under the Eiffel Tower

Saint Germain Street

Strolling in the Tuileries

When the Academy opened again on Tuesday, the activities program for the week included guided group tours of 2 of the most famous spots in Paris. Since all group lessons are held from 9am to 1pm, the tours take place in the afternoon and the meeting point for the start of the trip was at the Academy, thereby making it very easy for students who had just arrived in Paris and were still getting their bearings of the city.

Here are a few WLE activities that will leave a remarkable impression of Paris on you: going to Montmartre, visiting Sacré-Coeur and just soaking in the atmosphere, walking around Saint-Germain des Prés (a beautiful avenue full of shops, cafés and stunning residences in the very heart of Paris), seeing the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral on the City Island, going to the Luxemburg Gardens, walking down the Champs-Élysées from the Place de L'Étoile to Place de la Concorde, standing under the Eiffel Tower and even going up to the top to get a fabulous view of Paris, visiting the Louvre, the Orsay, the Carnavalet, the Picasso, the Rodin Museums and the George Pompidou Center (in the Halles area), having a picnic and spending the afternoon in the Tuileries Gardens, seeing other famous buildings such as the Chaillot Palace, the Madeleine and the Opera House, etc as well as taking a ride on the “Bateaux Mouches” (boats that take you on a tour of the Seine River, on which you can also have lunch or dinner if you wish). Note, many of the place mentioned are STUNNING at night!

Name: Celine Encarnacion
Nationality: Filipino
Country of Residence: Philippines
Age: 19
Profession: Student as of now
Educational Background: Finished elementary and secondary levels of school.
Languages Spoken: English, Tagalog, a little bit of French (and hopefully after Malaga and Madrid a bit of Spanish too).
Hobbies and Interests: Dancing, reading, history, love of Italian food, especially all the different forms of pasta.

Why did you decide to study this French language program?
It was highly recommended by our French professor and aside from that, it gave us the opportunity to explore France and immerse ourselves in the Parisian way of life (especially since we live with foster families and travel with friends and the school is in the center of Paris).

How are you finding your studies?
So far, I have found the classes really great.

Has the program lived up to what you thought it was going to be like? Has it surpassed your expectations or…?
My expectations were definitely met… from the language lessons, to our foster / host families as well as to the tours and activities after class (the program they organized for us was really interesting).

What do you think is the BEST thing and what is the WORST (if there is one) part about studying here?
The BEST thing is that we are able to apply what we learn from the classrooms to the streets. If I want to buy something or take the metro or eat in a restaurant… Also, we get to listen to how the locals speak an adapt to what we hear as opposed to just studying in the Philippines where I can only practice with the professor or my classmates. It is also fantastic to meet people from various parts of the world and learn about their cultures.

The WORST ? Well my feet hurt after the tours (just kidding, because the trip and the whole experience are really worth it).

Is there anything that would have made your stay here easier in any way?
The only thing would have been if the school had provided the “carte orange” (the monthly ticket for the metro or the bus) especially since we are only here for a rather short period.

What is the most interesting thing you have done or discovered in Paris?
It was so interesting to see that a bottle of wine is much cheaper than evian (bottled still water). It's incredible, almost impossible. I also discovered my passion for art in Paris… the impressionists…Gaughin…Picasso…

What so far has been your most memorable experience in Paris and/or other parts of France?
For me, buying a cheap bottle of French wine and drinking it with my friends by the River Seine. I got a bit tipsy and I was even flattered by a Parisian who came up to us and complimented me about my looks … it was pretty embarrassing though.

Do you have any funny, entertaining, remarkable, weird, crazy, amazing things that have happened to you since you arrived?
Just discovering Paris has been incredible and I am proud to say I have mastered the Paris metro system.

What kinds of tips on living and studying in Paris can you give other potential students?

• It is more expensive to sit and eat in a café so if you want to save some money, buy something and eat while walking or sit down and eat on public bench on the sidewalks or in a park.
• They say there are lots of thieves in Paris so always be aware of that.
• Don't bring too much money with you.
• A “money belt / bag” is a MUST.
• Bring COMFORTABLE walking shoes and though you may be tempted to spend, it is better to sleep on it and if you still cant' get that thing you saw out of your head, buy it. If not, you still save money so it ‘s all good.

