Kennedy Middle School students studying French and French students studying at Kennedy Middle took some time away from their books Tuesday for a pique-nique sur l'herbe, a picnic on the grass.
The Kennedy students are in Garrett Maroney's French I and Exploratory French classes. The French students, whose parents work for AREVA, a French company that is designing the mixed oxide fuel (MOX) facility at the Savannah River Site, take classes with their American peers at Kennedy, but during free periods or after school, they work with French teachers in the MLF-AREVA French School.
French students also are enrolled at Chukker Creek Elementary and South Aiken High. By attending the French School, the 11 students at all three schools will be on grade level when they return home to France.
"The picnic is a way for the American students to be with French students for a couple of hours for a cultural exchange," said Franck Senecal, the director of the MLF-AREVA French School, who came to Aiken from Normandy, France. "As you can see, all the students are together. They are speaking; they are enjoying the food; and they are discussing."
Maroney said the only real way to learn French is to be immersed in it.
"Barring the immersion experience, it's always good to have friends or people that you know who can speak the language," he said. "I had a couple of students come up to me today and say, 'Boy, I really enjoyed this. This was really nice. It was nice to hang out with the French students and speak with them.'"
Sitting on blankets scattered under the shade of a couple of Bradford pear trees, the students lunched on saucisson, a French sausage; pâté made from chicken and pork; pickles, radishes and tomatoes; French fromages, or cheeses, including brie and gruyère; and, of course, French bread. For dessert, they had fruits and croissants.
"It's a good time, and it's very good weather. Quite warm, but that's good," Senecal said.
The picnic also gave Senecal and the other teachers at the French School an opportunity to thank the Aiken County Public School District.
"We are so glad and proud to be part of the American school and program," Senecal said. "The teachers and staff are really friendly. They are always doing their utmost so that everything runs well for us. Our students are quite fluent here after a few months because the Aiken County program is really great."
A native of Aiken, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter.
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