10-12-2001
		Est-ce que Sie koennen espanol? Jen Timmer makes crepes for the French houses.

By laura hoeksema

Guest Writer

When Jana Bosscher comes home to apartment in Kappa, she doesn't ask her roommates ``how are you?'' Instead, Bosscher asks ``Ca va?'' the French way of asking the same question. Bosscher speaks in French because she is part of the language houses programs sponsored by the language departments in order to improve oral language skills.

At the moment, there are five language houses - two Spanish houses, two French houses and one German house - and 19 people who have committed to speaking as much of their corresponding language as possible.

At least, that is the idea. It is questionable how many good intentions are actually realized.

``We speak about Spanish about 65 percent of the time,'' said Lisa Swier, a Spanish house resident. ``We try to speak more, but sometimes there are things you just can't say in Spanish.''

The feeling is shared among the houses. Attempts are made to keep the Spanish, German and French the main language spoken, but no house boasts total faithfulness.

The German house comes the closest.

Joanne Beuker, the leader of the German house is German herself and Annie McWhertor, another resident, has spent a semester in Germany. These two are able to speak German most of the time. Their roommate, Jeni Gort, has had several years of German classes and spent last interim in Germany, but has a harder time constantly speaking German.

Indeed, lack of speaking experience seems to be the biggest problem.

``It's hard for some of the girls to express themselves in French,'' said Laura Hoksbergen, leader of the French houses. ``They try to get complicated ideas across in another language, get frustrated, and switch back to English. And some things just can't be said in rudimentary foreign language.''

In the Spanish and French houses, the leaders live in one of the apartments and keep contact with the other apartment as much as possible.

``Misael (the leader of the Spanish house) comes to see us almost every day,'' Swiers said.

Hoksbergen is a little more remiss in her duties.

``I wish there would be a little more connection between our two houses,'' said Aileen May, a member of the second French house. ``I know Laura and I know the people in her apartment, but I wish our houses could get to know each other a little better.''

Sunday night dinners are in the works for French house fellowship.

The importance of a native speaker, or the closest thing to it, cannot be overestimated.

``I think it would be a good idea to have a native speaker in each of the language apartments,'' said Thomas Miller, a member of the Spanish house. ``And it's probably a good idea not to get any beginning speakers in the houses because then it could just be too frustrating.''

Matt Miga, who lives with Miller, could not agree more.

``We have it easier because Misael lives with us,'' Miga said, ``but I think there should be someone for the girls too - a native speaker who would be able to help them along.''

The Spanish house is an established program that has several years under its belt. The other houses are newer.

``This is the German house's first year so it is still a small program,'' McWhertor said. ``We would like to add more people in the future, though.''

A French house had been attempted a few years back, but failed to take off from lack of interest.

``We are excited that we could have a French house this year,'' says Jolene Vos-Camy, the faculty director of the French house. ``It's a good opportunity.''

In spite of the less-than-perfect language record, the houses still benefit the people who live there.

``I find myself speaking French to people who I know don't speak it,'' says Bosscher.

Jennette Timmer, resident of the French house, understands the problem.

``I'll be walking down that path and thinking in French,'' she said. ``Or I'll raise my hand in class and find that I don't know what to say anymore because I have French stuck on my tongue.''