BENTONVILLE - The first time Paul Peterson visited France, he didn't speak much French.
"I would ask something in French, and they would answer me in English," the Bentonville High School senior said.
That was about five years ago. At that point, Peterson had taken only one year of French class. His Frenchspeaking skills have improved dramatically since then - and are gaining him attention from a national organization.
Peterson recently learned he has received the 2007-2008 American Association of Teachers of French Outstanding Senior in French Award. He earned a $ 300 stipend for the recognition, which is to be used in traveling to a Frenchspeaking country.
This summer, Peterson plans to use that money to return to France. This time, however, he'll be speaking more French.
"I will try to speak all French," he said.
Peterson started learning French when he took an introduction to foreign language class. The students were taught basic vocabulary in French, Spanish and Latin.
"I liked French better," he said. "I liked how it sounded."
Peterson became proficient in the grammar and vocabulary over the years, but his classes were always with a non-native French-speaking teacher, he said. That is, until he moved to Bentonville the second semester of his junior year and joined teacher Celine Simpson's classes.
"He was good at grammar and he became good at speaking," Simpson said with a note of pride in her voice. "He motivated the other students."
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