MONROE, Mich. - Immersed in the French language as a Dartmouth College student, teacher Kevin Smith now uses the immersion strategy with middle school students in Monroe, according to The Monroe Evening News.
Smith, former chair of the French department at a private school in Vermont, uses little English in his French language classes at Meadow Montessori, The News reported.
"We begin speaking in French and Spanish to our youngest students, those from 18 months to kindergarten age," he told The News. Smith was trained at Dartmouth in the Rassias Method of foreign language instruction, which emphasizes helping students feel comfortable speaking the target language daily, even if mistakes are made, he told The News.
Smith recently surprised his students with mock copies of the Monroe newspaper printed in French.
"The kids love speaking (a foreign language)," Smith told The News. "Just about every student I've worked with has wanted to be able to talk to more people. They want to meet and greet the rest of the world."
SOURCE:
The Monroe Evening News, "No English allowed," Jan. 22, 2009
FURTHER READING:
Michigan Education Digest, "Muskegon schools develop Spanish immersion project," March 25, 2008
The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is a nonprofit research and educational institute that advances the principles of free markets and limited government. Through our research and education programs, we challenge government overreach and advocate for a free-market approach to public policy that frees people to realize their potential and dreams.
Please consider contributing to our work to advance a freer and more prosperous state.