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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1981-11-11, Page 1• Published In Locknow, Ontario, November 11, 1981 Madill student participate A Quebec high school student is spending three months living with an area family and attending classes at F. E. Madill Secondary in Wingham to learn about English Canadian culture and to learn- to speak English fluently. Marcel Chaisson of Amos, Quebec is staying with Geoff Filmore and his family until the beginning of December. After Christmas, Geoff will go to Quebec to live with Marcel's family for three months to learn about French Canadian culture and to learn to speak conversational French fluent- ly, The students are participating in a Student Exchange Program in which 120 students from Quebec and Ontario .are taking part Sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Geoff is the only Huron County Secondary student participating in the program' this year. Rummage Participation Joseph Van de Ven, Ontario co-ordinator of the program would like to see more students from Huron County participate because the county's, students have little interest in the program since its inception. During the exchange the students are asked to totally immerse themselves in the family life of their host family. The students are to speak the second language all the time, even when they have conversations with family and friends on the phone. The students are asked to remain with their host family without a visit home during the entire period. An exception was made for Marcel lictweyer2 because of a family illness and he spent *inie Wieland • family in Quebec. • Geoff took the -initiative to participate in the program when the idea was suggested • by his French teacher at school. His parents, Ralph and Iris Fillmore were suppmfive and thought it an excellent opportunity for Geoff to learn the French language and gain an • insight into another culture. Geoffs parents have met with other Ontario parents who will have Quebec students; in their home to discuss the goals and standards for the program. It is not just • the individual students which are a part of the exchange, the whole family must be willing, to participate.. Geoff's sister, Heidi has learned what it's like to have two older brothers.. She says it's fun but she would have preferred an older "sister", Marcel is a tease she says and she already has a brother who teases. As for •Marcel who has tvvo preschool age sisters, he thinks Heidi who is 12 is "crazy". Geoff's father says Marcel has learnedto speak English quicklg. When he arrived on • September 13 he could speak very little •English conversationally, but he can now carry on a conversation and understands unusually vvell, He has taken English in school, since grade 5, At Madill he is attending classes in grade 12 chemistry and grade 9 English as well as the other grade 11 subjects, Geoff takes. He likes French class, it's easy. He keeps a journal each (lay which will assist him to recall his experiences here when he goes home. He calls his journal his "french homework", Marcel enjoys swimming, roller skating, music, woodshop and badminien, He likes to build bicycles and last winter he and a friend made a bicycle built for three. Marcel likes to watch television and enjoys Chips, Little House on the Prairie and the Price is Right Some series are available in Quebec in French including Little House on the Prairie, Chips and Gilligan's Island, which is a favourite, Marcel had never played football and was introduced to the game in backyard games at Geoff's home. He has learned to play tennis and volleyball in physical education classes at Madill. • Visits New York State • Since his arrival, the Fillmore% have taken him along on a visit to 'Mrs. Fillmore's sister's home in Perry, New York, a trip io '-lgark* Palls and tothe Western Fair in London, The family plans a trip to Toronto to the Science Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum, as well as other highlights such. as the CN Towerbefore Marcel leaves for home December 3. If you ask him what is different in Ontario, Marcel will say the food. He has enjoyed being able to walk out to, the backyard and pick apples from a tree. The growing season in Abitibi County in northeast Quebec where he lives, is short and •they don't have gardens or apple tree. Geoff is planning a career in mechanical engineering and thinks a second language, especially French, will be useful. He hopes to be able to speak French well enough to converse with his French teacher without the other students understanding their coiwcr- Mai neMiteitstyre Lucknow girl wins cookbook modest draw • Signal -Star Publishing, Goderich an- nounced this week that the cash prize wit,. tier in this year's What's Cooking at your Place? is Marilynne MacIntyre of farness Township, Marilynne entered the contest through the Lttcknow Sentinel with a recipe for Pancakes and her name was entered in the draw for the cash prize. Second place winner of. a cash prize of S60 was Barbara Betties of R. 2, Bayfield, The cash prize of S40 for the third prize winner went to Pat Docherty of Clinton, Winners of the second annual Kincar- dine 14619S Reeik Cookbook contest were amounted a week ago, They are Dawn • Osborne, Pott Elgim Mrs, „ Cave, ltipkr, Mary ragmen, Chatham; Lynn Moore Kincardine; Reta Coffins, Pert Elgin and Debbie Rattler, Kitchener, langua 20 Pagel e exchange Geoff Atmore, left, it grade 11 Made* at F. E. Madill Secondary In libigliam mid Marcel Chaisson, tight of .Ami*, Quebec are'Participsdng in a lasignage eschonse propene which wHI see cachet the bops living with the other's Gun* kr three months. Marie' is currently spending diree Monde* with the Filhome fan* of Ashfielif Township .and is 'attending clews at Madill. In 'mussy Geoff will spend three mouth. frith Masters badly In Quebec and attend reboot them The purpose of the program 1. 10 glve,the students an opportunity to loon %Loather culture and to speak a second language fisiently. Geoff is the only Hirosi C'ointr secondly* student partielpaffng bs the . propsis. 1Sentinel Staff Photal gallon, when he returns from his three months in Quebec. • Mr, Fillmore thinks the experience will be valuable for Geoff and observes that the experience of having Marcel in their home for three months has benefited the entire family. The children have learned to share more because, there is another person 'to consider and it has provided insight for Geoff's parents. Mr. Fillmore says he and his wife treat Marcel as they would their own son and daughter and Marcel has responded by trusting them. It is Marcel and Geoff who are partielpat, ing in the program, but it has been a rewarding experience for the whole family. OFA wants prompt gov't assn. tance for farrrters The ptovincial government should declare a state of emergency in agriculture, Ralph Barrie, President of the Ontario Federation • of Agriculture (OFA) said October 28 while presenting OEA's annual brief to cabinet, "The economic situation is ethical be- cause of high /interest rates and low commodity prices," Barrie said, "but it's aggravated even more by the deluge of rain pve've been having." •Record rainfall in Ontario has delayed • cern harvest and ruined many crops. "Theiv are many desperate, disillusioned farmers out theft, who have been counting on this harvest to make ends meet," Barrie said, Barrie told Premier Davis that this emergency requires prompt government assistance in the form of theft -term loans at subsidized interest rate Barrie told the cabinet that bankruptcy and bank survey figures are not telling an aerate story- • "If the Bankers Association survey com- missioned by this government shows 1,000 farmers in dire straits, 1 would be inclined • to multiply that figure by 1010 get a truer indication of the problem," Barrie censured the cabinet for offering •only limited assistance to fatnters, despite • promises for up to $125 million in aid, "Ail we've seen is under $50 million for beef feedlot operators. Our industry deserves rnore than a taken handouts" OFA's two vice-presidents, Ron White and Ran Jones, also addressed the cabinet, encouraging the government to heed the advice0FA offers hi its brief, • Wkat's Cooling • at Your Pktee? Inside today's • Sentinel