Bon matin !

It is our final day in Mandelieu; tomorrow, we will head to Nice by bus, where we will spend the final four days of our program (unbelievable that we are at this point already!).

It has been a fun-filled week in the south of France. Students have been loving hitting the beach after class and hanging out there in the evenings. They also enjoyed visiting Cannes earlier in the week; some want to head back there to explore further today. Students have been working hard as their courses begin to wrap up and are also starting to prep for final exams.

Following our transfer to Nice tomorrow, we will go on a walking tour and, on Sunday, we will visit Monaco on Sunday. After that, only two days will remain for final exams and our Farewell Banquet.

À bientôt !

Emma

Program Manager

Hello from the French Riviera!

Students have had a wonderful first few days in the south. It’s quite a change from Paris but, after such a busy start to the program, it’s a change we’re all welcoming 🙂

On Sunday, some of our group went to Saint-Tropez on an optional excursion, where they had a walking tour and then free time to grab lunch, take a look around, and hit the beach. Students returned to residence raving about the beauty of the coastal town.

Yesterday and today have been busy class days; as the end of the program begins to approach, teachers are looking ahead to help students prepare for culminating tasks and exams. Outside of class, students have been exploring the town of Mandelieu and making the most of the hotel’s amenities, including the pool and a nightly DJ (dance parties have been in full force). Tomorrow, we will venture to Cannes by bus for a walking tour of the famous city and dinner.

À plus tard !

Emma

Program Manager

Bonjour de la Côte d’Azur !

I write from sunny Mandelieu, where we arrived yesterday after a five-hour train ride on the TGV from Paris. Taking the train as a group of 30+ can be challenging; however, our students fared exceptionally well and we were able to get on and off the train, as well as from the station in Cannes to our hotel in Mandelieu, smoothly. Upon arrival at the hotel yesterday, students could hardly wait to get out of the heat and into the pool; they enjoyed a few hours of settling in and lounging poolside before we had dinner as a group and ventured into town for a grocery run. Students are so excited to be sharing spacious rooms with their new friends, complete with kitchenettes. This morning, a large chunk of the group set off for Saint-Tropez, which I’m sure they very much enjoyed, and, this evening, we’ll be heading down to the beach to celebrate Bastille Day with fireworks.

As I reflect on the past two weeks, I’m reminded that Paris is always a whirlwind—and I must say that this year’s group of students embraced its busy nature wholeheartedly. Our teachers regularly had their students visiting significant sites and landmarks during class time, and students were keen to continue exploring neighbourhoods during their free time in the evenings. From Montmartre to the Louvre, from the Musée d’Orsay to the Eiffel Tower—students saw (and did) a lot. The boat cruise along the Seine on our second last night in Paris was another highlight. Students learned more about how to balance work and play as classes got off to a running start; the end of our time in Paris saw all of them wrapping up significant assignments. Teachers continue to be impressed with their students’ level of engagement, and it’s safe to say everyone’s French has improved! (Including the English students’!) Students are also learning a great deal about what it means to travel successfully, and are becoming increasingly self-sufficient and independent.

One of the highlights of the month so far has been watching friendships between the students develop and flourish. The teachers and I regularly comment on the students’ friendly and welcoming nature, which has been evident since the first few days of our program. We are fortunate to have such a tight knit, considerate group—I feel that I am watching lifelong bonds form, and I look forward to continuing to watch these friendships progress in the south of France.

Now that we’ve passed the midpoint of the program, the rest of our time in France is going to fly by. We’re all looking forward to a week of exploration and relaxation on the beach and at the pool in Mandelieu, then we’ll be bussing to Nice to visit Monaco, write exams, and wrap up with our Farewell Banquet. July 24th is coming quickly!

Emma

Program Manager

Bonjour !

This week, several students ventured to Versailles and Giverny on our optional excursions to see the Palace of Versailles and Monet’s house. About 20 students visited Versailles while fewer went to Giverny; in both cases, however, students had positive, memorable experiences. Students remarked that Versailles was stunning, and the students who went to Giverny enjoyed the peace and quiet of the gardens.

