Team France !

Polyvia Formation Campus West is a specialised engineering school based in Normandy, France. There are only 260 students here and they are trained to work as production or research engineers in the plastics industry. They have apprenticeship contracts in companies all over France, to make products that we use every day: cosmetic packaging, automobile parts, medical appliances or even plane components and wind turbines ! Over their 3-year degree course, they alternate working in their host companies and studying here at Polyvia Formation. Our students come from all over France and abroad. They just came back from a 2-month international internship this summer.

This Virtual Exchange is part of our students' English language course.

France is 7 hours ahead of Texas. This can be tricky to schedule meetings !

https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

Timelines & Expectations for the French Apprentices

Final year Plastics and Composite Materials Apprentice Engineers, Polyvia Formation.

Virtual Exchange, Fall 2022, Timeline

Teacher for Team France: Claire Horner

Teacher for Team US: Professor Victoria McCrady

This virtual exchange will be with Business Students at University of Texas at Dallas

Week 1: Week of 19 September 2022

There are 18 apprentices in your group. Please arrange yourselves into 6 groups of 3 to match up with a group American students

• Upload an introductory group video on to the Padlet (see the Padlet tab). You can film yourselves at Polyvia Formation, in the workshop for example, or the students recreation room.

• The deadline for your video is Monday 25 September .

• All the information will be on this Google site. This site will be a common tool for both French and US students and teachers

• Contact Information: Teachers collect email and telephone numbers for students to communicate easily.

• Groups of Six: Teachers create groups (3 American students + 3 French students) and make a general check regarding internet connections, willingness to accommodate the time difference and access to communication.

• Time Difference: Your group will meet with the French students three times (and you will need to schedule this next week, so all six students can attend). There is a seven hour time difference. Please note the best hours for meeting with the French students.

• Professionalism & Courtesy: Be prompt, courteous and thoughtful. Meet all deadlines.

• Final Meeting: The final onlilne live group meeting will be on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 5:30 pm French time

Week 2: September 26, 2022

Review Padlet videos & coordinate with French students to set up the three meetings (if you have not done so already). Meeting #1 should be this week. Remember to take screenshots of your meetings (online) for use in your final videos. You can also share pictures, videos, etc.

Meeting #1: Week of September 26, 2022: "Breaking the ice" activities, "getting to know you" activities

Meeting #2: Week of October 3, 2022: Talking about transport in Texas vs France + other countries (Polyvia Formation internships feedback)

Which countries have the most sustainable means of transport?

Would you be willing to change your habits to travel more sustainably (cycle or walk to work/University instead of driving).

Has the internet facilitated sustainable transport (Blabla car in France for example) or made it worse (low-cost air travel)?

Which websites do you use for transport?

Calculate your carbon footprint on this link

https://www.footprintnetwork.org/

How many planets are needed to sustain your lifestyle? When is your overshoot date ? and compared to the rest of the group? How do you feel about the result?

Meeting #3: Week of October 10, 2022: General discussion and conclusion (Please share pictures or links with each other for situations or experiences you have discussed.)

Week of October 17, 2022

Students upload conclusion videos on Padlet. For the French students this is your second virtual exchange. The first one was 2 years ago when you first arrived at Polyvia Formation. Take a step outside yourself and think about:

• How you have changed over these 2 years

• Do you feel more comfortable communicating in English compared to 2 years ago?
  Do you feel more comfortable talking to strangers in English compared to 2 years ago?

• What adjectives would you use to describe yourself then and now? I feel I am more...../ less.....

• In your future career, will you seek jobs where communicating in English is an essential skill?

Please also address:

• What were your expectations?

• How did your expectations compare to the people and the experiences that you heard about?

• Did you have issues with arranging for all students to meet?

• Were there communication obstacles? If so, please include them.

• What was easy?

• What was challenging?

• What was surprising?

• How did you handle technical or time difficulties?

• What should other students know about this experience?

• Is there anything else funny, interesting or relevant that should be included?

Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 10:30 am North Texas time (5:30 pm Normandy, France time)

Students get together online with their teachers for coffee, donuts and croissants!