Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009

Theo Lamballe and Noemie Gautier, who moved here last summer, have caught on quickly. (Photo: Tammy L. Lane)

By Whitney Miller

With a lot of personal attention and a touch of technology, one Rosa Parks Elementary School teacher has helped two students from France feel right at home here.

Fourth-graders Noemie Gautier and Theo Lamballe are not siblings, but both their families were relocated to Kentucky from the area of Orleans, France, by Lexington-based global printer company Lexmark International.

“I thought it would be so weird and I would not understand anything,” said Theo, who met Noemie only once in France before their families moved to the Bluegrass.

Both students knew only a minimal amount of English before joining Rosa Parks this year. But they have progressed rapidly because of active participation at school and motivating learning activities such as a blog set up in collaboration between teacher Suzanna Weisenfeld and Noemie’s mother, Muriel Gautier.

The blog was initially Gautier’s way of helping children at her daughter’s old school in Boigny Sur Bione connect with the United States.

“At this age, they’re beginning to learn English, so it’s a good way for French people to practice,” Gautier said.

Currently, the private blog spotlights “The War with Grandpa,” a book Noemie and Theo read at Rosa Parks. The kids typed chapter summaries in English, and Weisenfeld corrected grammatical errors before posting them. The next book the children plan to blog about is “The Hundred Dresses,” which touches on some of the difficulties of moving to a new place.

During a visit to France this summer, Gautier plans to talk with Noemie’s former teacher about having her students contribute to the blog, too.

Though the blog’s original purpose was to cultivate a relationship between schools in France and the United States, it will develop into much more. Next year, Gautier plans to translate some of Noemie and Theo’s schoolwork for parents of the French students to read, and the blog will follow the kids as they continue their studies at Rosa Parks and learn more about this country.

This pair has already adapted well. Spreading her arms wide, Noemie described how Rosa Parks Elementary “is so big” and sprawling compared to multi-storied schools in France, where land is limited.

She and Theo also had to get used to fewer recesses and shorter lunch periods here. In France, they said, students have about five short recesses each day. Another difference Theo mentioned was that in France, students have only one teacher, while at Rosa Parks, they have different teachers for special classes like art, music and physical education.

Eventually, Weisenfeld wants to develop a combined blog for all of her students who are learning English as a new language so they can communicate with their respective “home” countries.

Her efforts illustrate how Rosa Parks Elementary is reaching out and using new ways to educate and broaden children’s horizons.

“It is not only my job to teach them English but to make them feel comfortable,” Weisenfeld said.

About the author:

Henry Clay senior Whitney Miller has been interning in the Department of Communications this spring. The 18-year-old, who will attend Centre College in the fall, is exploring her future options through the school district’s Experience-Based Career Education program.