For the second consecutive year, DHPS French Teacher, Ms Camille Detavernier, supported by Ms Alexandra Scharnow, organized a 12-day language and cultural trip to Paris, France, in its new format. Fifteen learners, comprising 14 from Grade 10 and 1 from Grade 11, participated in this project in 2024. The aim was to combine intensive French classes with the exploration of Paris. Once again, Ms Detavernier collaborated with the French language institute, Pierre Overall.

Pierre Overall organized homestays and French lessons. This combination allowed the learners to experience French daily life with its benefits (living in a large city, access to culture, and easy public transport) and challenges (small apartments, crowded public transport). It also provided an additional opportunity to practice French in real-life situations outside of the classroom context. Qualified French teachers conducted lessons for three hours each day in an intensive program focused on improving speaking skills. Classes were held primarily in the mornings or afternoons.

The second part of each day was dedicated to cultural visits. We balanced visits to museums (Pompidou, the Science Museum, Louvre), iconic landmarks (Eiffel Tower, Seine river cruise, Disneyland), and exploration of areas outside Paris (Montmartre, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Versailles).

The feedback from the DHPS learners was positive: "I loved the trip and every day was a great new experience," "This trip is a fantastic opportunity to immerse oneself in French culture," and "It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I particularly enjoyed using public transport and trying different foods. Experiencing new cultures was a highlight. 10/10!!!" Some participants found the schedule intense: "I just wish we had one free day to explore and walk around a bit," "Maybe we could have had a 'rest day' as the program was very packed."

As this was a school project, the teachers received feedback including the completion of the educational booklet, feedback from the language institute, and observations on student behaviour during the trip.

Once again, thank you to the DHPS school board and management for their financial and educational support for this project.