Helping the Community

Prior to this school year, I was a bit jealous of the Spanish section of the Foreign Language Department at my school. There was no Spanish Club, but there was a International Club and a Spanish National Honor Society. My school is pretty good at getting new teachers into the mix of things. It's kind of like in class when the teacher (am I the only one that does this?) asks for volunteers, sees none, then proceeds to thank "John" for volunteering--You know that John knows the answer, he just hasn't raised his hand! In any case, at the beginning of the year, we receive a list of organizations and their sponsors. I was shocked to see that I was the French Club sponsor! How did that happen??? Last I heard, there WAS no French Club. Fast-Forward 3 years, and we have about 20 or so members who come to meetings to watch French films (at least the ones that don't involve sex/nudity--that leaves...oh about 2), meet for dinner at La Madeleine, and just general Frenchiness. Last year, I decided that the successful students deserved to be a part of something more service and academically related. I researched and finally created La Société Honoraire de Français. I had 15 applications (3.5 GPA, B+ Avg in French, and at least in French III), and admitted them. This week, we had our first service opportunity. We went to a nearby "retirement community" to play games with the residents. I was a bit wary, because I know what I thought about the elderly when I was their age. They were a bit scary...We arrived, and found out that they had set up dominoes. Unknown to me, only one of the 10 students there knew how to play! My Grandmother taught my cousins and I how to play at a young age. She would want to play, so she would just ask us "Can you count? Ok well sit down and play!" We sit down at various tables, and I watch the residents teach my students how to play. It was great. They were all having a great time with the games. They were complaining later that the old-timers were showing them no mercy! Later, I was told that one of the male nurses speaks French, and wanted to talk to my students. We gathered around him as he introduced himself (he is from Cameroon), talked about his life there and here, and his lack of French-speakers in the area. I cannot say how proud I was when he would ask questions and they would answer him in French! Three years ago, these kids knew nothing more than Bonjour! So the residents were happy and my students were happy...I will say that besides the smell, and the old ladies who wouldn't let go of my hand, it was a success!