THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503030148
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 22 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
STUDENTS AT TRANTWOOD Elementary School are learning more than English these days.
Because of a new foreign language program, all 31 classrooms are taking a minilesson in French or Spanish during the school day. Volunteer students from Cox High School, parents and other community members drop by once a week to deliver a 30-minute class on one language or the other.
``It's an introduction to foreign language in the elementary school,'' said Cathy Richwine, chairman of the 14-member Foreign Language Action Team, a new committee that is in charge of language resources and activities for the school. ``It's part of Trantwood's strategic plan to have every student learn a foreign language.''
Schoolwide involvement came about in November after some parents joined together in support of an after-school PTA foreign language program and lessons that a few teachers had incorporated into the mainstream classes. They took their case to the Planning Council and formed the team.
After surveying teachers to find out if they wanted to bring language into their classrooms during the teaching day, team members found that 100 percent were in support. Special education students are not required to learn Spanish or French, but they have the option to join one of the mainstream classes.
``We wanted everyone to be a part of it,'' Richwine said. ``It's contagious around here now. It's very rewarding.''
More than 40 volunteers teach at the school - 30 minutes a day, one day per week. They rely on the children to use their senses when learning language.
The alphabet, numbers, vocabulary and verb conjugation are some of the basics that are covered. Teachers use games and songs to reinforce learning.
``We have a lot of activity and movement,'' said Richwine, who teaches four French classes a week. ``We want them to be a part of the learning.''
The Cox students, who teach in pairs and trios, are glad to be involved.
``I enjoy language, and it's fun teaching these kids,'' said Sonali Chaturvedi, a senior, who teaches Spanish to Linda Widgeon's third-graders. ``It feels so good because I feel like I'm helping them out.''
Sonali's teaching partner, senior Joy Conoscenti, has been so moved by her experience that she plans to major in elementary education in college. ``I like coming in and seeing their faces,'' she said. ``They pick it up so fast.''
Trantwood teachers said the enthusiasm is shared. ``The people who are doing it want to do it,'' said Patrick Quigley, a third-grade teacher whose class is learning Spanish. ``I enjoy it.''
The students are eager to learn their new language. Stephanie McDougall, 8, said she's excited about using the new words she has learned.
``I feel like really cool because I get to talk to my relatives,'' said Stephanie, referring to the Spanish-speaking members of her family.
Richwine said this is the reason to start a program like this at the primary school level.
``Children learn better younger,'' she said. ``They absorb it better and they are much more enthusiastic at this age.''
The students' interest has demanded more foreign language-related activities and materials.
Two listening centers have been set up in the library, so students can spend time listening to French and Spanish tapes. New translation dictionaries were recently purchased for the library and ``Rosetta Stone,'' a CD-ROM program in French and Spanish will be the team's next purchase.
Trantwood also kicked off two after-school French clubs and two Spanish clubs last week, which are run by students from Cox and chaperoned by parents. According to Richwine, the team ``wants the students to learn not only the language, but the culture.''
While all of this activity is going on, Richwine has bigger hopes for the future.
``What I ultimately want is foreign language to be a part of the elementary school curriculum in the city,'' she said. MEMO: LANGUAGE VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer language teachers at Trantwood Elementary School are:
Cox High School students: Erin Architzel, Jessica Barney, Carty Beck,
Meredith Benson, Monica Bourne, Tra Calisch, Charity Carpenter, Chad
Chandler, Sonali Chaturvedi, Joy Conoscenti, Brian Cooper, Lauren
Crenshaw, Robin Dwyre, Katie Etter, Whitney Farmer, Chris Frech, Jason
Gustafson, Joanna Hale, Kristina Hallingshead, Lee Hinnant, Chris
Imrich, Helen Kalivas, Katie Kjome, Catherine McCallum, Kortney O'Brian,
Cara Reske, Erin Swiader, Shelton Viola, Ann Vu, Jackie Williams and Ted
Yeschin
Parents and community members: Ruth Bates, Dr. John Caudill, Susan
Evans, Ed Fernandez, Maryann Keally, Beth Ann Lawson, Hugutte Makowski,
Carol Moncayo, Cathy Richwine and Sharon Seavey.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos by HOLLY WESTER
ABOVE: Cox High School seniors Sonali Chaturvedi and Joy Conoscenti,
volunteer Spanish teachers at Trantwood Elementary School, go over
lessons plans in Linda Widgeon's third-grade class. RIGHT: Maryann
Keally, a parent volunteer, reviews numbers in French with Barbara
Greer's second-grade class.
Pamela Groves, a second-grader who is nicknamed Patrice during
French lessons, tells her class how old she is in French.
by CNB