“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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South Kent Students Dive into Android-Based App Development with MIT App Inventor

Early lessons focus on user interface (UI) design and the actions triggered when users tap or swipe their screens. Building on these fundamentals, students have now embarked on a more advanced project: creating a digital version of the classic arcade game “Whack-A-Mole.” This engaging exercise requires them to integrate dynamic user interaction, timing mechanisms, and score tracking—all while emphasizing collaborative problem-solving.

STEM faculty member, Tim Smith, who teaches the App Inventor class, says, “I feel programming, also known as coding, is both a science and an art. It is a science because of the use of technology, structure and discipline. While there are multiple paths to a solution, each path does have its own set of rules. It is an art because, essentially, you start with a blank canvas and create something that has never existed before. I try to take these two ideas and incorporate them into all of the teaching I do, so our students understand that science also has its own beauty and purpose.”

Before coding began, the class held a design discussion to plan functionality, user interface flow, and overall gameplay experience. Such discussions reflect real-world software development practices, highlighting how thoughtful planning is essential for successful projects.

By the end of the term, students will have gained valuable experience in both the technical and creative aspects of mobile app development, opening doors to further exploration in the rapidly growing field of software engineering.

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