NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)
Date: February 16, 2009
Lisa Brosky, 502-213-2400, lisa.brosky@kctcs.edu
Language, art featured in JCTC French in France summer program
A museum tour guided by an artist, lunch in a sidewalk café, enjoying a bustling park with French locals, it's all in a day's study in Jefferson Community and Technical College's summer 2009 French in France program.
Following the success of a 2008 program, organizers expanded this year's program to include not only French language studies, but also a focus on French art history. Just as in 2008, participants will travel to Montpellier with French professor Marie-Pierre Good and JCTC Foreign Language Department Chairman Ed Wong for a month-long total immersion program in the French language. New this year, however, will be an art history program taught by JCTC fine art professor Barry Motes.
"We hope to excite people to want to study French," Wong said. "It's an important and significant language with more than 98 million speakers worldwide. This program is open to anyone, whether they speak or study French currently or not."
All levels of the language are offered from beginning French, French 101, to the advanced French 202. Students can earn 8 college credit hours in French and/or 3 credit hours in art.
The French in France program is scheduled for June 16-July 16, 2009 (the dates could vary by one to two days). Students will stay at the "La Colombiere" college dormitory complex, which offers private baths, cooking areas, laundry facilities and 24/7 security. Costs currently are estimated at $2,850, including airfare, lodging, transportation while in France and tuition for an 8 credit hour course load. Meals are not included, but students may cook in the dorm and use the cafeteria.
"Montpellier is a young city, in the sense that its proximity to the beach, numerous universities, and encouragement for the arts attracts many college-age people," Professor Good said. "This made Montpellier a perfect location for the program. Students from America and France were able to communicate with each other and friendships were formed that will last for years."
Technology aids growth in language programs
Jefferson has enjoyed recent growth in its foreign language programs, particularly French and German, thanks in part to the use of technology. The French language program has grown more than 200 percent in five years; German language studies grew 159 percent in the past four.
One factor was the addition of "interactive television" or ITV that allows students enrolled on a remote campus to attend a foreign language class through a live interactive connection.
"We might not be able to have an instructor at our Carrollton campus, but through ITV, a student in Carrollton can participate along with the classroom students in Louisville," said Wong, department chairman. "Students in the classroom show excitement and motivation when using ITV to communicate or exchange with students at other locations."
The college also offers foreign language programs over the Internet. However, Jefferson's programs take advantage of technology that allows students to engage in "voice-chat" sessions, which connect on-line students with instructors for spontaneous multi-person conversations.
JCTC's on-line German instructor, Michael Kessler said, "Without live listening and speaking, there is no chance for the student to
learn the language. They can only learn
about it."
Wong sees all the elements of the program working together to excite and engage students.
"You can learn a language in the classroom, but when you go abroad you also learn to appreciate the history, culture and people of another country. It brings the language out of textbook and into context.
"One student last year wrote in his evaluation 'I learned a lot, not only French, but also about life and interaction with others.' That's what the program is all about," Wong said.
People interested in participating in the French in France 2009 program should send an e-mail to
Ed.Wong@KCTCS.edu or
Marie.Good@KCTCS.edu. Wong also can be reached by phone at (502) 213-5058.
For most Kentuckians, higher education begins at KCTCS. Our statewide system of 16 colleges and 65 campuses provides citizens throughout the Commonwealth with a quality education that is both accessible and affordable.