French Exchange - we're coming back

Back in Britain - arrival at Tomlinscote due at 4.00PM as planned.

Congratulations to all students involved for their commitment, enthusiasm and friendliness.

Miss Streeter and Mr Daniel

French Exchange - last day in Lille!

Today, whilst Year 9 and 10 pupils attended a few more lessons with their partners, Year 12 students spent more time with Primary School children. As well as acting as classroom assistants, they did some presentations on French people's favourite topics of interest: British food, the Royal Family, school uniforms, London transport and famous landmarks.

They absolutely loved the attention paid to them.

(Unfortunately, we did not manage to make it to every classroom where 6th Formers were helping - apologies to the students who do not feature on this blog).






In the afternoon, Miss Streeter organised a photography competition in the centre of Lille for Year 9 and 10 students.



She was absolutely overwhelmed with the quality of the entries submitted. Here are a few sample pictures taken by Aidan, Nathan, Ollie and Tim.

After the last evening with families, we will be saying goodbye to the French and to Lille before returning to Tomlinscote tomorrow.

We are all looking forward to March when the French party will be coming over and we will be able to share all different aspects of our home and school life with them.

A bientôt.

French Exchange - day in school and a visit to Paris

On Thursday, students got to sample the French education system first-hand and compare with the British experience. In terms of starting and finishing times, I believe Tomlinscote won hands down. A day with 8 lessons, starting at 8.00 and finishing at 17.40 did not go down too well with all students...

Still, they got to share their expertise of the English language with French pupils.

The day was also an opportunity for Miss Streeter to display the entries from the Franco-British photography competition that she organised in March. The pictures are on show in the foyer of the Lycée for staff and students to enjoy.

Today, we all embarked on a day trip to Paris in the sunshine! After an early 7.00 departure, students enjoyed seeing the main landmarks such as the big Eiffel scaffolding, the Assemblée Nationale, the Invalides palace, the Elysée Palace and the Arc de Triomphe, which we climbed all the way to the top.

 

Quite obviously, the day ended up being too much for some...

 

To celebrate 15 years of collaboration with M. Daullet, M. Mahieu, Executive Principal for NDP consortium, marked the occasion with a get together of all staff involved. Looking forward to another 15 years of exchanges!

Students are now with families for the weekend. More news on Monday.

A bientôt.

French Exchange

The French Exchange party left all smiling yesterday morning in order to meet their partners in Lille and fully embrace the French language and culture for a week.

After a short crossing on the Shuttle during which some students desperately tried to spot some fish through the windows (??!), we quickly reached the centre of Lille and the French school where Mr Daullet greeted us.

Once the ice was broken, everyone went home for the first evening home with the French families.

Today, Wednesday, after listening to many tales about the typical French food consumed by our students the previous night (spaghetti bolognese, Domino's pizza, Mc Donald's, kebabs!!!), we made our way to the very centre of Lille for the traditional photo in front of the column and fountain, followed by the treasure hunt in the pouring rain...

A nice hot chocolate was very welcome for some afterwards. We're really missing the English sunshine here!

This afternoon, Year 9 and 10 students followed their partners home for an early finish, followed by exciting activities such as shopping, handball and drama club amongst others.

As for our Year 12 students, they enjoyed the delights of a 2 and a half hour long practice examination paper which unfortunately had to be completed at some point this week...







Tomorrow, younger students will be sampling the French education system at its best whilst 6th Formers will start their Work Experience in the Primary School. Exciting times!

A bientôt.

French exchange - Monday

Today, our Year 11 and 13 students carried out some work experience duties in the Primary School. In addition to helping individual pupils in the classroom, they also gave presentations to whole classes in French on topics such as the Royal Family, Tomlinscote, Italy or the Olympic Games. French pupils absolutely loved having them round the classroom.

Year 9 and 10 students accompanied their French partners to lessons and thoroughly enjoyed the French education system- no doubt...

Back home tomorrow! Already!

A-Level French Work Experience

Some comments from the students:

The most challenging part of the trip for me was standing up in front of a class of 30 thirteen year olds and having to do a presentation on Hamlet in French. Having to answer the students questions meant you had to think and speak French quickly but also correctly.

As a student learning French it helped me enormously as it gave me the chance to meet lots of different French teenagers and gave me the confidence to speak to them. It allowed you to speak colloquial French to your partners and more authoritative French when leading classes.

One week doesn’t seem like a long time, but our French massively improved, as we were speaking it constantly with the students, the teachers and our host families.