'Restaurant' lets students practice French

Fifteen French students at Evans Christian Academy recently transformed a corner of the fellowship hall at In Focus Church, which also houses the school, into a French restaurant.

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French music played in the background at the restaurant, Le Ballon Rouge, and French flags and students' artwork decorated the walls. The restaurant also featured a "champagne" fountain.

Bobbie Jones, the French teacher, said she tries to integrate the class with other subjects.

"We do a lot of grammar and we do a lot of writing, but I really think they can learn more like this," she said.

The French I students were served the meal to coincide with their lesson on ordering food, while the third-year students acted as servers for faculty members and schoolmates.

Jones said the older students were given the role of servers because they are more comfortable using their French vocabulary than their younger schoolmates.

Sophomore Carrie Vallery, 16, the only French II student, said she was given a choice of serving as the maitre d' or eating the meal. She chose to seat the guests.

Carrie said she had learned about different kinds of foods in class.

"I do like French food," she said. "I just don't like the snails."

The menu included les fruits aux fraises, coq au vin, boeuf a la bourguigonne, salade Nicoise and crme brle.

Sophomore Carlton Andrews, 17, enjoyed his role as a customer.

"I learned how to order food," he said. "It's pretty cool."