“Almost no one likes grammar,” jokes Francesca Romani, World Languages instructor and part of South Kent’s Humanities Program. “You rarely hear someone say, ‘Let’s have a good hour of grammar!’ But at South Kent, we’ve taken an entirely different path. We equip students with a strong, essential foundation from the start, helping them realize how much they can express in another language with just a few core concepts.”

Instead of overwhelming students with grammar rules from day one, the program focuses on communication and practical application. Students begin by mastering essential structures—such as the present tense of ‘to have’ and ‘to be’—before progressively building their understanding of past participles, continuous tenses, and an expanded vocabulary.

“The words we learn most easily are the ones tied to our passions,” Romani explains. “So we help students build vocabulary in ways that feel personal and engaging. If they love sports, they watch games in the target language and annotate their new words in a journal. If they love travel, they create ‘tourist toolboxes’ with essential phrases for navigating a new country.”

Language courses at South Kent incorporate a variety of engaging real-world projects that go beyond textbooks:

French Sports Journalism: Inspired by their interest in sports, students launched “L’Équipe,” a French-language newsletter covering South Kent’s hockey and soccer teams.

Film & Literature Analysis: Students watch classic and contemporary films in their target language, then write and discuss their reflections entirely in French. “Our students were particularly drawn to François Truffaut’s Antoine Doinel films,” Romani says. “They connect with the mischievous, love-struck character on a personal level.”

Paris on a Budget: In this interactive exercise, students receive an imaginary budget and must plan a weekend trip to Paris,using only French-language travel websites to book hotels, transportation, and dining.

Create Your Own French Company: Students design a business from the ground up, writing an “about” section, mission statement, and contact page, then building a functional website using a French-language template.

Capstone Project—The French Revolution Reenactment: In collaboration with South Kent’s Student Clubs, language students will bring history to life by portraying real figures from the French Revolution, from farmers to noblemen to the king himself. “It’s an exciting way to immerse them in language while deepening their understanding of history,” Romani says.

South Kent’s Humanities Program emphasizes a well-rounded, intellectually rigorous education—one that cultivates engaged, thoughtful, and articulate students.

“Our commitment to the humanities is an essential part of preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world,” says Head of School Brian Sullivan. “Languages, literature, history, and the arts challenge students to think critically, engage with different perspectives, and communicate effectively. Whether they are analyzing historical events, debating philosophical ideas, or learning to express themselves in a new language, these experiences help build well-rounded individuals who will thrive in any field.”

Through interactive projects, global perspectives, and a commitment to experiential learning, South Kent’s World Languages Program is helping students become true global citizens—one conversation at a time.

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Watts, who was in the National Press Building that morning, was on his way to Capitol Hill when news broke of the attacks. He was at his bureau when the Pentagon was struck, and the Capitol was swiftly evacuated. Speaking to students, he described the “fog of uncertainty as people tried to figure out what was going on,” as news reports came in rapidly, and misinformation spread in the chaos of the moment.

While inside the National Press Building—just three blocks from the White House—Watts and others felt the impact of the plane hitting the Pentagon. The force of the explosion shook buildings in the heart of Washington, leaving many to wonder whether the White House or Capitol might be next.

Beyond the immediate devastation and loss of life, Watts also emphasized the stark impact on the financial system, along with the real sense of sadness and danger that lingered in the days and weeks after the attacks. Markets were thrown into disarray, with banks and financial institutions paralyzed by uncertainty. He spoke about the ripple effects of the disruption, as Wall Street ground to a halt and global markets reeled.

To give students a sense of how the media documented this unprecedented event, Watts shared MarketWatch’s front page from September 11, 2001, as well as coverage from the following week—when his Washington bureau office received an anthrax-laced package, part of a second wave of terror that further heightened national fears.

Students engaged in a thoughtful Q&A session, asking Watts about the feeling on the ground in D.C. and how people reacted in the moment. He described a city caught between shock, fear, and resilience, as journalists, government officials, and civilians all struggled to comprehend the scope of the attack.

The visit was organized by Humanities faculty member Ross LeBlond, whose students have spent the trimester exploring themes of change in American lives. As part of their coursework, students have been reading Reluctant Hero by Mike Benfante, a survivor who carried a woman in a wheelchair down 68 flights of stairs in the North Tower. By hearing firsthand from individuals who lived through 9/11—including several members of our South Kent Community, and now a journalist who covered the event—students are gaining a deeper, more personal understanding of the tragedy’s lasting impact.

“Even though this happened before they were born, the impact is still felt by those who lived through it,” LeBlond said. “By bringing in guests who experienced 9/11 in different ways, we’re helping students see that this isn’t just a chapter in a history book—it’s a moment that shaped the world they live in.”

For many students, Watts’ visit was an eye-opening experience, offering a direct link between history and its long-term consequences.

As one student, originally from Korea, reflected, “I knew about 9/11, but hearing about it from someone who was actually there made it feel real in a way I hadn’t understood before.”

South Kent continues to emphasize the importance of understanding history through personal narratives, ensuring that students see events not just as distant moments in time, but as experiences that shaped the world they live in today. Bill Watts’ visit reinforced that 9/11 is not just history—it is a story that still resonates, still teaches, and still matters.

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