Dear Students,
Kids always think that adults don’t understand them. Why don’t adults understand? Because they don’t speak the same language. What you say is important, it explains who and what you are, and uses your very own words.
In my French class, I want you to learn about French speaking people. I want you to hear what people from other cultures have to say. I want you to learn about their lives and their thoughts, and what better way to learn this is to speak their own language. Since I can’t take you to all the places where French is spoken regularly, I need to do it in your imaginations. I can’t bring a bunch of French speakers here every day, so we have to read what they have to say. Sure, we could read English translations, but that wouldn’t be the same. It would be third hand information.
I want to teach you to speak French so that you can communicate with each other in a new language. I want you to understand it so that you can hear the beauty of the language. And I want you to read it so that you can take a glimpse into other people’s lives. Reading in French is more than just translating the words, it’s understanding what those words are saying to you.
I promise to teach you. I promise to give you strategies to help you along the way. I promise to show you beyond just this classroom to see the world around you. I want you to connect with others that are not like you, like the earthquake victims of Haiti, or the Muslims of Morocco, the Cajuns in New Orleans, or even the Vietnamese. French is much more global than just Paris, France. There’s more than just fashion, food and wine, the Eiffel Tower and Mardi Gras.
I will guide you on this journey. You just need to learn to read the travel brochure!
Sincerely,
Mme. Carlson
I like how you write about your promises to them. It would be interesting to have them write a letter about what they promise for you!
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