The Benefits of Buddies

New country, new school, new culture...It's not unusual for students to feel anxious when they first come to this country; therefore, newcomers to the Franklin School are sometimes paired with an older buddy to help them feel welcomed and comfortable in this unfamiliar environment.

At the beginning of the school year, a beginner 2nd grader from China was paired with a more experienced 4th grader who also speaks Mandarin.

The two boys had fun reviewing the rules of "Go Fish" and practicing the common language (and the ABCs!) needed to play this game.

Examples of language:
"It's your turn."  "It's my turn."
"Do you have a _____?"
"Yes, I have a ______."  "No, go fish."

We all learned something new too--how to say "Good game!" in Mandarin!