Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2011-08-26

Duration: 00:07:26

Subjects: French immersion | French language | CODOFIL | Education

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Lincoln, Sue Reporter
• Dunn, Joseph Interviewee
• Gheraia, Amina Interviewee
• Christian, Daniel Interviewee
• Calabra, Bella Interviewee
• Judson, Sara Interviewee

This segment from the August 26, 2011, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Sue Lincoln’s report on the French immersion program at Prien Lake Elementary School in Lake Charles. Lincoln interviews Joseph Dunn, the director of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL), who discusses the outlawing of French from Louisiana classrooms in the early 20th century, CODOFIL’s push to reintroduce French into elementary school classrooms, the necessity of searching for teachers from the Francophone world, and the impact of language immersion classes on a student’s overall education. Lincoln also interviews: Amina Gheraia, a fifth grade teacher from France, on why she decided to teach in Louisiana; Daniel Christian and Bella Calabra, first grade students, on why they like the French immersion program; and Sara Judson, the parent of a fifth grade student, on the impact of the program on her daughter. Hosts: Charlie Whinham and Shauna Sanford