Isabelle Bedard and Renée Dreise (Canada)
Destination: Chartres
Two students from Western University (Ontario) spent 4 weeks at the Faculty of Education (INSPE CVL) and in local schools.
Stephen Bishop, Sara Brolley and Amanda Major (Canada)
Destination: Orleans
Three students from the University of Manitoba spent 4 weeks at the Faculty of Education (INSPE CVL) and in local schools. Stephen, Amanda and Sara share their experience in these blog posts:
- Exchange students arrive in France
Laura Van Hoof (UK)
Destination: Orléans
I'm a Spanish and French teacher, but my level of French isn't very high, so I needed to improve it. The French students were very nice and sometimes we went out with them. My comprehension improved, thanks to being in the French, history, Latin etc. sessions in the school.
I went to a middle school (Montjoie in Saran) for two weeks. I was with another intern from my university in England, and we received a very warm welcome at the University in Orléans and at the school. The English teacher organized our timetable with lots of different classes, to get a good feel for the education system in France. She encouraged us to do classes for her English students, and gave us feedback afterwards. Also, we organized an English drama club for the students during lunch, which was great fun, for us as well as for the students!
You have to take the opportunity to do interesting things during your stay, and also talk to as many people as possible in French to practice!!!
Gloria Fernandez Ruiz (Spain)
Destination: Orléans
I chose to go to France because I wanted to improve my French and this country has always been very interesting for me.
Yes, I had a lot of contact with French students and students of other nationalities, which was very enriching.
According to the French language level test I took at the end of my internship, I improved a little in terms of written and oral comprehension, and I think that this stay helped me a lot to learn typical French expressions and to have a better level of the language.
I was with the teacher in the classroom and the children were very kind to me and my classmates. I learned a lot of new teaching techniques and was able to see other methods and compare them with education in Spain. What's more, I collaborated with other teachers at the school and in general we all worked together to make the experience more unforgettable.
My advice is that everyone should do an Erasmus trip at least once in their life. I learned a lot of things that a person can't see and learn in their home country. I think it's a great experience and very useful for students who love languages and education.
Jill Pieck (Belgium)
Destination: Orléans
I think French is a beautiful language. I'm studying to become a teacher of FLE (French as a foreign language), so this was the ideal destination to improve my French.
I've traveled a lot: Bordeaux, Paris, Mont Saint-Michel, Montpellier, Marseille, Toulouse, Tours, Amboise, Versailles, several Loire castles, etc.
I also had to do an internship at the Louis Guilloux elementary school. It was mainly an observation period. I gave 4 lessons (2 about Belgium and 2 English lessons). But it was still an enjoyable learning experience.
For the rest, I took courses at the Faculty of Education (INSPE CVL). I also took French courses at the university. These courses were organized for Erasmus students and they were very useful! We revised a bit of grammar,...
Doing an Erasmus trip is an enriching experience, and a great one at that! It's also worth noting that you can improve your French by doing an Erasmus trip. You get to meet other people, other cultures (other Erasmus students from Mexico, for example)... In short, I recommend it to everyone!
Ana García Murillo (Spain)
Travel destination : Châteauroux
I made the most of my stay because when I was at school, I retained and observed everything that happened in class, the methodology used by the teacher, the exercises the students did, so I gave a few Spanish lessons to the students. I was able to observe the differences between the Spanish and French education systems. Being in France allowed me to speak French every day - I love speaking French - and to get to know a lot of people (inside and outside the school). I felt very welcome by all the people I met and by all those who prepared our stay, they were very kind. Being there, I also took the opportunity to travel and get to know some of the towns and villages in the surrounding area, which enriched me culturally.
For me, this stay was one of the best experiences I've ever had, and very enriching on all levels: professional, cultural, social and above all personal. I'm very happy to have had this opportunity and I'd like to thank all the people who prepared our internship, because thanks to them, we felt very comfortable.
My advice to future interns is simply to make the most of this opportunity, because getting to know another culture, another language, other people and another country is very enriching.
Amaranta Espinosa Elías (Mexico)
Destination: Orleans
I had a wonderful experience, right from reception, because the people who welcomed us were very kind and understanding. And this experience enabled me to get to know many people from different countries and practice other languages like English, French and Portuguese. The best moments were the cultural exchange, observing and participating in the classes, getting to know the French education system and the guided tours like the visit to Amboise castle and Leonardo Da Vinci's house.
Isabel García (Spain)
Destination: Orléans
I chose France for several reasons: firstly, because I love the French language; secondly, because I love French culture and its cultural diversity; and finally, because we had the opportunity to visit it, and the best way to do this is by doing an internship in an elementary school.
