On 14 October, Bangor University's International Languages Project (School of Arts and Humanities), in collaboration with the Institut français, welcomed around 40 secondary school pupils to Reichel Hall for Francophonie on the Road, visiting Wales for the very first time.
Four renowned French authors and illustrators - Magali Le Huche, Aurore Petit, Benjamin Chaud and Roland Garrigue - engaged pupils in interactive Q&A sessions in French, followed by creative workshops exploring storytelling and illustration. Bangor University students of French also had the opportunity to meet the authors, practise their language skills and explore creative career pathways.
Anne-Lise Gallay, French Language Attaché at the French Embassy in the UK/Institut français du Royaume-Uni, commented:
"We are delighted that Francophonie on the Road was able to come to Wales for the very first time. Francophonie on the Road is a very important project for the Institut français du Royaume-Uni, as it enables us to give students outside London the opportunity to gain international experience and to promote the learning of French language and cultures in a fun, innovative and interactive way.I believe that Magali Le Huche, Aurore Petit, Benjamin Chaud and Roland Garrigue succeeded in this by sharing their stories. They were also very impressed by the students’ freedom in their drawings and their creativity.I would like to thank Bangor University once again for making this event possible. We hope to be able to return very soon."
Nathalie Thomas, International Languages Project Officer, said: "Bringing language learning to life through creativity and storytelling helps build confidence and shows young people that languages can be exciting and enjoyable."
Feedback was very positive, with one pupil describing it as "A very fun experience, would recommend to anyone with an interest in French, Art or both."
A teacher added that the experience "opened a new world to them."
Rubén Chapela-Orri, International Languages Project Officer, added: "Events like this demonstrate the value of bringing universities, schools and international partners together. We hope to continue creating opportunities that inspire young people to study languages and explore the cultural and career pathways they can open up."
The team would like to thank the Institut français, the visiting authors and all participating schools for making the event such a success!
Images of the event
