Lower Fourth Experience French Culture in Normandy
23 April 2024 - Academic
To immerse themselves fully into French culture and language, the French Department accompanied 30 Lower Fourth pupils to the Château de la Baudonnière, a French language centre in the heart of the Normandy countryside. The aim of the trip was to experience spoken French in an authentic setting. From visiting the UNESCO site Mont St Michel to making fresh bread from scratch, all activities and excursions were conducted entirely in French, meaning that the girls not only had fun, but also learnt useful new vocabulary and gained confidence in their own speaking and listening ability. Although being back in the classroom this term may seem a little quiet compared to being in France itself, this trip will have had a lasting impact on the girls’ love for foreign languages.
Below, Tina (LIV) gives her thoughts on the trip.
‘Going to Normandy on a School trip was not only fun, but memorable. We stayed at Château de la Baudonnière, where the staff were accommodating and friendly and enjoyed a fantastic food. After a night of rest, we woke up and headed into the town of Avranches, with nothing but a clipboard and directions, all in French, that we had to translate and follow ourselves. After that, we had time to wander around, try different foods and go shopping. In the afternoon, we went to a caramel farm where we learnt about the farm’s history, took pictures of the animals, and got free samples. We spent the night on the farm and were delighted to be able to play with the animals and make some bread. The last dinner at the Château came with a big surprise when the starter turned out to be snails! Charlotte was the brave soul chosen to try them first; most people considered them rather tasty. I ended up with six empty shells on my plate, and asked if there were any more. My favourite part of the trip was when we travelled to Mont Saint Michel. Our walk around the castle was beautiful, especially the hike around the sea. It was different from many beaches I had been to because the sand was more like clay, and jumping on it made quicksand. Many people ended up standing up to their knees in clay. To those thinking of going on the French trip, I would absolutely suggest doing so! It’s an unforgettable experience and one you will not regret.’
Miss Sophie McIvor
Teacher of Modern Languages
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