On February 8th, 2011, French students from Osseo Senior High’s AP program and Park Center Senior High’s IB program attended the French day at the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley, MN. This unique opportunity allowed students to learn more about the wildlife in the French speaking countries of the Central African Republic and Guadeloupe, which they have been studying in class. All communication and presentations at the zoo were in French, thanks to this special event organized by the Minnesota Zoo. The funding of this project was made possible by the District 279 Foundation.
In spite of the cold, students were able to explore tropical settings and spot exotic animals, such as the Komodo dragon, flamingos, and the many colorful fish found in the coral reef. At each exhibit, students listened to exciting presentations given by advanced French students and discovered more about the animals that they have been learning about in class. Throughout the day, the students were actively engaged with the presenters and communicated in French with other students from schools throughout the metro area. Most of the students said that they were able to understand almost all of the presentations and were inspired by the presenters’ ability to speak French. As a result, many students plan to continue learning French.