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ECE French is a French 5 course (Fourth year of High School French). Very advanced Juniors are selected to take the course to enable them to earn a total of 6 credits over two years (Junior and Senior years). Below are the stories of recent students who have earned credit for ECE French at CHS (either through FREN 3267 or FREN 3268w).
Name: Elise Ouellette
CHS Class of: 2009
College/University: Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University |
Taking ECE French at Coventry High School with Monsieur Scheideman was, to say the least, an interesting time in my life. There was never a class where I didn’t learn something new, whether it was the daunting tense of “subjonctif” or a catchy French number with accompanying dance moves. Monsieur Scheideman’s unique approach to teaching was a breath of fresh air, as the typical dry textbook was replaced with a never-ending supply of creative home-made worksheets. His entertaining and student-focused method of teaching made his classes some of the richest I have ever taken out of my 4 years at Coventry High School.
After having Monsieur Scheideman as a French teacher for my first two years of high school, taking his ECE class was an obvious choice. Both my speaking and writing skills improved immensely during these two years. By the end of my ECE French experience, I was confident that I would be capable of surviving in a French-speaking country. I tested out my skills in Disney World when visiting the French section of the World Showcase in Epcot, and the workers visiting from France were delighted to have a conversation in their native language. Bringing these skills to such a diverse university has also given me the opportunity to speak to international French students in their native language. The connections and common ground that can be established through language are wonderful and enriching experiences.
Even more exciting were the windows that French opened for me; I had the opportunity to do community service with Sargent College’s community health program. French was required in order to speak to impoverished Haitian families in the Boston area and coordinate them with necessary programs to provide them with housing, medical treatment, and job training. After settling into college life, I plan to pursue participation in this community service group.
Transferring my French credits was an easy process, after a fellow student had made the effort to have them recognized at our university. I simply requested my transcript from UCONN and met with my advisor who had them transferred to my college transcript. Combined with other AP and ECE courses taken in high school, I was able to cover 24 college credits. The extra time I have saved with these courses allows me to pursue a minor of possibly public health or art therapy to accompany my future master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. These ECE courses have provided me with a wonderful opportunity to further develop my career and set me above others in the same occupation. Not to mention, they look great when applying to colleges.
ECE French provided me with incredibly valuable skills that are serving me now and hopefully in the future. This program has certainly improved my life so far, and will continue to do so throughout my college and professional experience.
--February, 2010
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Name: Karl Cronburg
Class of : 2013 (CHS Class of 2009)
University: Bucknell University |
Credit was readily accepted here at Bucknell once I had an official transcript mailed to the university from UCONN. This transfer credit was accepted regardless of whether or not a placement exam was taken, which I took and did well on. Having taken the French ECE course allowed me to focus on courses in my major, because it fulfilled two core graduation requirements here at Bucknell; one Humanities (out of 4 required), and one "Broadened Perspectives" (out of 2 required).
--February, 2010
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Name: Corey Boudreau
Class of : 2009
University: Montclair State University |
May I first say that when I was offered to take French ECE I was hesitant at first. I wasn't sure if I could handle a college level class when I was so young and innocent in high school. However, my French teacher persuaded me and I must say that I am very appreciative of his encouragement. French ECE prepared me for what college has to offer, allowing for an extremely easy transition from high school to college. From what I learned in my French class I now have the ability to help many of my fellow students who do not have the luxury of being exempt from taking foreign language, precisely because they did not challenge themselves in high school. I am very happy I challenged myself in high school, for it has made me a more disciplined student. Personally I felt that my learning was enhanced due to the lack of textbook material. A textbook is not personal enough for learning such a thing such as a new language. A textbook is unaware of the current level of its students, while a professor has that knowledge and can take that into account when assigning work. It gave the teacher the ability to make the course a whole new experience, instead of the same sit down and read, then answer questions 1,2 and 3.
--February, 2010
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Name: Erica Potterton
Class of : 2007
University: Saint Anselm College
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ECE was a wonderful experience for me as a high school student. Not only did it allow me to skip directly into Advanced level French courses as a freshman in college but it permitted me to free up my schedule for other courses that pertained to my major. Even in my college's once-weekly oral classroom sessions I was comfortable with my level of knowledge. Unlike an AP course that is driven by an impending examination, the French ECE course was an opportunity to grow in my knowledge of the language in a way that encouraged true comprehension. The credits from ECE transferred easily and set me ahead of schedule. French also came in handy when I went on a trip with the college choir to Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris (and was the impromptu student translator the entire time)!
--March, 2010
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Name: Kelley Smart
Class of : 2008
University: University of Connecticut |
While all of the AP and ECE classes I took during high school career ultimately proved beneficial, French ECE (3267 and 3268W) counted for the most transfer credits by far. While French is neither my major nor minor, the college level language classes I took at Coventry High really helped me get ahead before even starting at Uconn. I was really surprised by my advisor’s reaction the first time she saw what classes I had transferred in. I knew that three years of the same language was required but I had no idea how many other areas those two French classes would fulfill simultaneously. My advisor told me not only had I fulfilled my foreign language requirement but I had also knocked out two general education requirements, both in the Arts and Humanities and the Diversity and Multiculturalism categories. Taking another look, she added that I’d also already completed one on Uconn’s two required writing (W) courses! If I had known earlier that French would count for so much I definitely would have pushed more of my friends to take another year! Besides is Scheideman’s class really that bad!
