Knightly News

The warm, cozy smell of freshly baked bread recently filled the QUEST Center in Foster Hall. Seventh grade students dressed in aprons and chef hats were busy shaking small containers of heavy cream to make butter. The experience had all the trappings of a cooking class; however, these students were in the QUEST Chemistry Kitchen to learn French.

“Cooking is a fantastic way to teach another language for several reasons,” says Middle School French teacher Madame Isabella Runge. She says cooking teaches students practical vocabulary and provides a contextual learning experience that immerses students in another culture. The activities are interactive and fun and engage multiple senses at once. Learning French this way also introduces concepts from a variety of other subjects, including math, social studies, history, geography and science. Madame Runge says the French cooking lesson is also a lesson in English. “Learning the root of a word, its origin,” she says. “Did you know that 45% of English vocabulary comes from the French language?”

“Out of the Textbook and Into Action!”

As students wait for their baguettes to cook, they practice saying the ingredients and cooking instructions in French. “Cooking involves a lot of everyday vocabulary,” says Madame Runge. “Cooking is a hands-on activity that makes learning more enjoyable and less intimidating. It encourages active participation and collaboration. Out of the textbook and into action!”

Students also discuss the history of the baguette and how it became a staple of French cuisine. Runge says this helps immerse students in the culture and provides insights into French customs and traditions, making the language learning richer and more engaging.

Café Life, Creativity, Games and Holidays

Cooking baguettes is only part of the ways Madame Runge immerses her students in French culture. She also provides real-life lessons and role-playing scenarios that require students to practice what they are learning. “I set up a mock French café in class where students practice ordering food, asking questions and small talk in French,” she says. “Just like we would do in real life on a terrasse by Notre Dame in Paris.”

Episcopal French students also tap into their creative side. Each November, they learn the symbolism of the poppy flower and what it represents for Veterans Day. Afterward, they design 2D or 3D poppy flowers. Students also study Paris and its offerings and create postcards inspired by the city to showcase their new knowledge. French class includes games, French holiday celebrations for Mardi Gras, Candlemas, National French Week and more. Students also learn the culture and language through music. “That beats the traditional vocabulary list we had to study!” says Madame Runge.

Beyond the Classroom

Through the Episcopal travel program, French language students will soon have the opportunity to use what they’ve learned in a French speaking community. Episcopal students will visit Quebec during the Mardi Gras break of 2026. “This trip will be for 8th and 9th grade French students, discovering Quebec and its culture,” says Madame Runge. “To prepare for this trip, students are reading a book taking place in Quebec, of course.” She says the French language team also hopes to incorporate field trips to St. Martinville and a visit to French Market Bistro.

Back in the QUEST Kitchen, as students spread their homemade butter on the warm baguettes they kneaded and baked themselves, they use French words like “de la farine,” “du sel” and “de la leuvre.” The day’s lesson has made an impression, and they are sure to remember the new terms as much as the taste of the freshly baked bread. “In the end, I want students to enjoy learning French and experience it hands-on,” says Madame Runge.

Knight School French Class

Madame Runge’s passion for sharing the French language and culture extends beyond Episcopal students. Adults have the opportunity to learn in a similar way through the Episcopal Knight School. Madame Runge will offer “Tartes et Tagliatelle: A Culinary Love Affair Between France and Italy” beginning October 16. Click here to learn more and register.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.