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Our Bordeaux Students
To enhance the learning experience of Alliance Française de Bristol students, a grant is offered to a limited number every year to live and learn French with Alliance Française de Bordeaux.
"My reason for applying for a bursary to study in Bordeaux this year was that I felt my spoken French had reached a plateau in terms of fluency and confidence. What I needed was a period of "total immersion" in the language in order to make progress.
I was delighted to be awarded one of the two "bourses" for this year and Bordeaux certainly lived up to all expectations. It proved to be a wonderful experience and I am certain it improved my fluency.
Everyone at the Alliance Française de Bordeaux was very welcoming and friendly to the two Bristol laureates. Tuition was, of course, entirely in French and was of a high standard, varied and interesting (4 hours per day). The students were very multinational in origin. We covered a vast amount in two weeks; we listened to, spoke, read and wrote on all sorts of topics but it did not feel as if we were attending a "crammer". Above all, it was enjoyable.
In addition to classes, there were various afternoon visits and activities, organised by or through the Alliance, to which one could sign up. We opted for a tram and walking city tour which took in a 4th century necropolis below a pilgrimage church; the interior of one of the mediaeval city gates (we now know the French for "portcullis"!); and 200 plus steps up a church tower for a magnificent panoramic view of the city.
Tracy and I were in different classes, each staying with her own hostess. So the only time that English was spoken was for a few hours some afternoons and on our free Saturday, when we met up to "do" Bordeaux on foot and by tram. In this way, we covered the whole length of the left bank of the Garonne through the city, seeing en route: the former U-boat pens; evidence of the city’s former port activity; grand 18th century public buildings (recently cleaned); churches; city gates and, not least, the Miroir d’Eau, created in 2007 as a water feature alongside the river.
We found time to enjoy the Jardin Public (near the Alliance) and the relatively new and innovative botanic gardens across the river. We made several browsing and buying trips to the Mollat bookshop, a Bordeaux institution and a book-lover’s paradise. We also became quite knowledgeable about the best places for afternoon refreshment.
One afternoon, I set out alone to trace the path of the Route St. Jacques across most of the central part of the city, by following the brass pavement plaques, which have been placed in recent years at considerable cost to public funds.(A pity they do not seem to have printed any map or street plan to show the Route).A large part of my French "immersion"was thanks to my wonderfully hospitable hostess, who not only made me feel completely at ease and served delicious meals but also provided endless opportunities for stimulating conversation. Together we visited the former homes of two of Bordeaux’s illustrious men, Montesquieu and Mauriac. Sadly, St. Emilion and its wines will have to wait for another time!
I would encourage any Bristol Alliance students who have more than elementary French to consider applying in 2010."
"Having been lucky enough to be awarded a place at Alliance Française Bordeaux for two weeks this Autumn I set off with the modest aim of just being able to hold my own in a classroom of strangers. This aim was achieved surprisingly quickly due to the skill of the teachers in creating a completely non threatening learning environment.
From 09:00-12:00 each day we studied grammar in a way which was creative and varied and with the introduction of new vocabulary, allowed for interesting deviations and plenty of humour. We hardly noticed that the grammar was being absorbed.
From 12:00-13:30 we were taught details of Gastronomy and Culture which provided a good source of subjects to discuss in our various lodgings in the evening.
Home work was plentiful but achievable and even the dreaded role-play was infrequent and the sessions mercifully short!
Lessons finished at 13:30 followed by free time to explore Bordeaux, take advantage of trips organised by AF, long late lunches, cinema, tea/ice-cream salons, tram rides or just sitting in the sun. Evenings were spent doing homework, talking, and eating.
This total immersion into French life was a fabulous experience, totally absorbing and effective, which I would recommend to anyone who can organise taking two weeks out of their everyday life."
Some GCSE and A Level students went to AF de Bordeaux for revision workshops last Easter. The trip was organised between AF Bordeaux / Bristol and Académie Aquitaine who linked with the Alliance Française, the schools, the students and the parents and the families in France:
"As we passed the over-sized Virgin Megastore, the hoard of eager French parents came into sight, each awaiting their new exchange student. So we had arrived. Bordeaux; full of patisseries, pharmacies and French people speaking very fast. And that was just the first half hour.
Our week was crammed full of exciting activities joined together by tram rides, family time, shopping and chocolate fish (like an Easter egg but more fun). Mornings were reserved for classes at 'L'Alliance Française", where English was strictly forbidden and text book exercises were replaced with French Pop Idol (some of the time, anyway). Mid-week we donned our plastic aprons and got cooking at the delicious smelling 'L'Atelier des Chefs', just about managing the 'saumon aux asperges' dish. Ancient mustard plants and nettle quiche were also on the menu when we paid a visit to 'la ferme des légumes oubliés' (farm of lost vegetables to the rest of us) along with rosehip jam and saffron jelly.
Evenings and Wednesday were times when we could do what we liked, namely shopping. Bordeaux is home to 'la Rue Sainte Catherine', the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe, and we had no intention of forgetting that. Clothes rails of jeans in every possible colour and the aforementioned massive Virgin Megastore grew to be a vital element in our trip, and the thousand patisseries and ice cream parlours kept us fuelled as we traversed up and down the 1.2km.
Throughout our stay it became clear that our families weren't as terrifying as they had first seemed, in fact, they were actually quite nice. In between the films, science museum, shopping and tours we all managed to greatly improve our French as well as grab a glimpse into the differences and similarities of French culture. Farewells are always difficult, but it was perhaps the arrival home which was harder; from French sunshine into English snow, it wasn't long until we were yearning after 'Rue Sainte Catherine' once more."