Supervised by Joseph Robinson, French teacher at York Suburban, French Week, Nov. 10-14, will be dedicated to French culture.
Robinson is devoted to helping our school be more involved in spreading the French language. Robinson believes French Week will do just that. He said, “French week is a national week-long celebration of French culture and the French language. We strive to make the student and staff body aware of the amount of countries worldwide that speak French and/or have French-speaking roots. French is one of the official languages of the United Nations and truly impacts the globe.”
While Robinson has been supervising, others have been contributing to the creation of French Week. He said, “French Week is planned by the French Honor Society (FHS) and myself, but we hope to engage the entire student body.”
The French Honor Society will also make the school more ‘French friendly’, Robinson said. “Different FHS members will be responsible for decorating the school building and grounds, others have researched facts about francophone countries and still others will promote the event by helping out with the actual advertising of the event.”
French classes have and will be a part of making French Week more effective, Robinson said. “The French classes will participate by dressing in the colors of the French country that is being celebrated on a particular day. For example, on the first Monday of French week, we will recognize Madagascar. All French students are requested to wear the colors of Madagascar on that day.”
Robinson said, “I do believe that this French week will be better as we have more students involved and we have a definite theme. Our focus this year is: French Around the World: Join the Revolution. We will have trivia and prizes (including gift certificates) and food for participants.”
Robinson has added some extra surprises to French week such as a local French restaurant, “We’re also involving the York community. The Blue Heron is supporting us with a gift certificate which will be given to the winner of one of our contests.”
French students have also helped with the developing of French Week and will participate in the activities. Robinson has students working in the classroom on things that will add to French Week. Robinson said, “In addition to dressing in the colors of the respective French countries, I will ask French students to participate by researching the
influence of France in a specific country and creating a poster which shows that influence. For example, my French 2 students will create visuals showing French influence in different parts of the United States.”
Robinson said, “I think the most exciting part of French week will be the Thursday and Friday. On these days we have trivia that will allow participants to win gift cards to local stores etc… We will also have tons of doughnut holes (munchkins) available to everyone who is wearing the colors of France on Friday.”
In order to make French Week as successful as many hope, the student body will really have to participate and show French spirit. Robinson said, “Students outside the classroom can help by wearing French colors and also answering the trivia questions that will be announced. They can also show support for their friends that are actively planning or working to make French week a success.”
French Week can be a huge hit. Robinson said, “There are many benefits that can arise from French week. For example, I have often encountered Americans who feel that the French are unfriendly… I am also hoping to provide fun opportunities for the student body to discover the beauty of Vietnam, Senegal and Louisiana just to name a few. Finally, French week can create an interest in learning more about the French language and culture that may lead students to begin their own journey of discovery.”
Robinson also believes French Week will impact the school greatly, “French has often been considered a less-important language than others; I believe that this is an unfortunate misconception. French week will allow students to see for themselves the real value of French. I hope it causes many students to embrace a language and culture that is changing the world.”
Robinson has chosen to keep the rest of the details under wraps for now so it can be a surprise next week.