French immersion students at Innisfail’s St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School are going to great lengths with their French language education.
Nine French immersion students in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 held a video conference with similarly aged students from Lafeyette, Louisiana’s Alice Boucher Elementary World Language Academy, which is located 3,750 kilometres away, on Nov. 3.
The distance did not seem to matter as St. Marguerite Grade 4 teacher Micaela Wasylik got the first conference of the school year up and running. The two groups of students greeted each other with a hearty “bonjour” before asking each other how their days were going.
The Alice Boucher students were all dressed in brightly coloured costumes and presented a Halloween skit and song for the enjoyment of the St. Marguerite students, who giggled and laughed throughout the presentation.
The St. Marguerite students returned the favour by singing a song about the pumpkin.
Following the presentations the students were given an opportunity to ask questions.
Leanne Proulx, the students’ French teacher, said they were initially nervous about the conference and were unsure of what to ask.
“They weren’t sure they would understand them,” she said. “But they did well.”
According to Wasylik the two schools have been video conferencing “friends” for two years.
“They’re just the neatest people,” she said. “Every year they email me and ask me if we want to do it again.”
Proulx said the students will probably prepare a selection of Christmas songs, a poem, and possibly some crafts for the next video conference, which is tentatively scheduled for December.
