by Pam Rutyna
Thisweek Newspapers

A pen pal program created three years ago for French 3 students at Rosemount High School has taught the students that not only do they like the same movies and music, but they also like the same sports.

"The American culture has really taken over in France,î said Brent Miller, a student in French 3. "They enjoy American football and basketball and like a lot of our sports superstars.î

The program, which pairs the teens with a school in Reims, France, not only helps the students understand the two cultures, it also helps them to practice their French and English.

The students communicate via the high school's Web site. Every six weeks, the French 3 students access the Web site and use a password, which enables them to log into a forum where they can write their letters.

"I work with the teacher in Reims and we have a series of letters that we have the students write to each other,î French teacher Cristina Sturm said. "These letters have themes and when the students prepare them, they are graded for their composition.î

Each letter must be written in French. However, at the end, they add a few English sentences to help the French students practice.

Once the students have crafted their letter, they print it off and hand it in to Sturm, who then reviews their French.

"I will circle some words that may be incorrect and will give cues to correct them,î she said. "But I will never give them all of the corrections. They are then able to ask other students or research the corrections on their own. They then can post their letter to the forum.î

Once the letter is posted, Sturm can log on and read the letters. If the corrections have been made, she will increase the student's grade.

Rosemount High School is usually the first to write. A few weeks later, Reims students respond. Their letters are mostly in English, with a few sentences in French at the end.

"We created themes because we want this to be a learning experience,î said Sturm. "We ask the students to not share a lot of personal information because once the letter is posted, everyone can read it.î

While the majority of contact is made through letters, both countries have exchanged photos as well as a few packages. In December, the Reims class, which is comprised of 42 students, sent a package complete with French newspapers, magazines and music CDs. "They even included a little something for every student,î said Sturm.

The students at Rosemount reciprocated and sent a Valentine's Day package. Since Valentine's Day is not celebrated in France, Sturm wanted her students to send items that explained what it was.

Sturm's two classes, which total 55 students, are also preparing a DVD that includes various activities at Rosemount High School that the French students may not be familiar with, including cheerleading and various sports as well as Sturm's classroom. "Each one of my students has said a greeting on the DVD,î said Sturm.

While French Teacher Claire Hagen created the program three years ago, Sturm has continued it for several reasons.

"While some of the students will walk away from this program with a new friend, it has taught all of my students that they know enough French to communicate with others in a French-speaking country,î she said. "It has also taught them that people are the same all over the world and that the students in Reims are just like them.î

French 3 Student Brittany Hanson agrees with her teacher. "It's cool that we can connect with these French students,î she said. "I've learned so much about how they live and just how similar they are to us.î

Pam Rutyna is at rosemount.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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