Why do you teach a foreign language?

Andres Valencia, Spanish Club advisor: I’m a native Spanish speaker, but I found this job opportunity and I’ve fallen in love with it. I originally studied music education but then I found a job teaching Spanish.

Yi-Chun Lin, Chinese Club advisor: When I came to the United States to study at Indiana State University I was supposed to go back to town to start teaching English. However, I had an opportunity to teach one year of Chinese at the university with those students. 

Shane LeFaure, French Club advisor: It’s my passion I love linguistics. I also like the science behind the language but I love the culture as well.

Why did you choose to start a language club?

Valencia: The language club was already established here at Logansport High School. The previous department head, Mrs. Christina, asked me to take over. That’s why I’ve been the sponsor.

Lin: I started the Chinese club because in the beginning I heard about all the clubs, but the original idea was to expose students more to the Chinese culture/Asian culture.

LeFaure: I wanted to start having people come back and learn more about the language and the French culture. 

What kind of activities does the club do?

Valencia: We do the 8th-grade Orientation and volunteer for the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot with the Spanish club. The Spanish club is also getting ready for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lin: Lunar New Year events, with club events, bring everybody together and show the rest of the community the different cultures. 

LeFaure: Homecoming parade, also celebrating La Toussaint, you get to try La Galette des rois.

Are there any up-and-coming field trips for that club?

Valencia: We have Global Fest in September and are also getting ready for homecoming. The homecoming event includes a big pizza party, and we will be working on the float for the parade.

Lin: In September we are going to the Global Fest, while in October we are going to Chicago Chinatown. I’m not sure about the international festival it’s still a to-be-announced thing.

LeFaure: Indy Global Fest, Indy International Fair, Art Institution of Chicago, and the multicultural fest. 

Why should people join these language clubs? 

Lin: We don’t have native speakers, we all come from different backgrounds, and we all come with some knowledge or zero knowledge of Chinese or Asian culture. Hopefully by joining the club you can pass the culture to the next generation and then that generation can spread it to more people.

Valencia: If you are a native Spanish speaker you should come hang out so that you practice your Spanish. If you are not a Spanish speaker, especially if you are in a Spanish class, you need to join our club. You are going to have lots of opportunities to practice speaking Spanish, and you are going to eat food at some point from a Hispanic country. 

LeFaure: People should join if they are interested in French culture or the French language and also diversity, it’s a great place for diversity.