Bonjour Chers Collègues,
The French Traveler offers professional development workshops every summer in France for teachers of French. Attended by language teachers from many different regions, many of whom return year after year after year, the stage d’immersion focuses on the contemporary issues of France, making French culture more accessible to teachers and consequently, their students.
Morning seminars and afternoon excursions occupy our days; leisure time and optional activities are plentiful. The seminars cover topics and themes included in the syllabus for advanced studies of French. We speak only French; we dine together in restaurants selected for their authenticity. We also laugh a lot. When we’re not engaged in animated discussions about France today, we’re collectively pooling ideas for new lesson plans and spending our free time in the museums and bookstores we’ve been longing to visit.
In July 2024 we’ll be touring the historic and cultural region of la Bourgogne. Renowned for its powerful reign of the four Ducs de Bourgogne during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, la Duchée de Bourgogne possessed immense tracks of rich, fertile land which rivaled the kingdom of France. Important remnants of this mighty empire remain prominent in the bustling, recently renovated, elegant city of Dijon, the capital of La Bourgogne. While the old medieval city is still reflected in the capital’s streets, modernity and progress are visible everywhere. Its enviable city center is mostly pedestrian, allowing for leisurely strolling and wandering. Restaurants abound, offering Burgundy’s best in the way of cuisine and terroir. The market area is rich in food delicacies and the museums are magnificent both in structure and in collections. And of course, the route des vins is known as the Champs Elysées de la vigne. We can’t miss that—les climats and la cuisine bourguignonne are an integral part of the cultural experience here.
Lodgings will be in a deluxe hotel in the center of town, and seminars are held in the same hotel. Many of our participants, both active and retired teachers who have traveled and studied with us, return each summer. They recognize the value these seminars and intercultural experiences bring to them personally, enriching their teaching and deepening their understanding of France. They love the opportunity to speak non-stop French. When we’re not involved in our seminars, we attend cultural excursions around the city and fan out in the region during our free days, blending work with pleasure throughout the séjour.
Like every summer, we will have an outstanding class leader who will guide us in our discussions and pedagogical pursuits. Instructor Bertrand Larique, a native of the region who teaches histoire-géo at a lycée in Dijon, will stimulate your inquiry into several passionate subjects that are bound to have an impact on your lesson plans next fall.
Rejoignez-nous du 10 au 20 juillet 2024. Vous ne le regretterez pas. Nous serions heureux de vous mettre en contact avec des anciens stagiaires qui ont bien profité de leur séjour, qui sont désireux de partager leurs belles expériences.
Come stretch your limits with us. Register early; space is limited. Venez vivre à la française!
Valerie Sutter
Director, The French Traveler