By: Jodie Darrell, Staff Reporter | Photo By: Scott M. Roberts, Photojournalist
A new forum is now available to students for learning and practicing French and Spanish language skills in the Main campus cafeteria, said full-time CHSS Instructor Christopher Frenchette.
For French speakers, La Table Française occurs on Mondays and for Spanish speakers La Mesa Espanola occurs on Wednesdays. Both are open from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. All students can attend, even if they have no prior experience. The only thing required is a thirst for knowledge, said Frenchette.
“It’s a chance for students to practice the language skills they’ve learned if they’d like to. It’s a chance for them to ask questions for clarification if they didn’t understand something in class,” said Frenchette.
Every day will be different; there will be no set agenda and the entire hour will focus on students’ questions, said Frenchette.
The hour will be about more than just learning a language; it is also a great opportunity to discover the world and experience new things, said Frenchette.
“I want people to understand these are really broad world languages and be willing to discover them,” said Frenchette. “Taking a look outside of the space we live shows us the round world we live in.”
Students can become comfortable learning in a relaxed environment. It will complement their classwork in language courses, said Frenchette.
“Students who ask questions are going to be stronger students and my objective is to promote curiosity,” said Frenchette.
Students who are curious and comfortable asking questions are less likely to let confusing classwork go unaddressed, said Frenchette.
“It’s the ultimate job of the student at CNM to ask for clarification. Be curious. The curious mind is the one that absorbs and learns,” said Frenchette.
The idea to have language tables originated from one of Frenchette’s college professors. The professor had different language tables in the cafeteria every day, said Frenchette.
Frenchette said he wants students to have the same fun with the experience that he did.
“My job is to bring down anxiety and let you play with the language, setting up confidence and trust,” said Frenchette.