Check out the attached photos to see some of the fun had.

À bientôt !

Emma

Program Manager

Hello GSA Family and Friends,

Early yesterday morning, our group set out on foot to the Eiffel Tower. We arrived as the tower was opening and, as a result, had to do very little waiting in line (certainly a first for me!). We visited the second floor of the tower and were able to enjoy the views of the city and the Olympic preparations before taking the elevator up to the summit. Students had a great time.

Otherwise, students continue to balance work and play, studying and getting out and about in the city. A large group is out at Versailles this afternoon, and a smaller group will head to Giverny tomorrow to check out what was Monet’s residence for 43 years.

À plus !

Emma

Program Manager

Good morning GSA Family and Friends,

It’s Monday morning here in France, and classes are back in full swing after our first full weekend in Paris. All of our groups are out and about, with the French classes continuing their Guide touristique assignments, and the English class visiting one of the sites Hemingway frequented while in Paris.

Over the weekend, a dozen students ventured to Vimy Ridge and Arras for our first optional excursion of the program. We saw the Canadian National Memorial and had the chance to explore the tunnels and trenches. All were in agreement that it was a very sobering experience. Afterwards, we visited Arras for lunch and a tour of the town. It was extremely picturesque.

Otherwise, students had the opportunity to explore in small groups; many opted to do some shopping while others got some much need rest. On Sunday evening, the GSA Grand Tour Europe (Departure One) arrived and we enjoyed a pizza dinner with them.

Reminder: you can see more content on our Instagram @gsafrance2024 🙂

À plus tard !

Emma

Program Manager

Bon matin,

It is hard to believe it is already Friday and that we set off for our European adventure almost a week ago! In the time that has passed since then, students have been busy both in and outside of class, soaking in glorious Paris. Highlights from this week include visiting iconic Parisien sites such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Musée d’Orsay. We were also very happy to have a visit from Mr. Sam Blyth, our founder, on Wednesday afternoon at our hotel.

The French classes have been busy completing their Guide touristique assignments, which involve delivering presentations to their classmates at landmarks of their choosing. Students have been trekking all over the city and have visited Père-Lachaise (on the 53rd anniversary of Jim Morrison’s death, no less!), the Arc de Triomphe, and Shakespeare and Co., to name just a few. Our English class read Shakespeare’s King Lear this week and will be moving into short stories and poetry soon. Teachers are very pleased with the engagement and interest of their groups thus far.

This weekend, those who have signed up for the optional excursion at Vimy Ridge will head there on Saturday, and students will also have free time to explore the city at their leisure, catch up on some sleep, and work on their schoolwork before we begin another busy week of classes on Monday.

If you would like to see more photos, check us out on Instagram @gsafrance2024.

À plus !

Emma

Program Manager

Bonjour de Paris !

I am thrilled to share that our group safely arrived in Paris the morning of Sunday, June 30th, after a smooth evening flight from Toronto. Since then, we have had a very eventful 48 hours in Paris.

Classes began yesterday for our grade 11 and 12 Core French, French Immersion, and English students. All of our classes ventured out of the hotel and into the city; conveniently, we are located about 20 minutes from the Eiffel Tower by foot. Students were excited to see the famous landmark (especially with preparations for the Olympics underway!). There are plenty of shops, cafés, and restaurants in our neighbourhood that students are keen to discover during their free time. We have enjoyed two dinners as a group and celebrated Emily’s 16th with dessert and a song last night!

This morning, class is in session and, afterwards, we will head to Montmartre by métro for a walking tour. With our guide, we will explore the neighbourhood, see the famous Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, and have an opportunity to try crêpes and other French delicacies. We are looking forward to going to the Louvre as well as a visit from Sam Blyth later this week.

A gentle reminder to please follow us on Instagram @gsafrance2024 if you have not already to see what we are up to in real time! Until then—à plus !

Emma

Program Manager

Welcome to our Grade 11 & 12 France July Photo Blog! Make sure to check out our photos once our travels have begun!