Are there any really interesting shops, museums, cinemas, markets, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs that you have been to?
Go to Rue de la Huchette: it a melting pot of various cuisines where you can eat a lot for under 5 Euros. Also there are lots of great exotic gifts you can buy there like scarves and necklaces.

What do prefer to do when you are not in class (ie afternoons, nights and weekends)?
I love window shopping, and just sitting in a café with friends, enjoying the view, our drinks and the company.

What were the major (cultural, social, educational etc) differences from your home country that you experienced when you first arrived in Paris (and maybe still find yourself struggling with)?
I did not experience any major culture shocks but I have noticed that the French toilets and bathrooms (with a shower, bathtub) are two separate rooms!! Also, you see a lot of people eating while walking (I understand now why… because it is expensive here to sit down…)

Was interacting and getting to know the other students very easy?
I found it really easy because the other students' ideas are in many ways the same as how I think and the ages don't really matter at all because it is our passion to learn the language that helps us get through classes. There is this mutual understanding among classmates that naturally exists.

How did you find the relationship between students and teachers?
It is a very casual, laid back relationship but the teacher doe not lose authority.

If you had to describe the WLE Program in one (or a few other words) what word immediately springs to mind?
“World” and “global”.

Any practical suggestions you would give to future students?

• It is better to stay with “foster / host families” while studying here.
• You do not have to bring a lot of pocket money … just spend wisely because everything in Paris is expensive.
• Don't be embarrassed or ashamed if you French is far from perfect. Just keep on practicing by talking to friends, classmates and host families.

What do you think is the most valuable lesson you will take with you when you leave this program and Paris (apart of course from having learnt to speak French) and how do you feel your experience here in Paris has changed you (if it has) ?
It gave me a wider perspective in looking at things.
You must make trends, not follow them.
To be different is OK… that difference actually makes you more special.
I love how the French preserve their culture and the old monuments/ buildings and how they love their own so much (but some mistake it as arrogance).

Do you think you will come back to Paris / France? What for especially ?
YES, definitely, “Mais bien sûr” --> but of course !!
To see more sights and discover shops and buy 2nd hand books in French and maybe even hopefully study on scholarship…

Finally, what words of wisdom / advice would you give others who plan to come and study here?
Don't be afraid to make mistakes especially when talking to locals in French.
Don't spend too much time thinking about your grammar because the Academy will help you learn how and communicate effectively and you also get to practice French with you host families which is great.

Most people would agree that not much could really be more picturesque than a walking tour of the famous Montmartre area in Paris. Well, the Academy of French Language students were lucky enough to be able to do exactly that. After taking a quick ride on the metro from the metro stop “Grands Boulevards” right outside the school, we were met by an experienced young Parisian guide who accompanied us for the next 2 hours and showed us all the best corners of the area.

When one thinks of Montmartre, the world famous cathedral of Sacré Coeur and the charming Place du Tertre immediately spring to mind. However, as our group found out, there is much much more to the place than these two beautiful parts. Today, artists still assemble in the Place du Tertre to paint portraits and make sketches of tourists.

Sacré Coeur

Street Around Place du Tertre

Good Friday Procession

Shop used in film 'Amelie'

The Montmartre streets have figured in many French movies and in fact, several scenes from the recently internationally acclaimed film “Amélie” were shot in the streets leading up to the cathedral!!! Our group stopped at the fruit and vegetable shop which was used in the film and has been preserved for all interested to see what it was like. We were definitely excited to be able to see up close and in reality an aspect of French culture they had all seen in the movies.

Of course our tour guide took our group to these most famous/ tourist spots (and the view of Paris from the entrance to the Sacré Coeur cathedral is absolutely spectacular) but what was particularly refreshing and what our students seemed to enjoy the most was discovering all the other hidden parts of the Montmartre area.

Interesting historical facts such as seeing famous artists' studios (including a house and garden where Renoir spent a lot of time as well as the studio where Picasso painted the famous Demoiselles D'Avignon) gave us a very memorable impression of the area as did walking up the hill the back way through the actual little streets (and seeing where people lived and still do) instead of limiting the visit to going up the main stairs where all the tourists go and which lead directly to the famous icons, without getting the “feel” for the place.

