Year 11 Trip to France

A Three-Day Cultural and Linguistic Immersion

Bonjour OSA, the recent three-day cultural and linguistic immersion trip to France proved a profound success for our Year 11 Creative Arts and French students. This enriching experience not only allowed them to practise their language skills in French but also provided cultural exposure and inspiration for their French and Creative Arts GCSE.

The journey commenced in Lille on the first day, where the focus was an eagerly awaited meeting between the students and their French penpals (les Lillois), a relationship they have nurtured through correspondence for almost two years. The excitement was palpable as the English and French students finally spoke "in real”. Clément, the dedicated English teacher from the partner school, had masterminded an engaging linguistic challenge: a city-wide mission where groups of combined Anglo-French students were tasked with completing specific activities at Lille’s key landmarks. This mission successfully guided them through the historic Vieux-Lille (Old Lille), allowing them to explore its distinctive Flemish architecture, the bustling Grand Place, and the iconic Porte de Paris gate. A delightful stop included a visit to Maison Méert, one of France’s oldest pastry houses, giving a literal taste of regional history. All groups successfully completed their missions, demonstrating excellent collaboration and communication. The day concluded with the group exploring the festive atmosphere of the Lille Christmas Market before saying farewell to their penpals.

On the second day, the students travelled to Paris for an intensive day of sightseeing and art appreciation. The morning began with an ascent to the top of the Eiffel Tower, which offered a breathtaking panoramic view of the capital, encompassing major landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and Sacré-Cœur Basilica . Subsequently, the students visited the magnificent Musée d'Orsay. This museum holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, including works by artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. The students were visibly impressed, spending considerable time admiring these paintings and taking observational photographs to document the works as primary source material for their Creative Arts GCSE portfolios.

The final day saw the students explore Parisian architecture and history. They first climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, an enduring symbol of French national pride and the historical local point for major national events, which provided further stunning city views. The last architectural stop was the modern Grande Arche de la Défense, a monument situated in the contemporary business district of Paris, offering a powerful contrast to the city's older monuments. The trip concluded on a high and festive note by exploring the Christmas Market in La Défense, where the students enjoyed the holiday spirit and a final memorable activity: ice skating.

The Year 11 students, along with the Modern Foreign Languages department and Creative Arts, wish you all a Joyeux Noël!