News
French students "meet" students in France using computers
Oct. 12, 2011
For
perhaps the first time ever, a class of Mohonasen High School
students met a group of their international counterparts via
computers this week.
French teacher Lynne Macko has been working with Mr. Oliver Fournil, a teacher at a high school in Paris, France, to set up the exchange. Macko’s French 5 students were already corresponding with the class through e-mails, text messages, and Facebook. Then, using the video messaging program Skype, the students were able to “meet” face to face.
Despite some minor technical glitches, students spoke in French and English to each other through the computers. Students talked about where they live, what their interests are and what school is like in their home country.
Macko hopes that the classes will be able to meet again in their near future to have more substantive conversations about cross-cultural issues and current events.
"I was really excited to Skype with people from another country. After we solved some difficulties, it was good to share the differences in the cultures and the similarities. Over in France they play handball and my pen friend said 'that the French are really good at it'," said Mohonasen student Alexmarie Poteralski. "There are similarities in music and TV interests. They have the same shows like "American Dad" and "Glee," but I do not watch them. Also, we listen to the same music, for example Adele and Cobra Starship. We also like the same song 'You make me feel'."