I think it’s already clear from the other testimonials that Mr. Scheideman had a way of teaching that really got the students involved. It challenged students to work harder and think outside of the box more often about aspects of French and Francophone culture that were current and relevant.
Some of the things I remember covering were Cajun culture, Haiti, Mardi Gras, politics in France, and even French-speaking immigrants and refugees! While most Americans had to grab a map when the Haitian Earthquake struck just to locate Haiti, I’m pretty sure that the Coventry High French students didn’t need to, thanks to the unit on Haiti! That’s just one example that goes to show how important it that French culture and language are still taught in schools! In all honesty I was frequently excited to go to class just to see what interesting topic or new area of the world we’d be studying about that day! Talk about broadening your view of the world!
French ECE also gave me more practice speaking, as well as writing French. While traveling in Quebec and France the vocabulary, grammar, and topics I’d learned were indispensible. Without the preparation I’d received in high school I would have felt isolated, scared, and out of place. However, with knowledge of French I was able to fit it more easily and learn about the world outside of Coventry! When taking a French class at Uconn (taught by a “real” French woman), I felt confident with what I’d learned and definitely “up to speed” with everyone else in the class, most of whom where majoring/minoring or had already done a semester in France. I was quite proud, not of myself, but of the extensive ECE programs our school offered me, and of the dedication of the teachers to offer these classes to us. Most Uconn students I’ve met haven’t even heard of ECE, but thanks to our school’s programs I transferred in 20+ credits, many of which were from French classes.
--March, 2010
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Name: Sarah Marchand
Class of : 2009
University: Union College |
Although I was unable to transfer the ECE credits to my college, they were still a valuable asset to me academically and personally. Like AP classes, the ECE classes I took showed colleges that I was serious about my education and that even during my senior year I was challenging myself to the best of my abilities. Aside from helping me get into college, ECE French made me a more diligent and organized student. Due to the fact that it follows a college curriculum, the class moves at a much faster pace, just as you would experience in college. The best part as that Mr. Scheideman challenged our class but did so in a fun and creative way. There was truly never a boring moment. The linguistic skills I obtained will also help me tremendously in the French class I am planning on taking next term, but I'm sure it won't be as fun!
--March, 2010
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Name: Jacqueline Garland
Class of :
2008
University: University of Connecticut class of 2012 |
I was able to take 4 ECE classes while I was in high school and it really was a great experience and it really helped me to become adjusted to the rigorous coursework in college. Taking 4 classes allowed me to come into UConn with a semester finished and with a lot of my general education requirements done. I was also able to take two writing classes which are like golden gems they are so hard to find and they fill up really quickly at UConn.
Fren 3628W was a great class because it really tested me. We had to write a 5 page research paper all in French and write multiple essays through out the year on books that we read like Les Miserables (which I am actually going to see here in London this weekend!) and Engl 1011W. Freshman english is required by all students to graduate and taking it in high school really benefited me because while all of my friends were writing essay after essay I was able to ease into college.
Taking ECE classes was really helpful for me because I was able to come into UConn with a whole semester under my belt and that really opened my world to more opportunities like study abroad. I am currently studying abroad in London and it is the most incredible experience of my life. If I had not taken ECE classes I probably wouldn't have been able to study abroad because I wouldn't have been able to finish my degree in four years with all of the classes that I am required to take. All together, ECE is an incredible program and I really do believe that all students who take an ECE class really will benefit from it.
--March, 2010
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Emily Blanchard
CHS Class of 2009
Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford) |
I received transfer credit for this class but unfortunately, it does not apply to my major. However, taking a language throughout high school has helped me to better understand some of my classes, such as English Diction and choir. Learning the "ins and outs" of another language helps one to understand the "ins and outs" of other languages--in choir we are singing the war requiem, which is in Latin. A lot of my background in French helps with pronunciation. Though it did not transfer as credit into college for me, the high school experience was invaluable. Because of it, I feel comfortable carrying on a conversation in French or asking a question in French. I have traveled to Canada since I graduated and it was beneficial to me, my family and our French-speaking waitress that I knew the language! |
Name: Robby Joyce
Class of : 2010
University: Hofstra University |
Hey Scheidy!
Hope all is well. I just wanted to let you know that I placed into French 4 here at Hofstra. Going in I was terrified of how well everyone would speak and how fast the class would be. Through three units we've studied possessive nouns, subjonctif, plus-que-parfait, and conditionnel... as in all stuff I learned in high school. And I understand like 80-90% of what the professor is saying. We go a little bit more in-depth, but for the most part it's all a review for me. So when your students complain about the work you give them (which isn't by any means unfair), just tell them that by the time college comes around, it won't be that bad. |
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