Ithaca College

This semester, residents of McGraw House in downtown Ithaca could be heard speaking the language of Voltaire and Simone de Beauvoir, thanks to weekly lessons from IC undergraduates who took part in a new service learning initiative called “À la française.” 

The six students, Abigail Clark, Amanda Dworkin, Jill Jacob, Robert Mantell, Sharon Mejia, and Georgie Porter, worked in teams of three to plan vocabulary, phrases, and activities they used to engage over ten McGraw residents, who ranged in age from their sixties into their nineties. 

“[‘À la française’] has motivated me to start re-learning French, which I studied in high school. I especially enjoyed current affairs discussions and the presentations on French art,” said one resident of McGraw House who regularly attended both sessions of classes each week. 

“A la française” culminated in a celebration of French foods, including pains au chocolat (chocolate-filled pastries) and cookies made from scratch by McGraw residents to show their appreciation for the students’ time and efforts. 

Coordinator and French Lecturer Bari Doeffinger expects the program to expand during the spring semester to increase the number of lessons taught and provide Spanish classes as well. IC students who speak French or Spanish and are interested in gaining teaching experience or working with senior citizens are encouraged to email Professor Doeffinger at bdoeffi1@ithaca.edu.