The Virginia Department of Education requires that all students seeking an advanced diploma must take at least two years of a world language, whether that be French, Spanish, Latin, German, or American Sign Language. For those who seek to go above and beyond, the numerous language-based clubs offered at Woodgrove allow students to immerse themselves further in these cultures. Within the vibrant communities created by these clubs, members are able to explore their interests and improve upon their understanding of a language.
One of the reasons students are drawn to these clubs is for their engaging activities. Mr. Martin Fameni, the French teacher at Woodgrove, founded the French Club to further student involvement in the French language. At the beginning of the school year, the club hosts its annual crêpe day. French students line up at the door of Fameni’s L207 classroom during clubs to get a taste of the delicious treat. “We’ve opened it over the years to the members of the French club inviting one of their friends, because we wanted people to see what it was,” Fameni explained. It is by far the most popular meeting of the year.
The food and entertainment the French Club provides are certainly what draw the most attention. However, Fameni identified a more subtle reason for the success of the club: the improvements of members in their French classes. “When we do the trivia competition, they learn about culture, but we also do Scrabble. We also do language competitions where you have to solve problems…that require you to say things in French and to expect the other person to respond in French…it involves language, and it involves culture,” Fameni stated. It is not just Fameni who notices this shift in his classroom; students themselves notice the improvements they have made since joining the club. Anjy Ary is a member of the French Club who co-manages the club’s Instagram account and has become aware of the club’s influence on her French comprehension. Ary has benefitted from hearing “other people’s vocabulary. You can hear them pronounce stuff and different words that they say.” By immersing themselves in French culture and building upon their comprehension of the language, students are able to broaden their understanding of the world. “Language clubs open the world, because we cannot do everything in class…That is an opportunity for them to broaden their knowledge, cultural knowledge, linguistic knowledge, but also to pursue their passions,” Fameni noted.
The French Club is not the only place where students are developing a greater understanding of world languages. Dr. Benjamin Dyke teaches Latin at Woodgrove, and his leadership in the Latin Club has allowed him to connect students with Roman culture and Latin. “We do a variety of things, really aiming at building community for Latin students,” Dyke mentioned. The club puts on a number of competition-based activities, such as building towers out of spaghetti and Roman architecture with gingerbread. Additionally, every year, Latin students are able to attend the Virginia Junior Classical League Convention, where they are exposed to other Latin scholars and teachers from across the state. The convention hosts a multitude of contests relating to academics, creative arts, and graphic arts, as well as opportunities to learn about Roman life, mythology, and the Latin language. “Students who go to that often come back excited about the things that they’ve learned,” Dyke shared. This excitement creates a newfound interest in Latin that is reflected in their studies. In studying Latin, students are also able to improve their knowledge of the English Language through a greater understanding of sentence structure and parts of speech. “Learning any world language will help with that, but I think Latin is particularly helpful for English speakers, improving vocabulary,” Dyke elaborated.
Language clubs also create spaces for students to get involved in communities outside of class. As an organization that has existed for many years at Woodgrove, German Club is certainly no exception. The German Club’s activities include German movie nights, and they recently created a presentation on the fall of the Berlin Wall to educate members on German history. Since joining the German club in her freshman year, co-vice president Mary Thimons has dedicated many hours to its success. “It’s very good to be involved in a club that you have been in the class for for a while,” Thimons expressed. By participating in the German club for over two years, Thimons has built the club into an enjoyable space for German and non-German learners alike.
Through language clubs, students can continue to explore their cultures of interest and improve their language skills in an engaging, community-centered environment.