This is exactly where our students said how amazing it felt to be able to put into practice all they were learning at the Academy by being able to listen to a French guide give a tour in French about French culture and history in one of the most famous spots in France!!!

Montmartre snack takeaway

Montmartre Maison Catherine

Montmartre Les Coulisses

Our guide was great because although the tour was conducted in French (which was not easy for all the students), he spoke slowly and always made sure all the students understood. He also did not bombard us with too much information which would have been impossible to remember but rather pointed out areas of interest from historical and cultural points of view, telling us little stories about the place which made it that much more real to imagine what life was like during the period when Montmartre came into existence and the ambience which it is so famous for began to come to life.

All in all, Tuesday's good weather only added to the unforgettable experience of our Montmartre visit and we all walked away feeling extremely content with what we had just learned and seen as well as being thirsty for more…

On this day our group of students (comprising people from the Philippines, Sweden, Australia, Switzerland, Mexico, the United States and Spain) went on a guided visit of one of the most famous Parisian icons: the Louvre Museum!

A professor from the Academy accompanied us from the school to the Museum (by metro again) and in the Louvre's main entrance hall they met up with the students who had preferred to make their own way to the museum (which had left the students with the flexibility of doing as they preferred). After going through security, we all descended into the main platform under the famous “Louvre glass pyramids” with a mind-boggling perspective of the museum (from below and through glass) and were then ushered into a main vestibule where we left our bags and were all given individual headphones to hear our guide.

A very experienced and friendly French guide took us around the massive building, pointing out particular objects of interest and giving a very interesting background to several paintings and sculptures covering several pivotal moments in the history of art.

Of course a visit to the Louvre is not complete without getting a glimpse at Leonardo da Vinci's “Mona Lisa”, which was a highlight of the tour for most students! However, it was incredible to see how many other masterpieces from so many different historical periods the museum also contains! (and that is nothing compared to the Museum's entire collection which is so extensive that only parts of it can be exhibited at one time!)

Although the tour only lasted 1 ½ hour, talking to the students during and afterwards they told me they felt they had truly gotten a taste of all there is to see in the Museum and that the guide had definitely managed to spark their interest in learning more about the Louvre itself and the fascinating world of art in general.

It was a very successful visit from all points of view and left us all with the desire to come back and spend as long as we possibly could in the hundreds of various rooms of the museum. In fact, we all agreed that one needs a lifetime to truly absorb all the Louvre has to offer and we were all extremely envious of the Academy students who are staying for extended periods of time because they have the real possibility of going back as many times as they want, whenever they feel like it. What a luxury and just one of the amazing benefits of studying French at the Academy of French Language in Paris.

In the Louvre

The Louvre by night

The Louvre by day

Students concentrating

Teacher assisting students

Classwork

The first thing that strikes you in class, is the relaxed but at the same time educational atmosphere that exists. The students all sit around the classrooms in chairs with small side tables attached which can be used whenever there is a need to write anything but which also provide the freedom to move easily and not feel constrained behind a desk. This might seem like a little detail but it is extremely significant because one does not get the impression of being in a formal classroom and this immediately makes the whole setting more relaxed and in my opinion more open to learning. It also makes it much easier for the students to get into small groups for certain exercises or form various formations and interact with each other and the teacher.

The next thing which is obvious is the multicultural composition of the students in the classes. People of all different nationalities and ages are sitting side by side. It is this diversity which a lot of students found so stimulating and fantastic about the whole experience of studying at the Academy because it gave them the possibility to experience first hand so many different cultures and, importantly, it opened up their minds to the infinite number of ways one can perceive the world.

A brief insight in class

In one of the classes on Tuesday morning it was time for mini class presentations. Although the French system is famous for the terror it installs in students who have to give presentations, the atmosphere once again was not overly tense. Rather it was quite relaxed. However, that is not to say that the students did not take it seriously. They were well prepared and seemed to enjoy telling the class about the things they had chosen to talk about.

Leaving the topics of the presentations open to the students is good idea because it means that they can take whatever interests they have and explore them and present it all at the level they are capable of.

