Quatre jeunes filles—four young ladies—take in the culture and language of France at Majorie Kelley’s summer French camp. They learn to speak and read the language of love during the six-week camp held in Mountain City. Kelley, a retired Hays CISD French teacher, also shares small French treats and mementoes with the campers.
by KIM HILSENBECK
Playing the old-style game of Mad Libs in which players call out adjectives, verbs, nouns and adverbs is just one way Marjorie Kelley helps students in her French Camp learn “the language of love.”
For six weeks this summer, four young girls gathered with Kelley in Mountain City City Hall two days a week to learn “how to read, write and speak French.”
“I love culture,” said Kayla Duley, 12, of Buda. “I want to travel the world.”
Kayla is also learning Japanese at home. She hopes to travel to Asia and Europe.
The other campers were Willow Filstrup, 12, Audra Burke, 13, and Savannah Rhoades, 14.
Each day of camp, Kelley shared French treats and small presents with the campers, such as Nutella, jams, and Euros coins. And while the girls said they liked the treats, their favorite part of camp was Kelley.
A former Hays High School French teacher, Kelley retired last year but got requests from mothers in her Mountain City neighborhood to offer French classes. And so the summer camp idea was born.
Another fun part of the day is when Kelley does the “moment of culture.” Past moments included French music, art, literature and theater.
On this day, it’s films. For example, “Joyeux Noel.” Kelley held up the movie’s VHS case and explained to the girls the premise of the film. Set during World War II, Kelley said the film depicts a true story of enemy soldiers who spontaneously stopped fighting on Christmas to share photos, sing carols and talk about families.
“They got in trouble for having a moment of peace,” Kelley said.
