Speaking in Tongues: Alton Elementary Schools Teach Foreign Languages

By Nick Lucchesi, The Telegraph, Alton, Ill.

Jan. 28–ALTON — A timid first-grader slowly counts to 29 in front of her teacher, but she can’t make it to 30. An anxious student helps her out.

“Treinta,” whispers a girl from across the desk.

Giving her a slight nod of gratitude, the student continues counting in Spanish.

The students are part of a voluntary new program in Alton’s elementary schools that teaches first- through fifth-graders foreign languages: Spanish, French and German.

The program consists of holding the 30-minute sessions at Gilson Brown, North and West elementary schools in Alton and Godfrey. A $45 per-student fee funds the language program, and the money goes to pay for school supplies and to the teachers, who are retired educators or college education majors.

Theresa Willis, a parent, program coordinator and a French teacher, said learning a second language at 6, 7 or 8 years old is easier for students than to take on the courses in high school.

“If you learn a language at a young age, it becomes almost permanent,” Willis said. “If you learn it in high school, when most of us learn foreign language, your brain thinks about it in English; then you translate it the new language, then you speak it.

“If you learn (foreign language) as a child, you are basically able to think in that language and speak it. It removes a (translation) step.”

The program began at West Elementary in the fall and at Gilson Brown and North elementary schools on Jan. 28. Another program is planned to begin at Lovejoy Elementary on Feb. 19.

Willis said she has talked with Alton School District officials about setting up a foreign language program for Alton Middle School to eliminate the gap between elementary and high school.

Last week at West, groups of six to 10 students worked on language in several classrooms. The language teachers quizzed students on basic vocabulary and counting.

“What are the magic words you need to add on to a food order?” asked Fran Green, a retired French teacher from Alton High School, to a fifth-grader.

“I know this one,” the girl said. After a brief pause, “S’il vous plait!” (“Please!”)

“Exactement (“Exactly”),” Green replied. “Tres bien!” (“Very good!”)

Most of the lessons are centered around vocabulary, and counting through songs and games.

In a German class for fourth- and fifth-graders, taught by Stacy Wolff, students sang the “Bruder Jakob,” the German translation to the French children’s song, “Frere Jacques.” They also tossed around a ball for a vocabulary, naming off translations for “brother” (bruder), “sleep” (schlaf) and “clock” (takt).

Lovejoy students still can sign up for the foreign language classes, which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of the school year.

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