Every second and fourth Thursdays, Elizabethtown’s popular café, Folklore is filled with the sounds of French speakers.

Over coffee and snacks, French students talk with Dr. Vanessa Borilot, Elizabethtown College French professor, and Mrs. Sarah Crawford, Elizabethtown High School French teacher. French table is modeled after a similar opportunity offered to Spanish students, though the location differs. This collaboration was born out of a desire to create a new space for French speakers and learners to interact.

“We decided to get the middle school and high school French students involved with the College students to create a community awareness and community sharing,” Crawford said.

While she was in elementary school, Crawford’s parents hosted a French students and she has been learning it ever since. She says it was this experience that sparked her love of the language and culture that she brings to her students. She teaches French to student in grades eight to 12. Her goal is to connect her high school students with Borilot’s college students.

“I’m encouraging my students to come, mostly to just listen, in hopes that some of my more talkative students will eventually speak up in French, outside of class,” Crawford said.

Borilot, who started teaching French at the College last year, moved to the United States from Gaudeloupe, a small Caribbean island to share her love of French and Francophone culture. She teaches several levels of French at the College and supervises the French club.

Crawford and Borilot wanted to create a space for students to have casual conversations, while practicing their French skills. Choosing Folklore made sense to the teachers. Crawford explained that not only was it outside of a classroom, but going to a café mimicked real life experiences the students may have in their futures.

“Since speaking in class can be stressful because you are constantly trying to think critically about the subject matter, it’s nice to be able to speak French in normal conversation,” junior Blair Hendricks said.

The two teachers said they are excited to see what becomes of the group. They have very few concrete plans for the discussion group, as they would like it to change according to the needs of the students.

Crawford likes the organic nature of the group, as well as the opportunity it provides her to practice her language skills.  She says that even though she has been speaking for over 20 years, she appreciates any opportunities that she has to learn more. She thinks it benefits both her students and herself to realize that learning never ends.

Hendricks appreciates that she can talk about whatever she wants at French table. Discussions range from popular culture to the weekend plans of the people there. She feels that it provides a no stress environment, where the pressures of being correct in a class don’t exist.

“Since it’s a fun way to study, I want to go to every meeting I can,” Hendricks said. “I learn new words and phrases every time I go, and not just scholarly ones, but words and phrases for regular, everyday conversation.”

The goals of this group are simple: to make speaking in French less scary and more fun. Crawford and Borilot both appreciate the chance to make use of their French. As well, both acknowledge the benefits of learning from experiences, rather than strictly from classes.

“When you learn something in a textbook, it is completely different than when you are using it, hearing it in a different context,” Crawford said.