For seven years, the French language department has partnered with Lycee Claude Gellee, a 10-12th grade school in Epinal, France to host a reciprocal exchange program allowing students to travel abroad to stay with a host family. This year, 20 students accompanied Madame Barbara Bell and Madame Shamiah Sadler to France for ten days to absorb French culture, high school life and practice their language skills.
Students selected to come on the trip applied during the Fall 2023. The student applications were evaluated on a few contributing factors: if they were signed up for the next year of French, at least a “B” average in school, and have at least completed French III.
Lycee Claude Gellee location in Epinal, France, is about a four hour drive from Paris. While were visiting, students and teachers stayed with host families: families that take in a student and provide a home for them during their stay. Over the course of the trip, students attended the school with a member of their host family, took trips to nearby areas, visited historical monuments, took part in festive activities, and explored the culture. Bell mentioned some of the activities students participated in this year, including pastry making at a patisserie (a French pastry shop), a visit to a nearby town called Colmar, a trip to Paris, and lots of sightseeing.
Prior to the trip, most students had never been on the exchange trip, including sophomore Kate Phillips. Phillips said, “I hope to get a better understanding about French culture and language.”
Junior Morgan Anheier said, “I’m hoping to learn more French and get a good feeling of immersion.”
France has many differences compared to the United States, for example, the students were in awe of the different food that was provided, along with the architecture and fashion. In addition, students noted the differences in the way the schools run, such as how students have different schedules each day, and switch classrooms along with the students. Even differences in the attitude that the culture reflected. Sophomore Carter Kurtz said, “Everyone was a lot nicer, and they all talked to each other more.”
A favorite part of the trip for many students was the visit to Colmar, France. This is a German influenced city in the Alsace region of France near the border to Germany. Students spent the day touring the beautiful town and getting to experience the French culture. They also went to an old chateau which was a big castle on top of a hill. Bell said, “It was a mid-evil castle that has been destroyed and rebuilt over the years, and looks like Hogwarts.”
Madame Bell noted the benefits to the students on this educational and cultural trip. Bell said, “Students, when they travel, stay with families, meet people, and learn a ton, that, I think, is the best kind of student travel. Rather than just being a tourist, they got to live with families and go to class and make friends and that is to me the best kind of student travel.”
