15 pupils and 2 members of staff have just returned from the second leg of the French Exchange with Collège Champollion in Dijon. Once again we were warmly welcomed by our hosts, who went out of their way to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable week for everyone. 

We had a mix of activities: some time in lessons with French partners and day trips to visit a range of places in and around Dijon. The highlights included a trip to Paris, where we climbed up the Eiffel Tower and had the most incredible views over the city; a trip to the lovely historic town of Beaûne, where we visited the Hospices (a medieval hospital) and also a mustard factory; and the day we spent visiting the market in Dijon and then swimming in the lake for the afternoon.

(Check back here for all the photos - coming soon)

I thought the French exchange was amazing. I visited a foreign country and culture; got to go on amazing trips, for instance the trip to the Eiffel tower; improved my language skills; met new friends from England and France and overall had a very enjoyable experience. The family I stayed with were all very nice; the food was good and different and the school, College Champollion (or I think that’s how it was spelt), was lovely.

My language skills have developed in two ways: 1. I have learnt new key words, such as jamais = never, monde = world and parc aquatique = water/aqua park (although I probably would’ve guessed that one anyway!), and 2. I have realised how much French I already know, which particular topics I need to learn if I went back, e.g. clothing and how to adapt the French I do know to other circumstances.

The things I enjoyed most where the visit to the Eiffel Tower, the water fight we had and playing on the Wii with Julian, my partner, and Sebastien, his younger brother.

Fergus Powell

 

French exchange was a really enjoyable experience of France if I was offered the chance again to go I would straight away sign up for it, I particularly enjoyed the fact that on first day you were embarrassed to talk to your partner while on the last day in France you could not stop chatting, the travelling was a big success expect from the little train accident and I loved the weekend with my partner were I had a really fun experience of the French culture. My favourite day was the Paris trip and without a doubt it was worth the 5 or 6 hour coach journey defiantly a thing you should do next year.

I had a great time.

Jonathan Bennett

 

I really enjoyed the exchange as it has given me a chance to experience a different culture, and to make some really good friends. I liked the opportunity to try new foods and my favourite day was when we went to Paris.

I would recommend for people to do this trip next year because it will help them to improve in their language skills a lot and give them a chance to practise what they have already learnt in a real life situation. I really like the trip because I feel that I have come back with better French skills and am now more confident in using my French.

Holly Woolnough

 

I really enjoyed the week in France. My French correspondent’s family was really nice, Paris was amazing because we went up the Eifel tower and went on a tour round all the monuments. Everyone was nice that was on the French exchange. So over all it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. The lake was really good except for the weather and all the shopping was so much fun just going away in groups. I think I coped really well. There was a language barrier but I could tell what they meant and they could understand what I meant as well. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to have a lovely experience in a different country

 Matthew Sandison

 

I enjoyed the week out in France. My correspondent’s family was nice and took me to nice places including paintball and laser quest. I enjoyed the days out with our mates and especially the Paris trip. Visiting all the markets (and eating the ice cream) was very good you can see how much different things are actually in a little place. The food was very very nice and exotic. The lake was good and the last day when we went to the shopping centre was good as well. I would advise this to anyone who does French and is keen on taking part in the exchange, it is a good experience and you learn a lot about the country and culture. Living with the family was good and you could pick up what they were saying if you only recognised one word. It is ok if you miss your family but after a while you don't as much. The families are always nice and will help you if you don't understand.

 James Ashton

 

I enjoyed the Exchange a lot. The day trips were really good, especially the Paris day. Climbing up the Eiffel tower was amazing, and looking at the view from the half way point was incredible. I enjoyed the Sacre Coeur, especially the shopping and the street singing.  I liked the day in the lake and swimming in the lake was really good. My family was really nice to me and gave me all the food I needed and being able to play the laser quest on the Saturday was amazing. The bonfire of Dijon on the Saturday night was really good as there were more English at the bonfire. The French school was really interesting and it was good to learn a lot about how they lived their lives in their culture. Celia's family was really giving and welcoming towards me. They had activities set out for me and meeting up with the English. The shopping day in Dijon was one of the best days. Visiting the markets, and visiting the enormous sweet shop!! All food in France was very nice and exotic.

Jessica Best.

 

I think the French exchange on the whole was really good.

 The trips out were brill, such as the trip to Paris and going in to Dijon. I liked the freedom that you had when you were in groups and the lake was the best thing because I love swimming.  When I was with my partner it was ok, but the best bit for me was the travelling there and back because I like finding out where the other planes and trains are going.  

 It was really good and I would recommend to anyone to go on the exchange if they can

Craig McKee

 

The French exchange was tiring yet very fun on the day trips out to Paris and Beaune. The journey to France was extremely tiring but worth the wait. My partner’s house was nice and cosy and his family was very nice and I could understand them very well.

The weather was fantastic as well as the food. The amount of food the parents gave me was a bit over the top! I was stuffed.

When the parents asked me a question I could roughly understand it and my partner helped out if I didn't.

 Overall the French exchange was a very good experience and worth the journey.

 Cameron Smith

 

The exchange was very exciting although a long journey it was well worth it. The family that I stayed with (The Fiet Family) were very nice and cared for my every need, such as all the lovely, filling pack lunches Mathlide's mother made me. The rest of the food was gorgeous and very tasty but in the morning I had to drink tea out of a bowl - very strange. The trips we went on (Paris, the lake, mustard factory and others) were very exciting also because of all the brill things that happened to everyone. The most fantastic night was when we went to a music festival and there was a big bonfire - cool or what?? Me and Mathilde got along very well and we could communicate...okay. Sometimes it was funny because I had no idea what she had said and we would just laugh about it!!

Hannah Lyons

 

The French exchange second leg when we went to France was very interesting and different. It was interesting to see how i found a holiday to a different country without my family and just with my friends. Everything was lovely (including the weather) but one of the best things was the food. The food was lovely particularly from the bakery. We had some great days out to Paris, Beaune, ancient museums and churches, the mustard factory and the lake. of course the one day the weather was bad was the day we went swimming in the lake, the cold outdoor lake which added a lot of laughter to the day. The journey there and home are also good and speedy. It was also surprisingly easy to communicate with our exchange partners and their family, where they talk very good English throughout the whole family. They are very kind and generous and they always make sure that you don’t get hungry.

 Overall the French exchange was a great and fun experience with lots of laughter, excitement and happiness everything was brilliant and it was well worth it, to the point where I didn’t want to go home.

 Ryan Phillips