Sally Brownfield’s French classes at Foss High School sang and danced with Parfait Bassale in French and English March 8. Bassale, originally from Bénin, spent most of his years growing up in Sénégal where he learned to write and sing rap in French, his native language. More recently, he has studied international conflict resolution at the University of Portland and works with the Rubicon Educational Foundation.
During his Foss visit, Bassale played songs in both English and French that he had written on respecting differences, empathy and trying to make the world a better place. He also engaged the students in conversations about their feelings on these subjects.
During a French rap song and a song about Bassale’s trip to Haiti, which the students had studied in advance, some students showed their dancing skills. In the advanced class, the students and Bassale spoke entirely in French. “Bassale succeeded in making a warm connection with the students in all the classes,” Brownfield said. The Rubicon Educational Foundation filmed the afternoon presentations and interviewed some French Club members after school. The foundation plans to show the performances and the interviews to the students in Haiti.
Inspired by Parfait’s song about Haiti, the French Club decided to raise funds to buy books for a partner school in Haiti as part of the Rubicon Educational Foundation’s Sister School program. Foss is also exploring a correspondence project between Foss and Haitian students.