By Michaelle Robardey
Staff Writer
The foreign language lab of Texarkana Community College is proving to be an excellent teaching aid not only for students of TCC but for fifth and sixth grades in the Texarkana, Texas Independent School District.
It is used extensively by Mrs. Judy Stoken in the Program for Intellectually and Creatively Talented Students (PICT) to further their studies of French and French culture. They learn songs and “everyday words” and view slides of France in preparation for visits to French classes on campus.
Albert Riusech, professor of Spanish and French, cooperates enthusiastically with Mrs. Stoken in her work with the PICT students. These exceptional students meet with Mrs. Stoken one day each week, practicing problem solving, analysis and research techniques. Brain teasers and logic problems are also used. Creative writing is especially important to their experience.
The fifth graders are doing research at TCC in preparation for the college – level research papers they will complete. Each student composes a paper, complete with footnotes.
Sixth graders are doing a case study in Museumology. This year they are making public surveys and searching old cemeteries for statistics and to make pencil etchings of headstones. They will erect a genealogy exhibit for the Texarkana Historical Museum to be displayed this Spring.
A total of 240 students are enrolled in the PICT program in grades one through six. The humanities continue the program for junior and senior high students. To qualify for PICT, students take several battery tests and must maintain a B average while in the program.
Here are some samples of letters Professor Riusech has received from the students:
Bonjour, Mr. Riusech: Thank you so much for letting us use your French lab. We enjoyed it very much. We were fascinated with your equipment.
Thursday Sixth Grade
Dear Mr. Riusech: Thank you for letting us come to your language lab. We learned some French words we didn’t know before. We hope we can visit again.
Tuesday Fifth Grade.