GCSE and A level French students from St. Ignatius Catholic School participated in the school’s first French exchange trip, travelling to Nantes and Paris between 27 March to 6 April.
During the first five days of the trip, the students stayed with different French families, who they had been corresponding with via e-mailing in the weeks preceding the trip. Each family had a student of the same age, same gender and similar interests as the St. Ignatius partner, and pairs of students were matched up according to their home life, personal interests and subjects which they are currently studying in school.
Throughout the stay with their French family, students spoke and practiced French, as the majority of the families either had only one family member who could speak English fluently or just their French partner who was learning English at the same level that the Caymanian students were learning French. This gave the students an opportunity to practice and improve upon their pronunciation, oral and aural skills, which are crucial for success in upcoming external examinations in May and June.
“This trip gave us all a chance to see how people in France live and also help to improve upon our fluency with the language,” stated Ann-Alecia Moore from year 11.
During the day, the students reunited at the partner school, Blanche de Castille, where they would part from their French correspondent and spend the day with their class. These days include some sightseeing and learning about the significance of Nantes as a city.
Year 11 student Courtney Couch was also enthusiastic about the trip. “I was amazed at how beautiful France is. My favourite part was staying in Nantes with the family and going to the beautiful castles,” she said.
One day, the students accompanied their French partners to school during morning lessons. Some students even got to go to an English lesson and assist those who needed support with their English. Four students went to a higher level language and economics class, where they spoke about Grand Cayman as a British Overseas Territory and tax neutral jurisdiction.
After the students left their French families, they spent the remaining three days in Paris, where they were able to see major attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Castle of Versailles, the Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Students were also able to wander down the famous Champs-Elysees and do a bit of leisurely shopping.
Year 11 student Ronan Jennings explained his thoughts on the diversity of the culture: “France was just so different from my regular life here in Cayman. The people, buildings, and especially the food made it such an unforgettable experience.”
St. Ignatius is expecting a return visit from the French students during the course of next year and is aiming to ensure the exchange trip will become a regular experience for the senior students who study French.
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