By Briana Keenan
Correspondent
Amid the other nine and 10-year-olds at my elementary school, I handed my fourth grade teacher the required world language selection form for the following year when we entered middle school. The two options our district provided were Spanish or French and as a young child eager to learn a new language, I chose the latter.
Little did I know the positive impact that this decision would have on the rest of my life, even through my college career.
I have taken French since the fifth grade, which is almost 10 years. Within the past decade of learning this language, it has been an incredible journey.
The French programs in my middle and high school were small, but strong. My teachers in middle school, including Madame DiCairano and Madame Leon, always made class engaging. I can still recall some of the activities and tricks they taught us to this day.
In fifth grade, Madame DiCairano gave us a strong foundation, and even taught me how to say “teal” in French even though it wasn’t on the list of colors that we were learning. From sixth to eighth grade, Madame Leon made up songs for us to learn the conjugations of “être,” “avoir” and “aller,” taught us how to discuss our characteristics and immersed us in French culture.
Before I graduated from middle school, I handed in a similar form indicating that I would like to continue my French studies. Our program shrunk significantly since my high school offered two additional languages, Chinese and Italian. However, the program remained strong and we were a close-knit “famille” which our teachers reminded us of.
As middle school came to an end, I was nervous for what was to come, and if language learning would become more difficult at the high school level. Little did I know that French in high school would bring even more excitement.
During chilly winter mornings, we often had hot chocolate in class while we spoke French. We also watched movies, played games and even grew plants.
The two teachers I had then, Madame Conboy and Madame Gormon, were constantly in direct communication with the middle school and ensured a smooth transition in French learning for all incoming freshmen, including our class. I grew close with these teachers and one of them even wrote my letter of recommendation for the College.
Despite only being required to take two years of a language in high school for college, I took French all four years, starting in Honors II and ending in Advanced Placement (AP). During those four years, I came across many opportunities and learned even more than I could have ever imagined about French, to the point that I felt comfortable having in-depth conversations.
Senior year, I was inducted into my school’s chapter of the French Honor Society and I also earned my New Jersey and Global Seals of Biliteracy in the language. Since I continued to enjoy learning and speaking French, I knew it was something I wanted to minor in at the College.
I received a four on my AP French exam, exempting me from FRE 101 and 102 here. As I entered 103 last fall, the same anxiety that I had when I entered high school hit, but subsided as soon as we started class.
Without a doubt, I would not be the French speaker that I am today without the passion, guidance and motivation that my French teachers bestowed me. It is unfortunate that my district’s program has diminished even more and is now only offered at the high school level. However, I am thankful to be one of the students that was able to be in the program since middle school.
When I look back at all the years that I’ve taken French, part of me wonders if taking Spanish would have been a more “practical” or logical choice. Especially since I am going to be a speech pathologist one day, I often wonder if I should have taken Spanish instead. However, there are a few factors that make me feel secure in my decision.
Spanish is quite similar to French since they’re both “love languages.” Having taken it for so long, it will be easier to learn vocabulary and verb tenses in Spanish since I have the French foundation. . One day, I also hope to be as confident in speaking Spanish and American Sign Language, even though I am learning them quite later in my academic career.
Aside from the logistic use part, I don’t regret taking French because of the memories in classes, the improvement over the years and the enjoyment I’ve had throughout the entire experience. While I can easily get sick of Cengage’s “MindTap” exercises that I am often assigned and have had difficulty with, I feel like this is a testament of my hard work paying off.
Currently, I am taking FRE 211, making this my second class to count towards my French minor. After one more class, I will qualify for the French Business Certificate, and I hope to do research between the niche area of languages and speech pathology, with a focus on French. This semester, I also started leading my first Oral Proficiency Class (OPC) where I have been able to help fellow students at the College with their French speaking skills.
Even though this minor will not be on my diploma after I graduate officially, it will leave a lasting impression on me as I look back on all of the time I’ve spent learning French. I am eager for what’s to come in my future language classes and with my new fellow French classmates at the College.
I’m not sure if I’ll use it directly in my future career, but nevertheless, I will take the passion, dedication and excitement it has given me outside of the language logistics and instill it whenever I go.
Merci beaucoup, le français. Je vous aime.