For example, a Swiss student called Regula told us all about the area where she comes from in Switzerland, thereby also giving the class an idea of the cultural point of view she approaches things from as well as a glimpse of how things work in that part of the world.

Regula's presentation

Regula showing us photos

Miriam explaining tapas

Miriam, who is half Spanish, half Swedish talked about “tapas” (the small before dinner snack eaten all over Spain). She provided the history and definition of the term, how and when it is usually eaten, the various types that exist and why it is so, etc. She finished up by spoiling us all with samples of Tortillas de Patatas: omelets made from potatoes which she added to a fresh French baguette she had just bought in a French bakery next to the Academy!

It was honestly delicious and reflected exactly how many different and interesting things each student can bring to the rest of the class.

In her very own words:

« Bonjour à tous. Je m'appelle Sandrine. Après des études d'anglais et quelques voyages en pays anglophones, j'ai décidé d'enseigner le français. Pourquoi ? Et bien parce que mes voyages et mes rencontres m'ont fait réaliser que je voulais connaître « ma » culture française. J'ai donc passé ma maîtrise FLE à l'université de la Sorbonne et un DEA de Linguistique. Avec tous ces diplômes en poche je suis partie vivre en Finlande où j'ai enseigné à l'université la littérature et la linguistique. De retour en France, je suis entrée chez l'Académie. Cette école m'a permis de mettre à profit toutes les expériences accumulées et de rencontrer des ressortissants de tous les pays du monde. Je m'occupe aussi bien des adultes que des adolescents. Ce que j'aime dans mon métier c'est la communication. Je pense que la base de tout apprentissage d'une langue étrangère ce sont les échanges entre les personnes. C'est ce que j'essaye de mettre en pratique tous les jours dans mes cours. A très bientôt, j'espère. »

Translated into English:
“Hello everyone. My name is Sandrine. After having studied English and traveled to a few English speaking countries, I decided to teach French. Why you ask? Well because my travels and my encounters I had while traveling made me realize that I wanted to really know and understand my “own” French culture. I therefore passed the requisite teaching exams at the Sorbonne University here in Paris and also got a Diploma in Linguistics. With all these diplomas under my belt, I went to live in Finland where I taught Literature and Linguistics at the university there. After returning back to France, I started to work with the Academy which has provided me with the possibility to use and profit from the experiences I had accumulated. It also enabled me to meet people from all over the world. I teach adults as well as adolescents and the thing I like most about my work is the communication it involves. I believe the basis for learning a foreign language is made up of exchanges between people. That is exactly what I try to put into practice every day in my classes. See you very soon, I hope.”

Sandrine's approach to her work illustrates precisely how unique the Academy of French Language is in terms of its language teaching method. The teachers' attitude to teaching is crucial because it undoubtedly sets the tone for the whole class atmosphere. The way the professors acted was contagious in the sense that their genuine enthusiasm for being there gained them the trust and inspired the confidence of the students, in itself a vital basis from which to go from since the students feel safe and at ease, all of which leads to a very effective learning environment which, after all, is of course the main goal of studying the French language.

First of all, one thing that is certain about Paris is that there has never been and never will be a shortage of things to satisfy all our senses. There is so much to see, taste, hear, try, experience and discover that it can actually be rather overwhelming, especially if one is pressed for time and eager to do as much as possible.

In the total program, there are free guided visits to the absolute “must see” places such as the Eiffel Tower (which by the way is stunning to walk around at night), the Latin Quarter, The Notre-Dame Cathedral, The Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art, the Picasso Museum and the Musée D'Orsay.

Paris skyline

Eiffel Tower at night

Notre Dame

The many excursions and guided visits available to go on in Paris give our students an excellent taste of the particular traditional, historical and cultural aspects that together make Paris so wonderful. Since the visits are conducted in French by experienced guides (who often speak and understand many other languages in case there are any major comprehension difficulties), it is also another opportunity for the students to deepen their knowledge of the French language all the while experiencing many different aspects of the rich and varied culture of France.

In Paris: there is something for everyone, in the sense that no matter what your interests may be, you are guaranteed to find something to do that suits you perfectly. Not many other cities can boast such an extraordinary choice of things to experience all within such a relatively small space.

Jen in front of the Opéra

Sitting by a Parisian bistro

The importance of French wine