Exchange Students from Tahiti Arrive at Drake High

Last April, students from Tahia Rosentha-Cox's French class at participated in a cultural exchange with Tahiti. This fall they return the hospitality for fourteen Tahitian students that landed Sunday for a two-week visit that will immerse them in American culture.

Rosenthal-Cox was born and raised in Tahiti and has been teaching in the school district for 15 years.  She started an Exchange Linguistic and Cultural program with a high school in Tahiti to immerse U.S. students completely in the French language, culture, school curriculum and family life in for two weeks.

She says the experience strengthens the students' language skills. "From a linguistic standpoint, I was so amazed...that in two days of full immersion, my students become fluent in thinking, understanding and talking in French," said Rosenthal-Cox in a program outline for parents.

Now it's the Tahitian students turn. Along with their English teacher and a chaperone, 14 juniors and seniors from Tahiti arrived at SFO on Sunday, October 30, just in time for Halloween. They will be attending Drake High School for two weeks while living with their host families.

Some of the activities include taking a ferry to San Francisco and outings to Santa Cruz, Monterey and sightseeing in Marin. On Wednesday they will shop American-style at a local mall and then head to a movie.

The exchange program is ongoing and in April 2012, Rosenthal-Cox will be returning to Tahiti with 20 Drake students.

"This Exchange Program gives our students, here at Drake and in Tahiti, such a wonderful and unique opportunity to become fluent in French and English by being immersed in the language for two weeks straight. By the same token, they are able to experience the life and customs of a different culture.  What a treat for our children," Rosenthal-Cox said.