I met French students, monitors, teachers, workers... and that's really interesting because you can improve your language a lot and you can also exchange cultural information between countries.
I improved my language a lot, especially orally, because it's in France and with French people that you can really improve and learn it.
In Spain, I was studying to become a teacher, so that's why I was an intern in an elementary school in Orléans, France. I went to school from Monday to Friday. There I was with a CM2 class, but I also took part in the activities of other classes. I did a photo project, kayaked for a week with the students, introduced them to my country (culture, traditions, food, weather, vacations...) and many other activities.
I also had plenty of time to visit France. I visited Orléans and other towns in the Centre region, such as Blois and Tours. Châteaux are well known in the Centre region. I visited the Château de Chambord, which is truly magnificent. I also visited Bordeaux before arriving in Orléans, because I made the trip by car with two friends, so we took the opportunity to visit it. And of course, I visited Paris.
In the end, I have to say that for me, it was the best experience of my life, because I learned a lot and met some wonderful people.
My advice is: make the most of the experience and get to know different people who can give you a lot.
Marleen Thomas (Netherlands)
Destination: Orléans
Because in the Netherlands I'm studying to become a French teacher. I chose France to improve my French (and what's more, I really like the country).
I'm less afraid of speaking French/making mistakes now.
I stayed in a residence with about 30 people from different countries. I soon made acquaintances and friends with whom I did activities like parties, visits to the cinema, games, sports, and so on. In addition, I took courses at university and did things for training in the Netherlands (research and files). I visited other cities, like Paris, and got to know the city of Orléans. I've really had the time of my life, because everyone has a positive attitude and everyone tries to make the best of life during this stay.
Save up before you go! It would be a shame if you don't know if you can do something (go to a party/cinema/visit another city/etc.) because of a lack of money. I think you should see and do everything you can!
Marco Nallon (Italy)
Destination: Orléans
Elias Mueller (Switzerland)
Destination: Bourges
As I'm going to be a French language teacher, it's important to get to know France and its education system.
At the hall of residence we got to know other French students.
The two of us were in a CP class (7-year-olds) at the Barbès school in Bourges. During our placement we were able to teach German (our mother tongue), tell interesting stories about our home country and, above all, attend lessons to see how teachers work with pupils. Sometimes we also helped the students.
My advice to future internship students: Do it! You won't regret it, and it's a unique experience.
Ana Laura Venegas Muñiz (Mexico)
Destination: Orléans
I chose France because I speak a bit of French language and because I like to know about the methodology of teaching mathematics and France is the origin of that.
I've had a very pleasant time living here, with all the teachers and staff helping me whenever necessary.
The aim was to get to know a bit about education in France, so I looked at the classes of a math teacher. With this I can enrich my practice as a teacher.
It is very necessary to speak French to improve the internship and communication with students and teachers.
Thomas Dunford, Veronica Rondeau, Brittney Kosowan and Gabrielle Wiebe (Canada)
Destination: Orléans
Four education students from the University of Monitoba spend nearly a month in France teaching English in elementary schools.
Access their blogs:
- Week n°1
- Week n°2
- Week n°3
Melissa, Mya and Kaelyn (Canada)
Destination: Blois
Three education students from the University of Saint-Boniface (USB) spend almost a month in France, teaching English in elementary schools.
Kimberley Grawey (Canada)
Destination: Châteauroux
I decided to go to France because it was an opportunity I probably will not have in the future. I also wanted to see different types of school systems to get more ideas that I can use in my classroom.
During my internship, I took part in the classes by helping the teacher. For example, if the students were working, we would circulate around the classroom to help those who were having difficulty, or if the teacher was preparing an activity, I would help him prepare it. I wasn't able to teach much, as the Châteauroux trainees changed schools every week.
I made connections with French students, especially those who housed the Canadian students.
I think it was a useful internship as I was able to observe several different classrooms in France.
My advice would be to be open to different types of education systems. Education in France seems to focus on the visual aspect of student work, and teachers use “older” methods, but they still have many ideas that are very useful and that we can use in Canadian classrooms to improve the system.
Mai Vy Huynh (Switzerland)
Destination: Chartres
I came to France to improve my French. I'm happy because I've made progress.
I went to Paris several times for the weekend. Otherwise, I stayed in Chartres and worked on my files at the Faculty of Education (INSPE CVL) and on my dissertation in Switzerland. Most of the time, I stayed at home in Chartres and watched TV. There were a few times when I went out with my friends.