French Language

When reading chapter five in the book, one of the sites that was looked at was the Maine French Heritage Language Program site. We looked at this site when putting together our power points. What is talks about is the cuts and elimination of French language classes in elementary schools. This is happening in places that are close to us such as Augusta and Lewiston. They have done a pilot program where an after school program was created and French was taught to younger aged children.

The elimination of foreign language in lower level schools is a bad thing. When learning a different language, you also learn about diversity which in America is such a strong topic and really important to learn, especially at a young age, when you can get introduced to it and as you get older and older, it will progress. Even relating it more to Maine and Canada, where the two are so close and coming and going across the border are such common things. The language is needed, along with learning about the culture and diversity and the country’s upbringing.

Recently in our class we have been looking into the French immersion progam in schools. We looked close into the education system in Madawaska, this stuck home to me because one of my old friends was from there. So it was interesting to read about what she has always talked to and told me about. Up North in Maine French is taught in the school system, in early grades. I feel that it is important to teach young children language early on in schools. We also looked into school systems that don't have the immersion program. There was a big difference in the cost value it was shocking. I believe it is more effective to teach language while children are forming connections, instead of waiting for middle school. By my own experience I now that I didn't learn languages as easy the more I grew up.