target language use in the classroom goal per the ACTFL recommendation. As a result, students acquire vocabulary, grammar, and a technical understanding of the language in context. In all grades, teachers nurture an environment that encourages risk-taking, and instill in students a passion for language learning and cultural exploration that encourages them to explore our world.
Students in all grades at Marion Cross, from kindergarten through sixth grade, take French as a part of their regular program of study.
For over 60 years, French has been an integral part of what makes the Marion Cross School a special place. The mission of the elementary language programs in SAU 70 is to prepare students to communicate and express themselves organically and confidently in another language. We approach second language learning with the same elements that dominate first language acquisition: children hear the language before they begin to produce it themselves. We use stories, songs, props, and gestures to provide students with opportunities to hear the language. We immerse students in a language-rich environment to help students acquire vocabulary and simple phrases. Teachers present content with repetition, energy, and creativity, building our lessons around students’ interests; this allows us to meet the 90% target language use in the classroom goal per the ACTFL recommendation. As a result, students acquire vocabulary, grammar, and a technical understanding of the language in context. In all grades, teachers nurture an environment that encourages risk-taking, and instill in students a passion for language learning and cultural exploration that encourages them to explore our world.
Students in all grades at Marion Cross, from kindergarten through sixth grade, take French as a part of their regular program of study.
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K, grades 1 and 2: 80 minutes/week
Grades 3&4: 3x30 min=90 min/week Grades 5&6: 4x45 min=180 min/week |
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History
The 2020-2021 school year will mark the seventieth decade of the French program at the Marion Cross School! In June 29160, the Superintendent of Schools, Arthur Cheney, wrote the following in the town report:
"The pupils of grade 4 in the Norwich School have been studying conversational French during this school year. Present plans call for expanding the program to include Grades 4&5 for the next school year. This curriculum offering has been made possible through the efforts of Mr. Michael Benamou and Mrs. Eugene Lyons."
The 1963-64 town report noted that “our French program is reported to be one of the best foreign language programs in the state.” The original program gave students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades a minimum of 120 minutes of French instruction per week.
In September 2010, the MCS Long Range Plan established a committee to look at expanding our language program. In 2011 we hired Helena Curtain as a consultant to lead us through this process. After working with Helena and doing substantial research, the committee recommended to the board that Marion Cross implement a pilot program that would bring French instruction to students in third grade for 90 minutes a week. (At this point, fourth graders at MCS had 90 minutes a week of French.) This pilot program began in the 2013-14 school year; the school board approved the full expansion of the French program to include all students, from kindergarten through grade 6, the follow year.
French has always been an integral part of the Marion Cross School curriculum. Throughout the year there are multiple arenas through which students demonstrate their competence in French; students sing French songs at the holiday concert and perform in the French rep in March as well as at various other moments during the year. All grades see French integration in other disciplines, be it in the first grade meadow study, second grade and their fable unit, third grade’s study of folk tales, or the sixth grade Acadian odyssey musical.
The 2020-2021 school year will mark the seventieth decade of the French program at the Marion Cross School! In June 29160, the Superintendent of Schools, Arthur Cheney, wrote the following in the town report:
"The pupils of grade 4 in the Norwich School have been studying conversational French during this school year. Present plans call for expanding the program to include Grades 4&5 for the next school year. This curriculum offering has been made possible through the efforts of Mr. Michael Benamou and Mrs. Eugene Lyons."
The 1963-64 town report noted that “our French program is reported to be one of the best foreign language programs in the state.” The original program gave students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades a minimum of 120 minutes of French instruction per week.
In September 2010, the MCS Long Range Plan established a committee to look at expanding our language program. In 2011 we hired Helena Curtain as a consultant to lead us through this process. After working with Helena and doing substantial research, the committee recommended to the board that Marion Cross implement a pilot program that would bring French instruction to students in third grade for 90 minutes a week. (At this point, fourth graders at MCS had 90 minutes a week of French.) This pilot program began in the 2013-14 school year; the school board approved the full expansion of the French program to include all students, from kindergarten through grade 6, the follow year.
French has always been an integral part of the Marion Cross School curriculum. Throughout the year there are multiple arenas through which students demonstrate their competence in French; students sing French songs at the holiday concert and perform in the French rep in March as well as at various other moments during the year. All grades see French integration in other disciplines, be it in the first grade meadow study, second grade and their fable unit, third grade’s study of folk tales, or the sixth grade Acadian odyssey musical.