Middle School French Class (ages 11-14)
During this course students will learn to conjugate basic verbs in the present tense and write short sentences. They will learn to comprehend simple stories and read more challenging passages orally with correct pronunciation. They will also learn to effectively use idiomatic expressions and vocabulary to talk about their daily lives. Interactive classwork will develop and reinforce all four linguistic abilities in French: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Through weekly dialogues, storytelling, communicative activities and games, and movement students will strengthen concepts learned in class. Independent homework assignments, quizzes, and tests give the students ongoing opportunities to discover strengths and shore up weaknesses. Additionally, students will be introduced to the art, culture, music, and history of the French speaking world. Stories, paintings, music and pictures will assist us in exploring these topics.
This course includes 30 hours of in-class instruction from September through mid-May. Each week, students are responsible for consistent, daily review of vocabulary as well as homework assignments throughout the week.
About the Instructor: Brooke Ahlert
Brooke developed a love for languages at a young age.
After sampling German, Spanish, and French, she chose to pursue French at the age of eleven. She continued studying the language throughout middle school, high school, and into college. During that time, she competed in the Concours Oral for two years, earning the highest score of an A and receiving a gold medal both years. One summer in high school, Brooke traveled to France for a month, immersing herself in the culture and even living with a French family for a week.
When Brooke began homeschooling her two daughters, she was eager to share her passion for the French language with them. After feeling disappointed with the available homeschool curricula, she began creating her own materials. After several years of teaching her daughters, a friend encouraged her to expand her teaching to other homeschool students.
This encouragement led Brooke to begin teaching at the Journey Homeschool Co-op in River Falls, Wisconsin. For the past three years, she has taught students ranging in age from 7 to 18. She is passionate about the French language and culture and loves sharing that enthusiasm with her students. Brooke brings creativity and humor into her classes, believing that language learning should be engaging and enjoyable. She especially enjoys watching her students express their unique personalities in French.
Seeing her students grow in their ability to speak, read, and write in French has been a true joy. This year, Brooke is excited to expand her offerings to include a French class specifically designed for middle school students. She looks forward to continuing to share her love of teaching and the French language with her students.