French trips - Vive L'Entente Cordiale!

Date: Saturday 11 July 2009

The French Department has organised and led a number of visits to France this year and indeed groups have crossed the Channel in both directions. Form 8 top and tail the year with their four-day cross-curricular French study tour in September and then their week-long water sports trip after exams in June, the latter trip organised by the PE department. But younger classes also have a ‘French experience’ each year.

Form 4 went to Le Touquet on a Thursday in late May. It was the first time we have been there and it was a great success. The children went to the extensive market and bought their lunch, which they then ate on the beach. Afterwards, they went to a magnificent indoor swimming pool called Aqualud, which was equipped with water slides of varying difficulty and with a wave machine too. So, everyone had great fun, and every child was able to practise their French in a safe environment.

In June, Form 5 went on their customary trip to visit our link primary school at Audruicq. After buying their lunch at the market and playing with the French children in their school playground, the children visited the nearby Blockhaus, where flying bombs were launched in the Second World War. This was a new addition to the trip. Blockhaus showed quite graphically how V1 and V2 bombs were launched towards the end of the War, and indeed the damage the British inflicted back by bombing. Talk about History being brought to life!

Later that same month, St. Edmund’s was invaded by the French on two separate occasions! On 18 June, 120 children from our link secondary school, La Malassise in St. Omer, came for the afternoon. Form 7 acted as very capable hosts and showed all the visitors round the school, and then demonstrated to them the art of playing both rounders and cricket! Finally, during tea a group of choristers put on a string concert for them in the dining hall, which was much appreciated. Many of the French pupils told me afterwards how much they would like to come to St. Edmund’s!

One week later, on the same day that Form 6 went to Boulogne, Form 5 hosted a visit from the same primary school children they had met in Audruicq earlier in the month. They all visited the school and went swimming together in the school pool. As you might imagine, a great time was had by all.

In Boulogne, Form 6 went shopping for their lunch in the large hypermarket Auchan. Then they went to the sea life centre called Nausicaa, where they were able to see at close hand all kinds of species of fish, including sharks and sea lions, and of course, to appreciate what man is doing to pollute the environment. They learned some tips about what can be done by each of us to prevent further pollution from happening.

So, St. Edmund’s pupils from three different year groups have been very lucky this term, being easily able to practise their foreign language for a day in a variety of entertaining ways. “Vive l’Entente Cordiale!”