Success of a Two-Week Intensive Program in French for Superior High School Students on a University Campus...Fulfilling Academic Challenge!.

The evolution of a 2-week summer honors program in French for high school students, inaugurated in 1980 and conducted on a university campus, is chronicled. The program was designed to offer enriching experiences in language review, new skill building, French culture, understanding of French phonology, and conversation on topics of interest to students. All instructional materials were created by the director. Activities were conducted from early morning into the evening, with little homework required and with socializing encouraged. The program has been well received. Of the 310 participants over the first 12 years, a majority have placed in the 90th percentile of their high school classes. Posttests, administered since 1983, show skill improvement equivalent to one college semester during the course. Post-program questionnaires reveal student responses to and relative benefits gained from the grammar/structure, phonetics, reading, oral, language laboratory, conversational, and group social segments of the course. Overall, students gained substantially in skills, confidence, and enthusiasm. The program has drawn students from 155 high schools in 7 states and a broad demographic base. Some student comments are included. (MSE) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION , CENTER (ERIC) document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY ,sue TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Success of a Two-Week Intensive Program in French for Superior High School Students on a University Campus... Fulfilling Academic Challenge! by Michael D. Buzash Indiana State University. Terre Haute Central States Confernce on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Kansas City, Missouri, April 21-24, 1994