SCHOOLS' FRENCH ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28399, 4 October 1957, Page 7

SCHOOLS' FRENCH ASSOCIATION

Value Of Experiment Confirmed

The Canterbury Schools’ French Association is being embarrassed by requests for membershsip. Founded early this year by the professor of modern languages at Canterbury University College < Dr. R T. Sussex) for the benefit of upper-sixth form pupils, it has become so popular that lowersixth forms have been clamouring to join. But with membership already at about 120. it is felt that an increase would become un wieldly. The last meeting for this year] will be held this evening at Rangi-ruru School. There will be a popular programme, typical of the year’s activities. There will be folk dances in costume. Rangi-ruru girls will give a dance with traditional accordion accompaniment. The whole group will sing four French songs. (New ones are learned at every meeting, one or two schools being detailed each time to give a lead.) There will be competition games requiring a knowledge of French life. A half-hour play will be given by pupils of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, under the direction of Mr Meredith Money. Professor Sussex said that next year it was hoped that all this preparation would enable a dramatic festival of one-act French plays to be held, with each school competing. "This experiment has, I think, proved valuable,” he said, “particularly in stimulating oral French. Members of the association have become quite fluent. Entries in the oral French competitions of the French club have increased. Pupils who will become university students next year will be better prepared for the oral French we are encouraging there.” Professor Sussex said he believed the year’s activities had broadened members’ appreciation of French culture and provided a useful link between the schools and the university. With the association confined to upper-sixth forms, the membership would change at. least every two years, thus serving the maximum numbers.