Reviews from Participants

Daxon Citron, Class of 2026 

What did you think about LFR, and how was your experience?      

My experience with LFR was amazing. I love working with kids and this was a great opportunity to share the language I am passionate about with young learners. I think introducing students to language and culture in a lower-stakes context like this is a great way to add to their learning without much stress while also providing an environment for those teaching to challenge themselves and try new things without undue fear of consequences. Even for those not going into teaching as a profession, such as myself, this is a great opportunity to improve skills like planning, communication, and patience (lol) I was also incredibly lucky to have been so supported in my work through the relationships with LFR and the GDL, the gifted coordinator for the county, and the teacher I was working with in the school. And of course, the relationships I was able to build with my kids were incredibly rewarding- there's nothing quite like walking into a classroom and getting hugs, smiles, and weekend debriefs from a bunch of third graders to turn my day around :)

What did you find most rewarding about your participation?

I think the most rewarding part of my work for LFR was watching the kids learn right in front of me. Because they're so young, their brains are super flexible and they pick up on everything so quickly, despite the fact that I only got to see them once a week for 30 minutes. Each class though I was pleasantly surprised at how much they had retained from the week prior when we reviewed it. One specific memory was teaching them the basics of conjugating verbs - at the beginning of the class not a single kid was following what the heck I was saying, but over the course of those thirty minutes I saw each student have their lightbulb moment right in front of my eyes. It was incredible. By the end of that class, my kids were begging me to let them come up to the board and conjugate a verb all by themselves (which I did, and they killed it!!!)

Grayden Holliday, Class of 2026

What did you think about LFR, and how was your experience?

I think LFR was a wonderful learning experience for both me and the elementary schoolers that I had the opportunity to share the magic of the German language with. I had to figure how to corral chaotic fourth graders and make lessons both fun and effective for learning. It was difficult for them to remember everything between weeks, but I worked to reinforce basic concepts more and more each lesson to create a solid foundation off of which to build as the term progressed. The kids came out of LFR with some German knowledge and skills to brag about and show their family and peers, which is all I could have asked for considering the somewhat limited instruction time I had with them compared to an intensive college or high school course. 

What did you find most rewarding about your participation?

The most rewarding aspect about participating in LFR was seeing the kids' faces light up when it was time for German class and knowing that I've hopefully inspired them to continue learning a foreign language in the future. 

Rena Song, W&L Law, Class of 2025

What did you think about LFR, and how was your experience?

I thoroughly enjoyed the LFR program - it was a refreshing break from my studies and a wonderful way to give back to the community.

What did you find most rewarding about your participation?

Connecting with enthusiastic middle school students eager to learn a foreign language was rewarding. Seeing their progress and excitement firsthand were my favorite parts of the program. Engaging with these students and witnessing their growth reaffirmed my passion for community involvement. 

Jasmine Gipson, Class of 2024

What did you think about LFR, and how was your experience?

I loved being a part of LFR. I taught 2nd/3rd graders Chinese and for many of them, it was the first time they had been exposed to a character-based language. During our time together, we were not only able to learn some basic Mandarin skills, but we also learned about different cultures and traditions that many Chinese people honor. I always looked forward to sharing my knowledge of Chinese culture with them, and I loved hearing how the students connected different cultures to their own experiences.

What did you find most rewarding about your participation?

It was most rewarding for me to see the students' progress over the course of the term. In the beginning, many students looked at the Chinese characters with huge, intimidated eyes, but then by the end of the term, many were able to say at least one sentence. I also loved seeing them connect their strengths with the language; for example, when learning how to count in Chinese, many students were able to also practice their multiplication and addition skills, as that is needed to count to higher numbers.