Language Lessons Start Early in Washington
School Program will introduce students to French, Chinese, and Gaelic
Reprinted from the Waterbury Republican-American, November 11, 2004
by Akiko Matsuda
First-graders at Washington Primary School listened as teacher Katie O’Neill read Little Red Riding Hood out loud. That may sound too elementary for 6-year-old children – but not when it’s read in French.
The school kicked off a celebration for a program called “2005: the Year of Languages” with various activities on Wednesday. It’s celebrated nationally under the auspices of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. “The goal of the Year of Languages is to advance the concept that every American should develop proficiency not only in English, but in other languages as well,” according to the council.
At the school’s library, O’Neill, who first took French in second grade and majored in the language in college, explained basic French vocabulary in the book before she started reading.
“One of the characters of the book is Le Loup,” O’Neill said to about 35 pupils. “Tell me what that is in English.”
Steven Willams knew what it was. “It’s a wolf.”
O’Neill mixed in a few English explanations as she read the story, but for the most part she spoke in French.
“They really understood,” O’Neill said after the reading. “I was very impressed.”
But this is no surprise to Ginny Staugaitis, who teaches Spanish at the school and at Booth Free School in Roxbury.
“I think children are like sponges at this age,” she said. “They absorb so much.” Staugaitis said research has shown the earlier a child starts a language the better because of the connection that forms in the brain.
Monica Taylor, mother of first-grader Emily Taylor, is pleased with the program.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Taylor. It gives them a chance to think about other people, what other people are thinking about, and different cultures.”
French is the language of this month. Children will be exposed to a different language every month: German in December; Italian in January; Chinese and Japanese in February; Gaelic in March; Portuguese in April; and Spanish in May.
In each language, special activities such as poster contests and assemblies are planned. And guest speakers…will read Little Red Riding Hood in their languages, according to Staugaitis, who organizes the celebration activities.
“Children are enjoying it,” Staugaitis said. “They love it.”
